Bizarre Consultation Experience

I paid $250 for a virtual consultation with Dr. Bader that could be applied toward surgery if I decided to proceed. The consultation itself went well, and I was quoted $26,000 for an uncomplicated primary rhinoplasty.

My interactions with Dr. Bader were very informative, positive, and professional in nature. However, after I declined to place a $4,100 deposit for a same-day $3,500 discount, the tone of his surgery coordinator, Monica, shifted noticeably. My follow-up correspondence expressing interest in proceeding with surgery after taking the weekend to think it over went unanswered for several days, and about a week after the initial consultation, I received a message from the coordinator stating that “after careful consideration, Dr. Bader feels that our practice may not be the best fit,” without any explanation.

I am in my 20s and this was a purely cosmetic primary rhinoplasty with no functional or breathing issues, so I felt no false sense of urgency to commit to a major surgery on the center of my face after a 15-minute phone call, especially when the only incentive was a same-day discount.

Personally, I am wary of a surgeon’s office that takes a week after your consultation to decide that you’re “not a good fit.” If I were not a good candidate, it’s unclear why I was provided a quotation and deposit option in the first place.