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POSTED UNDER Rhinoplasty REVIEWS

Now or Never! - Chicago, IL

ORIGINAL POST

Well I made the decision to treat myself to a few...

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$6,500

Well I made the decision to treat myself to a few fixes that I've wanted for a while. Being 22, healthy and having way too much free time I figured it's now or never. I will add much more detail to this and tweak it as I go along, but for the moment I'm a little stressed out and it hasn't quite settled in that I went through with it. On Monday June 2nd I had rhinoplasty, otoplasty on my right ear, and had wanted scar revision near my nose as well as ear lobe reconstruction on my right ear. First off, I'm not sure what this "bedside manner" is everyone claims he's so excellent with because upon waking up from the anesthesia he wasn't even in the room and I haven't seen or talked to him since. It's day 3 now. (Hence why I'm kind of worried) clearly he is a busy man, however that may be a downfall because now I feel like just another patient instead of an individual with unique wants and needs. The morning of surgery when it was over, I was slowly coming out of what pretty much feels like a deep sleep. Literally all you can remember is slowing drifting off and then bam you're waking up. It's a piece of cake. I was soon able to use the surgery center's bathroom and of course I was right away checking myself out in the mirror. I didn't look too rough, but definitely not my best day lol I kind of looked like that alien from the movie Splice because of the swelling between my eyes. (Terrible movie) 

Anyway first off I noticed he did the otoplasty on my right ear but didn't even touch my earlobe like I wanted done so that instantly caused me some stress. Upon bringing it up to the nurse she just got kind of quite and said that I'll have to talk to Dr. Shah about that. Aaalrighty then... I thought to myself. Now I'm thinking he completely forgot about it. I should've said something when I learned the surgery would only last a few hours/much quicker than I had thought ...because now 3 days post-op I noticed my scar wasn't worked on either! It's somewhat covered by the cast because it's near my nose, but part of it peeks out and there are no stitches on it so I had a mini panic attack thinking he literally forgot 2 important somewhat unique things I really wanted done. Last night I emailed the office with the cost estimate I received prior which included my scar revision and earlobe reconstruction so they see that it was discussed, and again letting them know my earlobe wasn't worked on and now I'm 98% sure my scar wasn't worked on either. I'm just waiting to hear back from someone, anyone about it, preferably Dr. Shah. 

Sure it's possible he wants to wait and do both scar revision and earlobe reconstruction together separately... but why? I wouldn't know since no one has informed me anything yet. I don't see why it couldn't have all been done together. *sighs* At this point I don't feel he is very personable which worries me. I honestly think he forgot about it because thinking back moments before surgery he didn't mention my ear lobe, darn me being too nervous and not bringing it up lol I was too anxious and distracted laying there all vulnerable about to go under. Anyway once I hear a response from SOMEONE about what I even had done because now I don't know anymore, maybe the mood of this review will change but for now it's pretty unsure.

3 days post op: Not much pain if any. Just a soreness kind of feeling in the middle of my face. I can already notice the improvement in the tip of my nose even with the cast on. Days 1-3 are the same, swelling and bruising around my face but not too bad. Swelling is worse than the bruising. I feel like a balloon. Really the most annoying part of rhinoplasty though is the congestion and sore throat (from breathing tube) that follows a few days after. It just feels like you're getting over a bad cold. You can't breath through your nose obviously, and there's a lot of mucous and swelling going on in there. I forget I even had otoplasty on my right ear because there is absolutely no pain felt with that. Whenever I swallow water or food there is an annoying pressure build up in my nose which is troubling but I'm hoping it's normal from the congestion. No one has really gotten a hold of me since the procedure, I feel like I was thrown out onto the streets by the nurse from the wheelchair basically lol where my sister came and got me and that was that. I don't even know what I'm suppose to be doing anymore, but I wish someone was more personable and checked up on me via phone call or something. Kind of freaking out. I'll update this and add much more once I hear back from their office.

Fixme123's provider

Anil R. Shah, MD

Anil R. Shah, MD

Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon

4.6 | 374 Reviews
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Fixme123 rating for Dr. Shah:

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Replies (5)

June 5, 2014
I am considering Dr Shah for my rhinoplasty, please post pictures x s, they speak volumes!!!
June 5, 2014
He did the same thing with me. Rushed into the surgery and wasn't there when I woke up. I also have bad results. He doesn't seem to care about his patients. Even his follow-ups are rushed. Just a very bad experience with him thus far.
June 5, 2014
Also, his office staff seems to be very disorganized and uncaring. You ask for help and many times you won't receive a response for days, and if you do, it doesn't fully help solve your issue.
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June 6, 2014
Thank you so much for sharing your experience on RealSelf! I hope the office gets back to you pronto!
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September 19, 2014
OMG girl :( please tell me how everything is going! I'm having surgery with him December!! pleaseeee!!