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POSTED UNDER Revision Rhinoplasty REVIEWS

Hopeless After Three Surgeries

ORIGINAL POST

First rhinoplasty was to reduce bulbous tip,...

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q8madamJanuary 15, 2010
$20,000

First rhinoplasty was to reduce bulbous tip, shorten the nose and improve my profile which i felt was too pointy. While the cast was on i could tell it was SIGNIFICANTLY crooked. Looked like the doc may have sewed the columella and tip on crooked? There was NO definition at all on one side...it was if it were completely empty of cartilage and was being pulled flat...also one HUGE nostril and one tiny one.

Went back to the same doc for revision he did a closed rhinoplasty and did VERY little..reduced side of the columella that appeared to be potruding in the large nostril and did a placed a tiny graft near the tip TO GIVE THE APPEARANCE OF BEING STRAIGHT. he tried to hide the problem rather than fix it.

3rd revision...different doc...he vastly improved the appearance of the crooked tip but it is still not right but NOW one side is STILL flat and the other now has a dent and ball on the other side...PLUS now when i smile there is pulling inside!

Horrible rhinoplasty experience. Much research has left me hopeless...i have not seen ONE rhinoplasty case that looks like mine...so i am thinking NO ONE is going to be able to fix this..

i think the primary doc sewed my collumella and tip on crooked....now 3 rhinos in...maybe i am beyond help? after last rhino tip is straighter but one side of nose is completely flat and lacking ANY definition ANYWHERE. The other side has a dent and ball on the side. Anyone know a GREAT doc? Is there such a thing??

q8madam's provider

Dr. Gabriel Saab of Cosmesurge, Kuwait

q8madam

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Replies (19)

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Dr. Sattenspiel MD
January 26, 2010
Question: Hopeless after three surgeries. Answer: The most difficult cosmetic surgical procedure is the rhinoplasty. However, even more difficult cosmetic surgery is the revision rhinoplasty. With each revision, the surgery becomes more difficult and the potential for good results presents a greater challenge. I wish I could be more help to you; however, you seem to present a rather complicated complex set of circumstances. The architectural contour of your nose has been significantly altered on several occasions with certain structures missing and a certain amount of underlying scar tissue present. You need to be personally evaluated by a competent experienced rhinoplasty surgeon who can close-up and in person assess your current findings and offer appropriate recommendations to you.
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Mary Anne Cincinnati
March 24, 2010
I am so sorry. I too wish I had never touched me nose. I'm going for number 3 and pray that this nightmare is over. I wish you the best.
not provided
April 12, 2010
I am past you on the forth for a revision, what a nightmare and waste of time before and after surgery. Its a horrible experience where a large percentage is left unhappy. I too wish I never stepped foot in my last doctor's office, but I was in such a great need to breathe better and did the opposite cosmetically and funtionally.
Stormy100
March 19, 2011
I agree with all of you. I, too regret my revision surgery. I rushed in to my doctor because I wanted my breathing to be perfect again and he made me look hideous. I had a femine nose and now it looks like a masculine blob. I also have a bump or two and is leaning to the side in many areas. It is very crooked and hangs down lower on one side. Let us know how your surgery worked out. And if anyone can recommed a good revision doctor please send me a private message.
Paul4233
August 17, 2011
hi can i ask who did your primary and two rivisions after ? i had my primary about 2 months ago, the surgeon completely altered my looks, i want to know if its even worth thinking about getting a revision. obviously my primary was a fail. i dont want to make another mistake
not provided
April 12, 2010
I am so sorry for your anguish, I am experience the horrible nightmare right now, it is so sad that people don't realize what TRUST they are instilling in a stranger. I feel so awful and violated. I admire your strength. I am empty as I did my reasearch and my doc was one of the top rated....what a big joke.
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q8madam
April 15, 2010
thanks for all the replies everyone. Well, i had started my research on top revision doctors 2 years ago...thought i had found one...found a scary story about a complication one of his patients had experienced and talked myself into going to a different guy that was referred to me by a family member who was also a doctor. After my THIRD revision....i dove back into the world of researching docs and came full circle BACK to the original one who i had considered to be the BEST in the first place. After careful consideration and coming to realize that when it comes to people like us (having had more than one unsuccessful rhinoplasy) there is no number ONE great doctor out there who hasn't got an unhappy patient, some unforseen complication that turned out really bad and etc we revision patients are a risky business and there are no guarantees. SO on June the 14th i have decided to "go with my gut" and have my FINAL surgery with the doc that i feel like i have the most confidence and faith in. He, nor any of the other top docs i looked into, have a perfect record and 100% percent satisfaction BUT i just have a feeling about him. AND i have reached the end of my journey after this one....I have come to the conclusion that NO MATTER what happens after this surgery...I AM MORE THAN JUST A NOSE...i have grieved over the loss of my original nose long enough and it is TIME TO MOVE ON. So WISH ME LUCK everyone!!
guru
July 17, 2011
Do you mind if I ask who this doctor is that you have a "good feeling" about and are going to do your surgery with? I am also looking for someone.
NeedingRevisionRhinoplasty
June 9, 2010
Dear God do I pray for you. My nose is just as unique as yours in terms of how messed up it is. I wish you all the best. I am praying hard for you.
UPDATED FROM q8madam

Went for revision with rib grafts in Dallas, Tx....

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q8madamMay 23, 2011
went for revision with rib grafts in Dallas, Tx. Now have collapse on one side with worsened breathing

Replies (54)

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q8madam
May 23, 2011
Well, folks, it was a big FAIL. One side was a total and complete success but the other is an absolute mess. I have a severe nasal collapse and breathing is minimal. I went back to my doctor after 10 months and was told that my situation was dire. I have significant skin damage now from all these surgeries increasing the chance for necrosis....which i have seen can be so bad that a forehead flap is sometimes required. The doctor informed me my options are limited to only ear cartilage which is very soft and prone to warp and collapse. I am severely depressed and have been left with no hope. I am the poster child for one bad rhinoplasty after another AND I symbolize all the reasons that one should be happy with what they were born with.
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anon9886
May 23, 2011
ok, i have had a primary closed op 2 years ago, and plan a revision via open approach, and after reading ur post, am fearing the complications such as necrosis, how big is the chance to develop? thanks,
kako2
July 8, 2011
Can you please give us your doctors names so we don't go to them for revision. thanks
ausgal
July 10, 2011
i am so sad to read your story. i too have been greatly affected by failed rhinoplasties. i regret ever touching my nose, but primary concern was difficulty breathing. so mine wasnt purely cosmetic. six rhinoplasties later , my nose has been fixed as best it can be fixed at this late stage. it has been so soul destroying and i wouldnt recommend it to anyone. are you certain that your nose can not be fixed??? can you get another opinion? i have heard of tissue necrosis but i thought it happened after MANY rhinoplasties and i believe you have only had three? are you sure its not just your doctor fobbing you off because he doesnt want the challenge of trying to fix something he doesnt have the expertise to fix? i would get another opinion.
zhara in oz
May 3, 2012
hi, i was reading your posts and i really feel for you. I was wondering how it is all going? I had a rhinoplasty 5 yrs ago and im not really happy about it, but i am worried about getting a revision. You have made me realise that its not worth all the mental anguish to go through it all again. I am trying to accept mine as is, as although im not happy with it, it is considered ok by all the docs. Would love to hear from you. :)
kako2
June 6, 2011
Dr. Most in Palo Alto Calif. and Dr. Golden are the two i am considerin to use for my revisoin.
gothamgirl
June 17, 2011
I am so sorry to hear your story. I just had my primary rhinoplasty 3 weeks ago and the doctor reduced the tip of my nose so much that it is now flat to my face! This is the opposite of what i wanted and as the swelling goes down the tip is getting smaller and smaller!!

I am already researching revision specialists. I live in NYC so I am going to consult with 3 here (Dr. Rizk, Dr. Jacono and Dr. Pearlman). I have also heard that Dr. Robert Ciardullo in White Plains is good, although I don't know how many revisions he's done. I am also planning to fly out to San Diego to check out Dr. John Hilinsky and Dr. Amir Karam.

I can't wait until I hit the 1 year mark so I can get a revision. They will have to rebuild my tip which will not be easy I'm sure.

I have been very depressed since the surgery so I can't imagine what you're going through. I really sympathize.
kako2
June 17, 2011
I had an open rhinoplasty on May 5th of this year. My nose is so short and over rotated. The first few days I wanted to end my life. I am in deep depression. I don't eat, sleep. I don't go to any social event. I am avoiding everyone. I really want to have revision. I researched and I found doctor Jack P Gunter in TX. I am saving money to go to him. He has done some amazing work.
Stormy100
July 10, 2011
Kako2-- Do you mind saying what doctor you went to??
kako2
July 10, 2011

He works for Kaiser

Stormy100
July 11, 2011
It looks like he was an ENT. My doctor was an ENT and a plastic Surgeon. I though being an ENT, he would be better at a complex revision but he totally ruined my nose. I miss my old nose. If you get a revision done and have a great experience, let me know your doctors name as will I.
kako2
July 11, 2011
I am considering Dr. Rizk in Ny, Dr. Andrew Frankel in LA, Dr. C in Taxes, Dr David Kim in S.f. I already had a discussion with Dr. Frankel, and he does not want to do my revision. He thinks the revision would not fix my problems, it might make is worse.
gothamgirl
June 17, 2011
Kako2 -- I'm sorry to hear about your depression. I can totally relate! I will check out this doctor. I have dome some research and it seems that a short rotated tip can be fixed with the right revision specialist but he/she has be very experienced in revisions because they are more difficult to do than primaries. Each revision gets harder and harder, so please do your research before you do your 2nd surgery! I regret that I didn't do enough research for my first!
gothamgirl
June 17, 2011
By the way that picture of me is before my surgery! I wish I had that nose back. :(
kako2
June 17, 2011
Your nose looks beautiful in the picture. I think we all make mistakes. My nose was not that bad. After the surgery I end up with a crooked, short nose that sits too high from my face.
I will prey for both of us. I hope the revision goes well.
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