POSTED UNDER Rhinoplasty REVIEWS
Some Improvement but Still Looks BIG to Me - Chicago, IL
ORIGINAL POST
I had one rhinoplasty to fix a collapsed nostril...
$23,000
I had one rhinoplasty to fix a collapsed nostril and reduce a hump on my bridge which was covered by insurance. Ear cartilage was used and things didn't turn out well. I sought a second one--a complete reconstruction (no insurance) where rib was used.
It looks better in some respects but I still think it looks huge and extra stuff was done that I didn't want done. My doc will do some additional surgery, but I have a much higher bridge, huge tip and the reconstructed side still looks strange.
I could use some advice and input. I'm including photos of my nose before surgery with the collapse, one after the first surgery and two after the second surgery--one is a candid and one is a retouched one from the surgeon.
SQ5Grrl's provider
Replies (24)
January 25, 2012
How did it collapse in the first place? I have to say the 4th photo is very beautiful. You can tell its a little off but its still a major improvement. Hope all works out for you/
February 6, 2012
I would not say it's an improvement on what she had before, the nostril is more repaired but at what aesthetic price? Why the unnecessary grafting all over the place? I would say that maybe the surgeon isn't used to grafting or tried to achieve too much in one surgery.
Lr2girl I hope you found your way to the rhino forum! I am 100% sure you'll put this behind you within the next year.
Lr2girl I hope you found your way to the rhino forum! I am 100% sure you'll put this behind you within the next year.
January 26, 2012
The collapse came in conjunction with a multiple-year (yes, year) set of facial lesions which, when they finally gave me massive antibiotics, went away but the lesions (and a large nodule) had been in my nose too. Several of the lesions in the nose seemed to be full thickness. Anyway, it collapsed and I made the mistake of asking the first surgeon to also remove my dorsal hump. I was happy with the bridge after he did it, but the second surgeon (who is on Real Self) redid the whole nose with rib and added to the bridge which looks odd now. The surgeon's photo does look not so bad, but you can see how the candid photo taken at the same time looks--surgeons really do a lot of shadow and correction on their photos. All my current candid photos look like the third photo. It's way too wide--I never expected or agreed for the second surgeon to do all the rib and bridge work that he did. It cost me $23,000 out of pocket--yes, it should have gone through insurance. So I am way more upset because this cost us the amount of a small sedan out of our savings and I have a nose the size of a small sedan on my face. The surgeon, assuming because he doesn't want to do more surgery, proclaims it looks fantastic. I'm despondent (it wasn't Toriumi either) and feel as though I deserve at least a much smaller nose.
January 26, 2012
I am so sorry that you have had to go through that. I too had to deal with a surgeon who did a totally incomplete nose job on me making me look worse then before and then having no sympathy at my emotions on how it really looked and acting like it looked great. For 23,000 you should have a perfect nose, seriously. YOur nose is not that bad but i can see where it could be improved. What do you think your going to do next?
January 26, 2012
I have no idea. I have to wait another month until a year anniversary hits. This surgeon is close by for surgery and follow-up and I've learned that reviews and reputation are not good ways to find a surgeon. With all that he did, finding another surgeon to do more work on it would be hard and just tiring. I have little choice but to stay with my current surgeon, but I feel taken advantage of from a business standpoint (even the surgical report says "reconstruction of nasal septum" but the business person claims it was only cosmetic and will not give my insurance company any codes other than "cosmetic" which isn't covered) and a standpoint where I didn't demand a written surgical strategy ahead of time, only promises that minimum would be done to make my nose look like the computer imaging. The staff has been great about some things but bad on other follow-up areas (for additional medical care on the nose and another area, they have been hands-off--even several weeks after when I had some broken cartilage graft come out from stitches that came out--I am always advised to drive downtown only to be assessed as to whether or not I need to be seen by my GP doctor. No antibiotics were given for sinus infection 1 week after surgery; I didn't even see the surgeon when I came in for the broken cartilage). I don't know where my trust lies, but I have few other options, especially when it comes to aftercare, it's so important to have a doctor close by. I could use any advice, ideas, empathy, sympathy--anything. This has literally ruined my life to the point where I have isolated myself and recently been put on medications and heavy counseling because my surgeon seems to just not hear what I have to say and dismiss me. I feel misguided. I think he's a good guy, but planned for a massive surgery which would correct my nose completely and make me happy--but I wanted a smaller, thinner tip to begin with and he failed to give me that, failed to correct the deformity and gave me a hard nose out of rib (he says my nose isn't hard because he used rib CARTILAGE, but we all know rib makes it hard and stiff. I have been unable to stop a bloody nose because I cannot pinch my nose shut anymore as it's rock hard. I need some truths, some affirmations and some advice and would appreciate anything any of you could offer. Just your postings are so very helpful to me.
February 6, 2012
I am so sorry. I think you're really pretty. I can see the pre-op issues but to make the nose 3 times the size to correct a collapsed nostril!? You need to think of your own future health and happiness. 23,000 is a lot of money and could've gotten you 2 rhinoplasties elsewhere. I think you should perhaps ask kindly for a referral to a colleague - nasal reconstruction is really a difficult surgery but the objective should be to get a good aesthetic result too. Maybe your surgeon was trying to overreach the goal. I really think that a good result would have been possible with a much more conservative approach to rib grafting.
What he may have been trying to do was "blend" in your pinched nostril/bridge with the rest of the nose with cartilage, and just used way too much cartilage. I have had this cartilage grafting myself for a pinched nose and unfortunately it made my nose look too wide - I and I will now need other ops to refine it. I don't blame my surgeon (I know that revisions/reconstructions are difficult) - it's just one of those things. However, if I was to go in for a 2nd revision with him, I would expect a significant improvement that time round. Maybe the first time might not get there... but after 2, I would expect something better for sure! It is actually harder to add than to subtract successfully.
Prodigiousflames is right... makemeheal and look your best are great sites for rhinoplasty, I am so sure you'll be able to chat there and there'll be others in similar positions.
What he may have been trying to do was "blend" in your pinched nostril/bridge with the rest of the nose with cartilage, and just used way too much cartilage. I have had this cartilage grafting myself for a pinched nose and unfortunately it made my nose look too wide - I and I will now need other ops to refine it. I don't blame my surgeon (I know that revisions/reconstructions are difficult) - it's just one of those things. However, if I was to go in for a 2nd revision with him, I would expect a significant improvement that time round. Maybe the first time might not get there... but after 2, I would expect something better for sure! It is actually harder to add than to subtract successfully.
Prodigiousflames is right... makemeheal and look your best are great sites for rhinoplasty, I am so sure you'll be able to chat there and there'll be others in similar positions.
March 8, 2012
you are not alone.I too have isolated myself for the past year.i also looked better in my before photos for rhinoplasty as well as other procedures.Today i could not muster up the courage to leave my house,i try to tell myself this is only temporary ,you must imagine what you want,i am crying now as i write this ,i was given some cd"s of a motivational speaker named :Ester Hicks , or Abraham Hicks is her stage name,she talks about the art of allowing, the law of attraction,i found therapy and depression medication made me feel worse as well as costly,and these cd's helped incredibly ,even though my kids roll their eyes and say," oh no not those cd's again!" .The one question that will stop the tears is ,ask yourself ,how would you like it to be? ok i am actually crying again now .i am imaging giving you a hug ,just know you are not alone ,it is ok to cry,it is ok to be sad,every day cannot be bright and shiny.Their is a kind of exercise that i do that feels so stupid yet it also makes me feel better..are you ready..ok make sure you are alone first..then look yourself in the eyes in the mirror and say your name...and then say ,"I love you" i know..it is difficult... this is only a temporary state you are in ..tell yourself that..i know what it is like to have people glance away as you walk down the street..i know i rambled here,i know how you feel..good things are their ...their are skilled doctors here in chicago..try to go to a consultation if you feel up to it...you do have other choices..have you ever considered Dr.Anil Shah...just an idea..like i said know that you are not alone..
UPDATED FROM SQ5Grrl
Still Huge and Don't know what to do...
After my revision rhino with Dr. Dayan in 2011, I knew my nose was still deformed and larger than my original nose. Dr. Dayan had said he wouldn't reduce it because the rib cartilage would warp. I fell into severe social anxiety for many years. Working with a psyche, I had kind of overcome it. Enough to go on vacation overseas this year. I posted this selfie on my FB page and trolls have made nasty comments about "the appendage on your [my] face". I want to do SOMEthing but I don't know what. Any suggestions?
Replies (5)
August 21, 2019
So sorry you are going through this. Surely there must be a good surgeon out there who can help you. Good for you on facing your anxiety to go travel. Life is short, don't listen to what others say x
January 15, 2020
Sorry you had this outcome. I too had a bad outcome after my primary rhinoplasty and even worse after my revision, where I lost skin in my columella and now need my whole nose rebuilt. For your case though, I would look at Dr. Gary Motykie in Los Angeles, he's really good at making big noses into small cute ones, using closed rhinoplasty so there's less chance of infection and healing is faster. I would contact his office; they can be slow to respond sometimes so if you don't hear from them after a week or so, reach back out. Don't let the same doctor who ruined your nose do a revision though! Wish you the best
February 18, 2020
I had a similar problem to yours where the first surgery was botched, then I went to Dr. Dean Toriumi in Chicago and he stuffed my nose and made it shapeless. It was absolutely horrible. I went to Dr. Davis and he fixed it. It is not perfect, but it's waaaaaaaaaaaay better than before.
December 23, 2020
I don't understand why he didn't made your Nose smaller ? I think the Doctor just had no clue / not much experience. Your Nose seems totally fixable - check some Turkish Surgeons
December 26, 2020
I second the Turkish surgeons. Please feel free to reach out to me as I'm doing a lot of research and am part of many groups. I'm so sorry. I've had two rhinoplasties and my second surgeon stuffed me full of rib too. Hang in there. This is fixable.
Hi there! Did your nostril collapse on its own initially? Or was that the result of an accident or surgery?
You're a lovely, lovely lady, but your nose does look off still. Were both surgeries done by the same surgeon and was he or she board certified by ASPS or ASAPS? I'm not sure when you had this done, but it could still be somewhat swollen.
I'm going to suggest that you post your photos and a question to doctors in RealSelf's Q&A community. I think you'll be able to get some good feedback there.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and photos with us.
You might also want to check out the Revision Rhinoplasty community.
I'm really sorry you're going through this. Everyone deserves to have a nose that fits her face.