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POSTED UNDER Revision Rhinoplasty REVIEWS

New Life Begins with a New Nose - Glendale, CA

ORIGINAL POST

Hello everyone, I thought I'd write this review to...

badnosebrit
WORTH IT$12,500
Hello everyone, I thought I'd write this review to document my journey and help anyone else out who is thinking of going through with a rhinoplasty procedure. Particularly anyone who is thinking of choosing Dr. Grigoryants.
Although the price for Grigoryants was a little higher than expected, I don't mind because I am a firm believer of "you get what you pay for" with surgery. I know I'm in good hands and this brings me great comfort, which is invaluable after you've had your trust dashed by a bad surgeon.
So, how did I get here? Well, two years ago I got a "tip plasty" in Prague for £500. I thought I'd quite like to have a pointier, smaller tip as my nose had always been a bit bulbous. At such a low price, I thought it was worth the risk. How much damage could a little "tip plasty" do? It wasn't even a real rhinoplasty, it was just messing with cartilage right?...
Nope. The surgery left me with a nose I hated. Once the swelling went away, I was left with an over-rotated (still bulbous) tip which gave me a hook nose, and a strange-looking hanging columella, which, over the past two years, has seemed to droop lower and lower.
Now, whenever I smile, I feel extremely self-conscious. My smile used to be my favourite feature.. it used to get me many compliments. But then I noticed when I smile, my columella/tip droops down and forms a fleshy sort of nub under my nose. From the side, the inside of my nostrils are exposed at the same time. The wet membranous tissue means make-up can't even hide it. My friends often tell me my nose is running and that I need a tissue, but it is just the moist inside of my nose gleaming. Because that is what the inside of a nose does. It's disgusting.
As my tip has always been bulbous, I am keen to achieve that pointed look Dr. Grigoryants is so good at, that I have always dreamed of. Yes, a pointed, narrow tip is priority number 2, with tucking in my dangly nub of a columella as number 1.
Dr. Grigoryants agreed with these 2 points and also suggested narrowing the nasal bones (hopefully that will straighten my nose and make it less crooked), shaving the bridge (to get rid of a small bump and to get a slope), and maybe narrowing the nostrils.
So in order of importance:
1. Raise the columella
2. Refine the tip
3. Shave the top of the bridge
4. Narrow the nasal bones
5. Narrow the nostrils
This all sounds great to me. I hate my nose so much currently that I know I'm going to love whatever he does.
I have recently met someone who I am convinced is the love of my life. I am putting off starting a new life with him, because I want to start it without my columella hanging over me (see what I did there). This is what really pushed me to get the ball rolling with Dr. Grigoryants, I wish I'd done this sooner but hey. I'm so excited to get this done so I can focus on my life.

badnosebrit's provider

Vladimir Grigoryants, MD

Vladimir Grigoryants, MD

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

badnosebrit rating for Dr. Grigoryants:

Overall rating
Doctor's bedside manner
Answered my questions
After care follow-up
Time spent with me
Phone or email responsiveness
Staff professionalism & courtesy
Payment process
Wait times

Replies (8)

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January 18, 2017

Thanks so much for sharing your story and I'm really excited for you to get the nose you've always wanted! Is Dr. Grigoryants local to you or are you traveling to him?

January 18, 2017
Thank you so much! I am traveling to the U.S., I'm from the UK so it's a bit daunting but I think it'll be worth it!
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January 18, 2017

Please keep us posted! :)

January 18, 2017
Thanks! I will!
January 21, 2017
Hwy I'm wondering why you are travelling so far, could you not find someone local to do the procedure? I'm considering travelling to London...
May 5, 2017
Oh this doctor doesn't have a good reputation in Russia
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June 16, 2017
Dr. Grigoryants, I want to know more about the doctor. I am also thinking of nose plastic surgery in Korea. I had (wide nose surgery) nose job 3 years ago. Now I need to revise it.
August 6, 2019
Did he charge you for a primary rhinoplasty or as a revision rhinoplasty since you've had work done on your tip before?
UPDATED FROM badnosebrit
5 days pre

Costs, schedule, accommodation

badnosebrit
I am traveling from the UK to get this done, so I thought I'd lay out what I'm doing in case anyone else is thinking of traveling.

I had an email consultation with Dr. Grigoryants a while back, where I sent him photos and told him what I didn't like. He took about 2 days to respond with precise details on how he would fix it. I agreed with everything he said. I liked his direct approach, just listing problems and solutions.

I then emailed his office at the start of January asking if I could be squeezed in asap. After some unflattering Christmas snaps, I realised I couldn't put this off any longer. Amazingly, Ani told me they had a cancellation on 24th January, which I snapped up immediately.

I had to pay the entire cost upfront to secure the place as it was short notice. I went on my bank online and arranged a SWIFT transfer using the bank details Ani gave me. About 5 business days later it went through, I received an email letting me know and I got very excited.

After that, I booked my accommodation (an Airbnb 5 minutes walk away!) and flights. Grigoryants also required blood work, and due to it being such short notice I bought a blood testing kit online, who get back to you within 3 days of receiving your blood sample. I booked an analysis that would show how well my blood clots, how many red/white blood cells there are, how many platelets, how much haemoglobin. Hopefully that's enough info. It's day 2 for this so I'm expecting to get an email with my results tomorrow, which I will be forwarding. I was told that normally Dr. Grigoryants likes to see blood work 2 weeks before the procedure so I feel a bit stressed about that.

£10,200 ($12,500) - Revision rhinoplasty
£1000 - 12 night stay at a nearby Airbnb
£500 - Return flights from UK to LAX
£175 ($200) - Local currency for food
£100 ($125) - Medications to be picked up at my pre-op on Saturday
£69 - Blood testing kit from medichecks

I'm also taking my iPhone with the uber app so I can pay for transport through my phone. I read somewhere that it is cheaper to get an uber to Glendale from LAX rather than getting a bus or normal taxi, so that's what I'll be doing.

I have my pre-op consultation at 11am on Saturday - only 3 days away! I've already printed out pics of my nose (so I can point out what I don't like more easily) and pics of noses I like. I can't believe this is happening still. I don't think it'll hit me until the plane flies off on Friday morning.

Replies (10)

January 18, 2017
So excited for you. Good luck and keep us posted
January 18, 2017
Thank you so much. I'll be sure to update often :)
January 18, 2017
Good luck!! Thank you for your detailed post!
January 20, 2017
Thanks! And you're welcome!
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January 18, 2017
You are amazing for doing this, so organised! I wish you all the luck, you're in good hands. Please keep us updated, I'm also from the UK so this makes me feel more confident about the logistics involved. :)
January 20, 2017
Hello fellow Brit! I hope my review helps you make an informed decision :) I'm doing this all by myself (and in secret) so it's great to actually be reassured by another actual person! Thank you.
January 19, 2017
I can't wait to see your results. Do you have a home care nurse to pick you up after surgery?
January 20, 2017
Thank you! And no not yet. I don't even know what time my surgery will be so I'm hoping to just wing it...
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March 7, 2017
When he emailed you back did he tell you that you had a beautiful face?
March 7, 2017
Thank you for saying that haha! He did not, but he did say he did not think I needed rhinoplasty. I thought that he was wrong, however I appreciated that he was honest with me and didn't just tell me I needed it to get my money.
UPDATED FROM badnosebrit
3 days pre

Day before consultation

badnosebrit
I've finally made it to LA and am absolutely exhausted! I've been travelling for about 18 hours so far. I didn't sleep at all last night. I was nervous about sleeping through my alarm, flying, getting to all the right gates on time etc. I was also stupidly excited because I knew that my life was about to be improved drastically in the near future, and the reign of my confidence-sapping shnozz was coming to an end. No more editing my nose in pictures! No more staying home from social events due to the fear of tagged photos! I'm always paranoid that when I laugh people are wondering why my nose curls under like that. It will feel so amazing to be able to laugh freely! Oh my god! I'm so excited!

I only brought carry on luggage (one rucksack) since I figured I'm going to be hiding in my Airbnb recovering for most of my stay like a cave troll, so I didn't bring much. I brought a selection of my comfiest, ugliest clothes, as well as one nice outfit that I can go to my appointments in. I brought make-up in case I want to go out to the shops or something when my cast comes off. I'm not going to go out while I have the cast on - it just looks a bit too drastic for me to feel comfortable being in public.

I haven't brought any arnica or supplements or anything useful. Don't even have a neck pillow. Idiot. I will probably regret this when my head swells to gigantic proportions and I have two massive black eyes. I'll let you know how much I regret this decision later this week.

I didn't realise getting into the U.S. was so... intense. I was questioned by a few different immigration officers on how long I was staying for, where abouts, what I was doing etc. I was straight up honest about getting a nose job because I suck at lying and didn't want to get dragged off to a room for acting guilty or something. One guy said I didn't need a nose job (only one out of three mind you). He was very sweet but inside I was like "oh yes I do!" This is something I need to do for me, and me only. Other people might not understand but it will make such a difference to me internally.

I'm all sunshine in this post so far, however I will say I am getting a little antsy because my blood test results were supposed to be sent over yesterday (3 day turnaround ahem?) and I haven't had them yet. It is day 4. Hoping they get sent to me by 11am tomorrow (day 5 wtf) morning before my pre-op appointment. I have this horrible fear Dr. G might cancel the whole thing if they don't hurry up.

Sorry this wasn't very factual, it was more of a chatty blog but nothing's happening yet so that's why!

Replies (9)

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January 21, 2017
I hope your blood work arrives! Can't wait to see your new nose:) good luck!
January 22, 2017
Thank you! It didn't arrive but Dr. G is sending me to a lab so it's ok!
January 21, 2017
You're hilarious. I enjoyed reading that haha. Good luck!!!! So exciting!
January 21, 2017
Haha thank you! and thanks for following my journey, it makes me feel less alone!
January 22, 2017
Aww of course you're not alone, we (and others secretly creeping the pages of realself) can't wait to see your results. Take it easy and enjoy some down time! I will be having mine in March so I'm grateful for your posts :))
January 22, 2017
Also go get your neck pillow woman!! I hear it's good for sleeping at an angle so your neck is supported and so you don't turn and squash Dr. G's delicate work while you're sleeping. And I hear pineapple juice is great for healing instead of? as well as? arnica.
January 22, 2017
Thank you :) it's nice to know I am helping with these posts! I just saw your review and I think you're going to look amazing!

Ahhh yes, I know you're right... I should sort my life out really shouldn't I? Thanks for looking out for me. I'll go out shopping tomorrow and see what I can find!
January 23, 2017
Thank you!! I'm excited to be able to smile without feeling like I look overwhelmingly harsh, and more feminine!!! I'm excited for both of us. Yes get to that shopping but be careful out there !
January 23, 2017
I'm so jelly, I wish I am on my journey already :)