Biggest Mistake Ever (with pictures)

I went to Dr. Kridel for a primary rhinoplasty, and was NOT happy with the results or his behavior afterwards. See my pictures and judge the results for yourself.

After the surgery, I contacted Kridel's office because his office staff told me before surgery that the chances of anything going wrong in my case were extreeeeemmmeely small, and if that happened, Dr. Kridel would simply fix the problems. But when I called to say that something had gone wrong, Dr. Kridel's office really gave me the run-around. They would do things like saying they would have to check their schedule for when I could come in and call me back, but then they wouldn't call back. I've never had such a hard time getting in to see a doctor in my life. When I finally did get in, Dr. Kridel said regarding the crookedness in my tip that it was "within range of normal variance" and that my nose was more "refined." Everyone else I've ever talked to thought my nose looked worse after his surgery. He then acted like any problems with my nose were caused by my asking for the rhinoplasty to be a minimal procedure instead of a drastic change. Unbelievable! I was never told before surgery that my asking for a "minimal" change was a problem, and I would really hate to see what my nose would have looked like if I'd asked him for a drastic change. In the end, he didn't seem to think he could fix things to my satisfaction, and did not give me any of my money back (and as you all know, he's very, very expensive).

As for what went wrong, my first revision surgeon wrote in my OP report, "There was extensive scarring and after the elevation we discovered a significant bossa on the left side. The tip was deviated to the left. There was significant left alar collapse and right alar convexity; however, creating a poor asymmetric outcome with tip biphidity." This is a very, very difficult problem to fix.

I can't say what I truly think of Dr. Kridel on this website, because this review would probably get deleted. So I'll just say I detest him more than anyone else I've ever met. I just hope my review here might save someone else from going through what I've been through with this office.

I'm attaching some info about his fellowship program that I found on the AAFPRS website (AAFPRS is the organization that sets up his fellowship). I think if I were considering this doctor, I would want to see it. I underlined a couple sentences that I found interesting.

Here are the photos from before and after my surgery. Dr. Kridel initially put a graft in the nose that I don't think looked good at all. You can see it in my after shot that was taken 7 months after surgery (the 3/4 angle). Then in the other after shot, taken from a front view 2.5 years after surgery, the graft had luckily been absorbed by my body so the nose looked somewhat better - although still bad (it still had the problem of the left side collapsing).

Overall, I hope people will realize from my review that rhinoplasties are dangerous operations that can ruin your life, even if you go to a very expensive US doctor who markets himself well. My nose was pretty decent before I went to Kridel - I think about a B+ or A-. Then after Kridel, I think it became a D. I obviously wish I had just kept the nose that I was born with.

Also, when surgeons tell you that if you don't like the result of your surgery, they can just put your nose back to basically how it was before (a lot of surgeons seem to say that to people before the surgeries), it's not true. I don't think ever. Plastic surgery is so poorly regulated today, and it's almost impossible to win a lawsuit or even get a lawyer if you've been botched, so surgeons often mislead their patients to get them to pay for surgeries with no consequences to the surgeons.

Another thing surgery offices do to mislead patients is to tell them that the consent forms that they're asked to signed are just formalities that their lawyers insist on. They make it sound like it's almost impossible for you to have any of the problems listed on the consent form. But look at my review- I had a hideous graft from Kridel, then it absorbed within a couple years, and also the left side of my nose collapsed. So I had all those complications that were supposedly so extremely rare. Of course, after my surgery, the form I signed was shoved into my face and I was told that I obviously knew the list of problems I had with my nose were a substantial possibility.

Finally, I want people to know to be careful of going to a surgeon who is a fellowship director for the AAFPRS. If you do go to one, please ask who will be doing your surgery- the surgeon or his fellow. I can't promise that the surgeon will tell you the truth. I think plastic surgeons are more shady than used car salesmen. But at least you can try.