POSTED UNDER Revision Rhinoplasty Reviews
I am 8 months post op revision rhinoseptoplasty and I am absolutely botched
UPDATED FROM tno1
1 year post
Update 1 yr 2 months
$14,000
Just wanted to update now that it has been over a year. It looks worse with the swelling down. My bridge has a bony part that protrudes on my left side (what used to be my good side) and everything is deviated in that left direction, including my supratip & tip lobules. My columella has a keloid and I warned him that I scar pretty bad and thick- he assured me I would have no problem but here we are. Aside from this, there’s no reason to give more updates since he is retired but I’m hearing he may have gotten or may be getting sued. Tbh, it’s well deserved. If anyone decides to form a case against him, let me know. I may be interested in taking part but don’t have the mental energy to spearhead it. I’d like to leave on a positive note: I’ve been looking for revision specialists and am now thinking outside the US may be the best option. Primarily looking in Turkey as I’ve seen a few girls online say they saved their noses over there. From everything I’ve seen, the doctors there perform miracles. I’m just waiting for the catch... but their portfolios speak for themselves almost. No doctor I met with in Beverly Hills was able to provide me much of any before & afters. And any photos I saw hardly compared with how beautiful the noses in Turkey come out.. and the revisions they do I mean my god... it’s just the beginning of my search so if anyone has any suggestions let me know. Also hearing Mexico is good? And Brazil but due to Covid I’m not sure that will be possible. Not looking for cheap, looking for the right one.
ORIGINAL POST
Botched
I've been waiting months to write this review to give him the benefit of the doubt & allow swelling to go down. I am ~8 months post op revision rhinoseptoplasty and I am absolutely botched. I know doctors may respond, "there is still swelling, etc." and yes there is, but the nasal bone structures themselves are actually deviated. I can see & even feel them. It looks as if someone has turned my nose like a dial on my face. Makes no sense. Luckily I have been growing so much spiritually which is the only reason I'm afloat mentally.
I went in because I wanted to fix my deviated nose that leaned to one side more. It's as if he heard "make it lean even more to that side!" because that's what he did. He convinced me that my nose was not crooked but asymmetrical. Ok sure, you're the experienced one here, but I was adamant. After a lot of begging (should have been a red flag), he agreed it was "slightly" deviated and could move it back. On operation day he comes in and and asks if he could do more to the other side to make it symmetrical. I figured sure, as long as it doesn't negate everything we had agreed upon. But apparently it did. As he seemed to focus on the side I did not really have a problem with. I think I realize now that one knows their nose best, and thus should be the ultimate decisionmaker.
I could tell from the moment I saw my nose in the cast. The cast itself was crooked but the swelling made it look less so. I've gone in several times with my concerns, very respectfully and with the understanding that perfection was never a choice (nor did I expect it). But he began to gaslight me. On my last visit with him, he used those little long wooden q-tip looking sticks and aligned it with my nose, which resulted in it going diagonally down my face like this /. When I aligned it to be actually going straight down my face, you could see how far off my nose was from center including the bridge. He kept pushing it back diagonally, forcing me to accept that it is straight. I asked, "in what world is this straight?" and he started getting agitated and upset. Few words later he left the room. I was so upset, felt unheard, and was fighting back tears. They took pictures of my nose that day and if you were to pull them up you'd see red, teary eyes.
My livelihood depends on me performing in front of a camera, online & offline. So this whole time I have barely been able to work (and yes I could even with covid, but can't bc nose). I did this so I could look better on camera and also breathe better which would enhance my speech. Now I can't even go on Zoom without looking insane- it looks worse on camera.
My only regret was that he didn't retire sooner and never touched my nose. I was better off with my old, less crooked nose. But alas- here we are. What can I do? Besides wait until I can get a whole 3rd rhinoplasty. Never saw myself going down this route... I'm happy he did retire and won't be able to ruin any more people's lives, but also upset that I'll never get any closure or fixing done. I can't even ask him questions now since he retired 4 months after my operation and is unreachable.
MY ADVICE: Do NOT go to a doctor who doesn't use computer imaging like this guy. I'm sorry but we are in a modern era and I should be able to see what the doctor is picturing. And if, as a patient, you can't accept that it may not look exactly 100% like that, you need to hold off. Although TO BE HONEST with you, I have seen some doctors post their 3D renderings next to their results and it looks identical. Not saying that should be your standard, but at the very least get some computer imaging to make sure you're on the same page.
If you feel a good connection with a doctor, and have done all the relative research, honestly go with that doctor even if it's more expensive. And if you don't connect with any after consultations, WAIT til you do find the one! It will cost you more to cut corners or compromise. I trusted Dr. Fleming because of his nearly 40 years experience and he felt very family like. But my post op experience has been a nightmare. It's as if I offended him by showing him his mistake. You should not have an ego about this doc! I understand humans aren't perfect and make mistakes, but don't gaslight your clients bc of your shortcomings (just seen another reviewer say the same thing, and who knows how many others there are).
If anyone who has gotten corrective surgery successfully after being botched has any advice, please please please let me know. I'm just waiting for the year mark to get a revision and don't want to make this mistake again. Also, if anyone knows incredible revision rhino docs who do the closed procedure, link me! Don't think my columella can handle another open procedure... Preferably in CA but willing to go anywhere (in the US) at this point to make it my last surgery :\. I feel like I've exhausted most viable options here in LA...
I went in because I wanted to fix my deviated nose that leaned to one side more. It's as if he heard "make it lean even more to that side!" because that's what he did. He convinced me that my nose was not crooked but asymmetrical. Ok sure, you're the experienced one here, but I was adamant. After a lot of begging (should have been a red flag), he agreed it was "slightly" deviated and could move it back. On operation day he comes in and and asks if he could do more to the other side to make it symmetrical. I figured sure, as long as it doesn't negate everything we had agreed upon. But apparently it did. As he seemed to focus on the side I did not really have a problem with. I think I realize now that one knows their nose best, and thus should be the ultimate decisionmaker.
I could tell from the moment I saw my nose in the cast. The cast itself was crooked but the swelling made it look less so. I've gone in several times with my concerns, very respectfully and with the understanding that perfection was never a choice (nor did I expect it). But he began to gaslight me. On my last visit with him, he used those little long wooden q-tip looking sticks and aligned it with my nose, which resulted in it going diagonally down my face like this /. When I aligned it to be actually going straight down my face, you could see how far off my nose was from center including the bridge. He kept pushing it back diagonally, forcing me to accept that it is straight. I asked, "in what world is this straight?" and he started getting agitated and upset. Few words later he left the room. I was so upset, felt unheard, and was fighting back tears. They took pictures of my nose that day and if you were to pull them up you'd see red, teary eyes.
My livelihood depends on me performing in front of a camera, online & offline. So this whole time I have barely been able to work (and yes I could even with covid, but can't bc nose). I did this so I could look better on camera and also breathe better which would enhance my speech. Now I can't even go on Zoom without looking insane- it looks worse on camera.
My only regret was that he didn't retire sooner and never touched my nose. I was better off with my old, less crooked nose. But alas- here we are. What can I do? Besides wait until I can get a whole 3rd rhinoplasty. Never saw myself going down this route... I'm happy he did retire and won't be able to ruin any more people's lives, but also upset that I'll never get any closure or fixing done. I can't even ask him questions now since he retired 4 months after my operation and is unreachable.
MY ADVICE: Do NOT go to a doctor who doesn't use computer imaging like this guy. I'm sorry but we are in a modern era and I should be able to see what the doctor is picturing. And if, as a patient, you can't accept that it may not look exactly 100% like that, you need to hold off. Although TO BE HONEST with you, I have seen some doctors post their 3D renderings next to their results and it looks identical. Not saying that should be your standard, but at the very least get some computer imaging to make sure you're on the same page.
If you feel a good connection with a doctor, and have done all the relative research, honestly go with that doctor even if it's more expensive. And if you don't connect with any after consultations, WAIT til you do find the one! It will cost you more to cut corners or compromise. I trusted Dr. Fleming because of his nearly 40 years experience and he felt very family like. But my post op experience has been a nightmare. It's as if I offended him by showing him his mistake. You should not have an ego about this doc! I understand humans aren't perfect and make mistakes, but don't gaslight your clients bc of your shortcomings (just seen another reviewer say the same thing, and who knows how many others there are).
If anyone who has gotten corrective surgery successfully after being botched has any advice, please please please let me know. I'm just waiting for the year mark to get a revision and don't want to make this mistake again. Also, if anyone knows incredible revision rhino docs who do the closed procedure, link me! Don't think my columella can handle another open procedure... Preferably in CA but willing to go anywhere (in the US) at this point to make it my last surgery :\. I feel like I've exhausted most viable options here in LA...
Replies (5)
I'm so sorry that this happened to you. I recommend checking out Dr.Richard Reish. He performed my rhinoplasty, as well as my sister's. He is a rhinoplasty revision specialist and is the most honest and trustworthy surgeon that I've ever met. He is in NYC but he does offer free consults in office or through video.
Best of luck to you!
thank u! will check him out
I'm so sorry to hear about your experience. I am also seeking a third surgery, counting down the days. I hate the gaslighting that happens post-op, it seems its much more common than we realise. My surgeon tried to blame stress as the factor why my nose wasn't looking right. I hope you find someone to help you and get you closer to your goal.
thank you - I hope you do as well. that's crazy s/he could blame it on stress... how shameless. at least there's a nice community here. we'll be ok <3
Hi TNO1, I tried to message you but you have messaging turned off. Please message me when you have a chance. I recently did a revision with Dr. Mayer (a former colleague of Dr. Fleming) and am left with a botched, crooked, horrible nose. I'm devastated and VERY angry.
hey- so sorry to hear. this is strange as I never turned messaging off and don't see anywhere to turn it on or off. I had seen a few weird things about that doctor actually...
hey- so sorry to hear. this is strange as I never turned messaging off and don't see anywhere to turn it on or off. I had seen a few weird things about that doctor actually...
I am reading this review aloud to my husband right now and it's literally making me so upset. It's as if I'm reading my own words I've been repeating for 9 months. THIS WAS MY EXCACT SAME EXPERIENCE WITH DR. RICHARD FLEMING. I went to him for a revision rhinoplasty end of December 2019 for a crooked nose. On our first meeting, he was so knowledgeable and kind, and suggested some things for my nose in addition to straightening it that I hadn’t even thought of, including shortening my columella area. Fast forward 3 months later to my pre-op appointment - one week before surgery - he started saying totally different things than when I met with him the first time (my husband was in the room both times and he agrees!). That’s when the GASLIGHTING began (I am so glad you used that word, that was the exact word I used!). He got very weird and tried to make me feel like I was crazy and my expectations were unrealistic, but he was the one who suggested it all in the first place! I also realized he hadn’t written down anything I said in the first appointment. I came out of the appointment very upset. I almost cancelled the surgery that day (and wish I had now!) but it was too late to get my deposit back and I wasn’t going to be able to get more time off work any time soon. I did get an amendment in my contract saying that if something went wrong or the outcome wasn’t as expected, he would preform another surgery for me at a discount. So I went through with it. I woke up and JUST like you, the cast was crooked. I knew immediately my outcome wasn’t going to be ideal, but wasn’t expecting perfection and was still very hopeful that it had at least somewhat improved. The cast came off a week later, and it was still very crooked. In that appointment, Dr. Fleming pushed down on one side of my nose with his finger and said “when this swelling goes down, it will look a lot more straight.” I saw him again one week later, and he pushed on the exact OPPOSITE side of my nose and said the same thing. That’s when I knew something was really off about him. Then I asked him a very basic question like “how long can I expect that swelling to last?” And he REFUSED to answer me, like it was a crazy, demanding question - again, GASLIGHTING. Then I learn he is going to retire and not provide me with proper follow up care (which I believe was included in the cost). So on our next appointment, a couple months post-op, I told him that none of my goals had been achieved (as far as I could tell at that point in my healing process - but he wasn’t going to be around to talk about it when I was less swollen, so I had to talk to him about it then). I told him I was upset with my outcome so far. He got really combative and upset. He also refused to answer basic questions about my expectations for healing.
I am now 9 months post op and I am actually uglier than I was before the surgery. My nose does not look good. Not only is it not straighter, it’s also wider, with some odd looking shapes under the skin, and my columella is actually bigger and lower than before. Not only that, but he charged me for a “cartilage graft” rhinoplasty which I don’t think he even did. It’s such a powerless feeling to know that I basically got ripped off, made to feel like I was crazy, demanding, or a perfectionist for asking very simple questions - then he disappears.
Let me know if you want to talk about it more - there’s even more to the story. Unfortunately I don’t think its made me feel any better to know there is someone else in the same boat - it just means he made more money off us before disappearing.
oh my god, thank you for sharing this and sorry for the late reply. I had to log off the site for a while- I don't like the feelings I get when I revisit my experience. I'm so sorry to hear you went through the same things with him! powerless is truly the word to describe the whole experience. I'm at the year + 1month mark now and am mustering up the courage to search for a new surgeon but I'm honestly terrified of making the wrong decision again. I don't know that I trust any beverly hills surgeon now, especially at *those* prices. and is realself really the only/best place to find them? like how do people find their perfect doctors, especially overseas?! I'm definitely in the same boat as far as looking worse...it's made my whole face look different. it's bigger and more crooked- my columella looks INSANE. you can see where he cut and stitched it up bc one side of the cut protrudes more. it's a whole mess. at least before I had 1 good side lol. if it weren't for my partner loving me so much and being so sweet to me I'd probably be in a very dark place. he thinks I look great no matter what I do thank god. oh and I forgot to mention in the review that he also ripped the inner corner of my upper eyelid.... I woke up not knowing what it was (looked like crusty blood I thought was just part of the carnage, but it was a see thru stitch) so I started trying to pick it off which made it get irritated. I had to call his answering machine after hours to ask him what it was. "oh the nurse didn't tell you?" -_- it happened while he was pushing my nose *in the wrong direction.* I can only laugh at it now tbh. all we can really do is find revision gurus now. I'm willing to fly pretty much anywhere like even overseas to make sure this is my last. I hope you're doing ok. at least now it's not weird to wear a mask...

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