Disappointing (with pictures)

I also was confused about my ear. I didn't even know this deformity was a possibility. I was told my ear would look normal after the surgery, but would be just a little bit closer to my head - like a millimeter or so. Now I can't show my ear in public anymore. No more ponytails or buns for me. But at least now other people will know what can happen. Dr. John Reinisch, who did my ear revision, told me he had seen this happen from rhinoplasties before, but only once or twice in his career. He recommends surgeons go into the ear from the outside of the ear instead of from behind the ear to avoid problems like this, but pretty much all rhinoplasty doctors go into the ear from behind.

One little correction: I still wear ponytails and buns, I just style them so they cover up my ear at all times, kinda like Grandma from the Beverly Hillbillies show used to wear her hair.

Did you have surgery with him too? If so, you should post your pictures. I think it's really helpful for people who are trying to find a surgeon.

I did but Im so embarrassed by how he made me look I RUN from cameras.

I understand. I've had towels covering the mirrors in my apartment for years. My "after" picture was from a consult with another plastic surgeon.

He ruined my life! But you need to make your own decisions about what's right for you.

My gut was telling me Frankel was the doctor who would fix my nose and I wouldn't have to think about it anymore. My gut was wrong. I want to fire it. Frankel comes across so well in the initial consults.

Yes. He's a good talker. He also has a really, really nice website. But then the pics from real people on this site obviously aren't as nice.

Thank you! I met with several ear doctors, and they all told me my ear could not ever look normal again. Dr. John Reinisch did the ear revision, and he improved the appearance. I'm going to try to get pictures up soon of my ear revision with him.

Yes. My nose was already disfigured by a very bad primary rhinoplasty with Dr. Russell Kridel in Houston. Dr. Frankel made it worse and also deformed my ear. Maybe someday the nose can be fixed (not sure - I'm scared to try again), but the ear isn't fixable (it was improved slightly with a revision - see my review of Dr. John Reinisch if you want to see how it looks now). At least maybe now my reviews can save some other innocent people.

Thank you for sharing, your review is precious for many people out there who could've put themselves in the wrong hands! (The ear is bad but is also not very noticeable, at least for me, if someone's ears aren't big I just don't notice them, even when they look weird).
Good luck with your recovery, I wish you the best!

Thank you! I'm glad that at least out of my terrible experiences with rhinoplasty doctors, at least now maybe some other people will be warned about what can and so often does go wrong.

Thanks for the support!

I know. I've wondered about that myself. Frankel did a technique on me called llc repositioning. The other people I've met whose noses were made smaller by Frankel also had this technique done to them. Frankel does research on this technique and published a study in JAMA about it. Some people have wondered if doctors who are researching and writing about a technique are more prone to use it on their patients for research purposes (instead of what's best for the patient). I don't know. It's a theory. In the future, I'm going to be leery of going to surgeons who have training going on in their offices (like AAFPRS fellowship programs) and those who do a lot of research studies about surgical techniques.

LLC Repositoning? Is that not when they make pockets and treat your lateral crus like alar batten grafts? They pull them down into another unnatural position. The nose gets so wide. The tongue and groove is another kiss of nose death. Everyone should run for the hills if either one of those techniques is suggested in consultation unless you like pointy MJ noses with excessive frontal nostril show

I don't understand the technique, to be honest. I've heard recently that it makes the tip of the nose smaller and removes volume from the nose, but I'm definitely not an expert on these matters. This technique was not mentioned to me in consultation. I wouldn't have understood it, anyway. I only found out about it when I got my OP report and let a friend read it who was familiar with the technique and Frankel's research about it.

After reading some more about LLC repositioning, I think this technique is probably the reason why my nose is so skinny at the tip (I think it looks kinda like a bird beak), and also why my nostrils are really unusually thick (I can't see this in pics, but I definitely feel it when I touch my nostrils, like to blow my nose). I wouldn't recommend this technique.

So sorry for you! I haven't had it corrected yet, but plan to - hopefully soon.

1.5 year after pix taken in his office looks fine but the 7.5 years after really shows what eh did. I guess swelling was hiding the defects.

Yes it seemed to have been getting worse over time, but I didn't even like it at 1.5 years after. Lighting can definitely make a difference with pics too.