POSTED UNDER Rhinoplasty REVIEWS
Didn't Get What I Wanted, Some Old and New Problems Present
ORIGINAL POST
I chose Dr. Grigoryants because he specializes in...
sam325325May 24, 2018
$10,300
I chose Dr. Grigoryants because he specializes in closed rhinoplasty and I have seen more good pictures posted by his patients than by patients of any other doctor. I was very impressed with the pictures of his work.
Unfortunately, I did not end up with what I wanted. I had a bump and a bulbous tip. I wanted exactly the type of nose this doctor tends to do for most patients: slightly upturned, with a slope on the bridge, and a supratip break. What I currently have (at almost 10 months) is a nose that in my opinion is not upturned, the area between my eyes is wider than needed and also asymmetric, with some bump remaining on the right side (by the inner corner of my right eye), and a dip under the bump. Overall to me it gives an impression of the upper side of the nose being shifted to the right and the lower part being shifted to the left. I am very bothered by the bump and I try to contour my nose to make it less noticeable, but it is difficult and doesn't really work. I just end up with brown patches on my nose.
I noticed issues from the very beginning. I had my consultation in person. I flew in from out of state since it was important to me to meet the doctor in person before making the decision to go with him. Well, at my pre-op the doctor didn't realize we met before. I understand he meets a lot of people, but shouldn't he have notes from my consult? So I had to explain what I want all over again. Dr. Grigoryants pointed to my mom's nose (she came with me to all appts) and asked if I liked her nose. I was shocked because even though my mom is beautiful, her nose is worse than my pre-op nose. And she agrees with me. What is worse is I feel he pretty much gave me my mom's nose, just with a pinched tip.
I wonder if the early cast removal is partially to blame - I wanted to wait longer than 4 days to remove it, but the doctor's office insisted that it's ok to remove and didn't find time for me to come a couple of days later. I was staying in California for over a week after the surgery, I would have preferred to keep my cast on for longer! I found several realself Grigoryants patients who have very similar issues, with the bump remaining on the right and the dip under the bump. I don't know if that's the result of how the surgery was done, early or incorrect cast removal or something else. What I know though is that I was very careful as I was healing, and yet the bump was visible from the start.
I noticed that most people who are satisfied with their rhinoplasty tend to have slightly upturned noses right after surgery. I never had that. I'm tall and Dr. Grigoryants says lifting it more would have people looking in my nostrils. I disagree. The way it is now it looks long and too projected. A little upturn looks so feminine, I wish I had that.
I emailed the pictures of the bump and was told that it's hard to tell from the pictures and to come in person instead. I did, but still got a very dismissive response, along the lines of "the nose looks beautiful, if the bump bothers you I'll shave it off later". I showed Dr. Grigoryants pictures made the day before with a good camera. He claimed the pictures must have been taken with a bad camera and that my nose doesn't look like that.
I at least wanted to get the bump shaved off as soon as possible. I know that most doctors agree a revision is ok 1 year after initial rhinoplasty, so I asked Dr. Grigoryants in an email if he could shave off the bump in office after 12 months. I was told no - I would need to wait 18 months instead. I tried calling the office to schedule an appointment at 18 months, and the receptionist refused to schedule me. She said at 18 months the doctor can refuse to correct anything since in some people the swelling might still be present and that some people wait for 3 years. The doctor says if the correction is attempted while swelling is still present the result would not be precise. Yes, but telling a patient to wait several years to me seems like trying to avoid fixing the problem altogether.
My breathing is worse than it was before. I did not have any problems breathing prior to my rhinoplasty, but now my nose usually feels either runny or stuffed, and when I breathe completely through the nose it just seems loud, as if I need to blow my nose. I also hear a whistling sound from the left nostril when I breathe through the nose, so I try to always keep my mouth a little open.
I wish I would have been one of the patienrs with no complications, but that was not my case. The way it is, I just honestly don't feel it made that much of a difference in how I look. My boyfriend never noticed I had anything done. I like not having a round tip anymore, but I notice the asymmetry every time I look in the mirror. With my natural nose, I felt it looked the same from either side, with my new nose one side is straight and one side has a bump and a dip.
I understand that a surgery my not immediately bring a perfect result, but the way a doctor treats patients that have complications says a lot about him. I am not happy with how my concerns were handled. The office receptionists (all ten of them or however many they have) seem very dismissive, and all my questions to the docror are answered with generic phrases about swelling.
I look at my old pictures and my new pictures, and I don't really look different, I wouldn't even say I look better.
Unfortunately, I did not end up with what I wanted. I had a bump and a bulbous tip. I wanted exactly the type of nose this doctor tends to do for most patients: slightly upturned, with a slope on the bridge, and a supratip break. What I currently have (at almost 10 months) is a nose that in my opinion is not upturned, the area between my eyes is wider than needed and also asymmetric, with some bump remaining on the right side (by the inner corner of my right eye), and a dip under the bump. Overall to me it gives an impression of the upper side of the nose being shifted to the right and the lower part being shifted to the left. I am very bothered by the bump and I try to contour my nose to make it less noticeable, but it is difficult and doesn't really work. I just end up with brown patches on my nose.
I noticed issues from the very beginning. I had my consultation in person. I flew in from out of state since it was important to me to meet the doctor in person before making the decision to go with him. Well, at my pre-op the doctor didn't realize we met before. I understand he meets a lot of people, but shouldn't he have notes from my consult? So I had to explain what I want all over again. Dr. Grigoryants pointed to my mom's nose (she came with me to all appts) and asked if I liked her nose. I was shocked because even though my mom is beautiful, her nose is worse than my pre-op nose. And she agrees with me. What is worse is I feel he pretty much gave me my mom's nose, just with a pinched tip.
I wonder if the early cast removal is partially to blame - I wanted to wait longer than 4 days to remove it, but the doctor's office insisted that it's ok to remove and didn't find time for me to come a couple of days later. I was staying in California for over a week after the surgery, I would have preferred to keep my cast on for longer! I found several realself Grigoryants patients who have very similar issues, with the bump remaining on the right and the dip under the bump. I don't know if that's the result of how the surgery was done, early or incorrect cast removal or something else. What I know though is that I was very careful as I was healing, and yet the bump was visible from the start.
I noticed that most people who are satisfied with their rhinoplasty tend to have slightly upturned noses right after surgery. I never had that. I'm tall and Dr. Grigoryants says lifting it more would have people looking in my nostrils. I disagree. The way it is now it looks long and too projected. A little upturn looks so feminine, I wish I had that.
I emailed the pictures of the bump and was told that it's hard to tell from the pictures and to come in person instead. I did, but still got a very dismissive response, along the lines of "the nose looks beautiful, if the bump bothers you I'll shave it off later". I showed Dr. Grigoryants pictures made the day before with a good camera. He claimed the pictures must have been taken with a bad camera and that my nose doesn't look like that.
I at least wanted to get the bump shaved off as soon as possible. I know that most doctors agree a revision is ok 1 year after initial rhinoplasty, so I asked Dr. Grigoryants in an email if he could shave off the bump in office after 12 months. I was told no - I would need to wait 18 months instead. I tried calling the office to schedule an appointment at 18 months, and the receptionist refused to schedule me. She said at 18 months the doctor can refuse to correct anything since in some people the swelling might still be present and that some people wait for 3 years. The doctor says if the correction is attempted while swelling is still present the result would not be precise. Yes, but telling a patient to wait several years to me seems like trying to avoid fixing the problem altogether.
My breathing is worse than it was before. I did not have any problems breathing prior to my rhinoplasty, but now my nose usually feels either runny or stuffed, and when I breathe completely through the nose it just seems loud, as if I need to blow my nose. I also hear a whistling sound from the left nostril when I breathe through the nose, so I try to always keep my mouth a little open.
I wish I would have been one of the patienrs with no complications, but that was not my case. The way it is, I just honestly don't feel it made that much of a difference in how I look. My boyfriend never noticed I had anything done. I like not having a round tip anymore, but I notice the asymmetry every time I look in the mirror. With my natural nose, I felt it looked the same from either side, with my new nose one side is straight and one side has a bump and a dip.
I understand that a surgery my not immediately bring a perfect result, but the way a doctor treats patients that have complications says a lot about him. I am not happy with how my concerns were handled. The office receptionists (all ten of them or however many they have) seem very dismissive, and all my questions to the docror are answered with generic phrases about swelling.
I look at my old pictures and my new pictures, and I don't really look different, I wouldn't even say I look better.
UPDATED FROM sam325325
9 months post
Some pictures taken today.
sam325325May 27, 2018
I cropped out my face, but here are some pictures I just took.
Replies (16)
May 27, 2018
I have the same exact wavy bump left over on my bridge! My before nose had a huge bump and i wanted it totally gone with a nice slope. Nope, bump is still there! It's so frustrating!
June 5, 2018
Hi! Sorry to hear you are experiencing some of the same issues. After seeing a bump on my nose for most of my adult life I definitely wanted every trace of it gone with surgery. Still seeing it there bums me out, I know how you feel.
June 5, 2018
I see what you mean. I think it's perfectly reasonable to want a symmetrical nose without a bump. I know surgery isn't an exact science but the doctor should listen to your reasonable concerns.
June 18, 2018
Thanks for understanding! I've asked my doctor why the bump wasn't completely gone, and unfortinately I don't think I got a direct answer. I got something about how the bump on the right side could have been bigger prior to surgery, so that's why it's still there. But should't it have been worked on more then? I feel like my bump wasn't that big (I've seen pictures of people with bigger bumps get smooth profiles), and at least to me my nose looked symmetrical before.
June 6, 2018
Hi, I’m so sorry that you’re not totally satisfied with your results, I can see why, I have surgery booked with Dr Grigoryants next November, and I’m so insecure now. Could you tell me how long post-op you are?
June 18, 2018
I am 10 months post-op.
I hope yout surgery goes well! I've seen many, many great results from him, guess I was just unlucky.
I hope yout surgery goes well! I've seen many, many great results from him, guess I was just unlucky.

June 14, 2018
I'm sorry you are upset. Having gone through my own history of surgeries, I think you are being too critical of your results. You are taking photos that are far too close. To get a true perspective, stand at least 2 feet from the camera. Your nose looks amazing! I think you may be looking for perfection... it does not exist. Keep in mind, the majority of gals on here post op wear a ton of makeup & still contour. Dr. G is right, you will continue healing for 3 years! I know it sucks, but it's true. Be happy he didn't "over do" your nose, because you can never go back. A small bump is inevitable. I have it too. Try to be patient. You hired the best doctor in LA for a nose job. Good job!
June 18, 2018
Thank you for reading my review and sharing your opinion. I appreciate it. The thing is, I see issues even in the puctures from a larger distance, it was just easier to crop the pictures taken from up-close. I also think it should look nice from a close distance too. I think a bump is avoidable and can be removed completely. I consulted with two doctors for a revision, and both of them thought my concerns were legitimate. I would be ok with not having a perfect nose if I could see a major improvement, but it's not improved enough. In addition to that, dealing with breathing issues and asymmetry kind of took away the joy from having a smaller tip and reduced bump.

June 19, 2018
Well good luck in interviewing other docs. Yes, breathing issues is a big deal. Be careful when viewing doctor's portfolios-- I notice some use morphed Photoshop images as their "After" & they don't represent real patients final look. I hope you find what you are looking for :)
July 27, 2018
None of us have the right to tell Sam325325 that she is being too critical. Her issues are completely valid and should be respected. I know several people who were unhappy with their primary rhinoplasty and had revisions. None of the people I knew just decided to live with their unhappy primary results. Perhaps some do, but I personally do not know of anyone who has. Sam I completely see why you are upset. I am sorry.
UPDATED FROM sam325325
10 months post
More pictures from today.
sam325325June 20, 2018
Hi!
Just a couple more angles. I'll add a more detailed update later, but no changes currently.
Just a couple more angles. I'll add a more detailed update later, but no changes currently.
Replies (3)
June 21, 2018
how is the front view. are you happy with tip?
June 21, 2018
Not completely happy with the front - tip is narrower, so that's a plus. But right side has a bump and then caves in. So in some pictures and when I look at myself straight it just doesn't look straight. My old nose looked more symmetrical from the front (I think), even though it had a bulbous tip and a (symmetric) bump. I'm about to add some front views actually. The asymmetry from the front is what I usually notice first when I look in the mirror. I haven't had other people in real life make any comments or look at me funny, but I see it and it bothers me a lot.
June 21, 2018
Oh and the tip is a bit pinched and I wish it looked more defined, especially in profile views, but my other issues right now overshadow my concrens about the tip.
Replies (16)
It's unfortunate to end up with complications. Over the years I've seen so much great work from Dr.Grigoryants (both on his website and posted by patients), more than from any other doctor I was looking into. And I consulted in person with several other docors prior to booking with him. I knew that the result cannot be guaranteed, but I felt my chances were the best with this doctor.
If someone ends up with a good result, that's great. But if there are concerns (like you and I have), aftercare is so important. I felt that Dr.Grigoryants minimised my concerns. I hope your doctor doesn't do that.