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POSTED UNDER Rhinoplasty REVIEWS

Rhino/septo with Dr. Grigoryants - approaching 1 month post-op

ORIGINAL POST

Hi all! First, I just want to thank everyone for...

signingoffAugust 25, 2014
$9,500

Hi all!

First, I just want to thank everyone for the reviews. I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't found Real Self, this board has been so helpful in my decision-making process and also let me to Dr. Grigoryants.

I have a very similar story to many of you -- I've hated my nose for more than 10 years now and even went to see a plastic surgeon about rhinoplasty when I was 16 years old . I'm glad I didn't go through with it back then, but now that I've lived with my nose as an adult and know that this isn't just teenage insecurity, it feels like it's time to finally go through with this. I'm tired of hating all pictures of me (and particularly of hating pictures where I smile broadly because my nose gets so wide when I do), and I'm tired of feeling self-conscious about my nose. I'm certainly not over my fear about this procedure (what if something goes wrong during surgery? What if I hate the result? What if my family and boyfriend hate it?) but I know I shouldn't let fear hold me back any longer.

I had a "consult" with Dr. G via email and then we spoke on the phone, and I feel very confident with my choice of him as the surgeon. Although I'm American, I  will be flying to CA for this surgery. Dr. G's office said he's booking into April but when I spoke with Dr. G on the phone, he seemed very confident that he could get me in on a cancellation in December (which would be ideal). Dr. G sent an email to his assistant Gohar asking for a December spot, but I haven't heard anything since then (this was a bit over a week ago).

So a question for current and former Dr. G patients -- would you suggest that I continue to wait it out, or should I call his office and try to get a few people involved in this scheduling process? December really would be ideal but I'm worried that if I count on getting in on a cancellation (and don't book a normal date in April), I may end up having to push this back even further.

Anyway, I will consider posting pictures once I have a date scheduled and until then, would be grateful for any advice about scheduling this procedure, especially since it will involve a trip to the US.

Thanks! :)

signingoff's provider

Vladimir Grigoryants, MD

Vladimir Grigoryants, MD

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Replies (10)

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WellHeyThatsaNose
August 25, 2014
Hey there! Great choice with Dr. G. as your surgeon. I was in the same boat as you- I just honestly did not know where I was going to be with enough certainty to book six months out. I contact Dr. G. originally last month, and then called the office to be put on the waitlist. I was looking for a September date. Within a few days, TWO dates opened in September. Within a week, a third date opened and that was the date I ended up booking. His cancellation policy requires you to cancel at least three-four weeks (I've gotten different responses from his office) in advance to avoid being charged 20% of all fees. For this reason, people seem to cancel right at the 4 week mark. I would recommend waiting it out and being prepared to fly to California and have surgery in December. I would contact Dr. G's office once a month until November to make sure they know that they know you want a December date. When November starts, I'm sure a date in December will open up! I hope this helps :) Good luck and feel free to ask me any questions!
signingoff
August 26, 2014
Hi! Thanks so much for this helpful comment -- I did exactly as you suggested and called for an appointment today. I now have a March 19th (!) date booked, but am going to keep my fingers crossed that there will be some openings come November. I will be following your log closely, looking forward to hearing how it goes!
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Angie_M
August 26, 2014
Thank you for starting your story here on RealSelf! Is it possible to book your April surgery but be on a waiting list for December? Please keep us posted on how this unfolds?
signingoff
August 27, 2014
Hi, and thanks for the note! Yep, that's exactly what I did -- just booked for March, now hoping for a waitlist spot! Will keep everyone updated!
rosieglow
August 27, 2014
hey lozzzza! Wow, how exciting for you! i am in a similar little boat to you... wishing to travel from O/S to get to this amazing surgical genius!! You're a few steps ahead of me though... i've only just sent off my 'Request for Consultation' on the webpage.... I'm struggling with even that part unfortunately, I sent the first message asking some quest's last weekend, then a follow up one yesterday. Still waiting for a response. What's the normal wait-time just to hear back from the clinic regarding getting this process started?
signingoff
August 27, 2014
Hi there! I think I heard back a few days after I sent the consult form, but a faster way to do this is to email your pictures directly to Dr. G (he has his email address on his website), and then he'll get back to you with his thoughts. It's a little strange scheduling this from o/s because you're basically dependent on a few emails and reputation (although I did speak with the Dr. once on the phone, just to get a slightly better sense of his style), but his photos and the rave reviews were convincing enough for me. Good luck!
rosieglow
August 27, 2014
Thanks so much for the reply! (much more efficient than the clinic's response time lol!!) I'll be following your story closely since I'm relating! And heads-up: you may get some more of my nervous questions!!!
signingoff
August 27, 2014
Of course -- I'll be following your story closely too!
Grace7890
August 27, 2014
signingoff
August 27, 2014
Thanks, I will!
UPDATED FROM signingoff
4 months pre

Date booked!

signingoffAugust 27, 2014
Hi everyone! Just a quick update -- I booked a date yesterday (their first available opening ended up being in late March), and now will just keep my fingers and toes crossed that a date opens up in December. I would loove to get this done sooner rather than later, especially since I start my PhD program in October and suspect it will only get more stressful as time goes on, so I should be more relaxed about falling behind on work in December than I will be in March. Since I'm also concerned about people noticing that I had work done, I like the idea of getting it done only after I've just met everyone, before their picture of me (with my current nose) is seared into their minds. So fingers crossed! It did make it feel more real to book the appointment and pay the booking fee -- I almost can't believe I'm finally going through with this!

Replies (4)

mimixoxo
September 4, 2014
I have actually paid for my december date but I am thinking of postponing it simply because I will be moving for a new job so this will be hectic (can't take vacation that soon in addition to taking christmas off). Let me know if you'd like it because I can call Zara/Gohar and tell her to give it to you instead.
signingoff
September 5, 2014
Hi mimixoxo, I just sent you a message! That might work out perfectly, actually! Thanks for being so kind!
mimixoxo
September 7, 2014
messaged you back and aww I just read that you are writing your dissertation? good luck on that phd gorgeous and you can def have the december date :) Also: your story re: ethnic ambiguity made me smile bc of how random it is that I am consistently mistaken for turkish, latina etc hahahhaha
signingoff
September 9, 2014
You could definitely pass for either! You're so pretty!! And I messaged you, so let me know if you got it! :)
UPDATED FROM signingoff
3 months pre

Afraid of looking "boring" or "generic"

signingoffSeptember 5, 2014
Hi everyone,

This update may be a little frustrating since I haven't put up pics (maybe I will, just feeling a bit shy), but I'm feeling a bit nervous about whether the rhinoplasty is going to make me look generic/boring, and whether it's my nose - as imperfect as it is - that makes me look unique. I'm definitely not conventionally pretty, but one of the things I do like about myself is that I look "ethnically ambiguous." I regularly have people ask me if I'm Spanish, Italian, Turkish, Latin Americans, Mexican, even Iranian when in reality, I'm just a boring old American. This week, for example, the Turkish drycleaner down the street tried speaking to me in Turkish (lol) and a guy at a coffee shop started speaking to me in Spanish because he evidently thought I was either Mexican or Colombian. This ambiguity is also great when traveling, since no one can really place where you're from. I think it's because of my coloring (near-black hair, light eyes, strong eyebrows) but I'm sure my nose contributes to the look as well. As weird as it sounds, being mistaken for these other nationalities is one thing that makes me feel good about myself, and I wonder if that's going to change once I get a nose job.

Anyway, it's not enough of a deterrent to keep me from going through with that, but this is one of my big concerns (and one of my boyfriend's as well, who is supportive but has said several times that he hopes I don't look "boring" after surgery because, as he says, "he fell in love with the face I have now." Awww, but also, not really that helpful since I'm trying to get over my concerns!)

Did anyone else have these concerns, particularly girls with "ethnic" noses? How did your nose turn out? Any advice?

Replies (2)

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WellHeyThatsaNose
September 7, 2014
I have had the exact same thought so many times before. I definitely look like a big ole' Haole (white person), but people tend to think that I'm ethnic white (e.g. light Italian, Jewish, Croatian) and I love that I don't have a boring face. HOWEVER, I do think my nose takes away from my looks and that I might be able to be even more of a chameleon with some subtle (okay, not-so-subtle) changes. Dr. G. seems to be really great at preserving a person's "look" and ethnicity, though. That being said, I totally know what you're talking about. I've seen so many gorgeous middle-eastern women get rhinoplasties and they look gorgeous afterwards, but also less unique and I can't help but be a little disappointed by their results. On a completely separate note, you are working on your dissertation? Good for you! Do you feel guilty for the "vanity" element of the surgery? I'm an attorney, and I feel like I should be more concerned with making intelligent arguments than I am about my nose. It makes me feel guilty and I judge myself just a little. On the other hand, I'm hoping that this surgery will actually make me less vain, because I will just not even think about my nose anymore. Now I'm just rambling- sorry about that! Anyway, it looks like you will be getting your December date! Keep us posted and PM me if you want to chat about any concerns, because I promise you I am having them as well! My surgery is in 18 days!
signingoff
September 10, 2014
Hi there! Thanks for your kind message and your empathy -- I agree that Dr. G is one of the few surgeons who seems to really preserve the "look" of the patient which is one of the primary reason I chose him! Like you, I would hate to end up with a "boring face" after surgery. On the dissertation: I'm actually starting my PhD in about 3 weeks (yikes!) but since I already have my master's and will be doing my PhD in England, I'll begin my dissertation research immediately. One of my concerns with the timing of the surgery is that I don't want it to interfere with my field work or with the more time-pressured parts of the research process, so I figured the earlier I could do it, the better. I COMPLETELY understand your guilt about the vanity of plastic surgery. Growing up, I was always the studious, smart child and not the glamorous, beautiful child, and I still feel like I'm supposed to choose one or the other. I cringe when I think about how the other students in my cohort or worse, my dissertation advisor, would react if they knew that I was spending all of this time, money, and mental energy on plastic surgery and not on research. But -- like you -- I think I already DO spend too much time thinking about my nose, and that perhaps by fixing it, I will be able to finally move on with my life and focus on my work, my relationships, and the rest of my life. Very cool that you're an attorney -- I imagine the pressures of that job are immense! Let's keep in touch during this process, I will be following your progress closely! Incredible that your surgery is now only about 2 weeks away!! :)
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