3 years post op, still very unhappy with my results

Provider Review

• 23 Jun 2018

Where do I begin? Ever since I was 16 my nose was noticeably a little too big for my face. The older I got, the more it bothered me. So a few years later when I was ready,I started doing a thorough test of all surgeons in my area. I met with surgeons all over the US (where I reside) but they were quite above my price range. Then I heard about Rhinoplasty specialists in Turkey. I followed Dr. Emre Ilhan and another doctor for a few years before I decided to proceed with Dr. Emre. The first contact was via email where I spoke to his assistant. They never asked me to see pictures of my nose but gave me surgery availability a year later in November (this should’ve been first red flag). I told them I was not available now but would be available from May-July 2017 instead, they told me they had a sudden cancelation and were able to fit me in. They asked me to transfer 500 euros to the doctors account to reserve the date and pay for the consultation. I thought great, I booked my tickets for me and my family, hotel and started preparing myself. Close to the surgery I was surprised nobody messaged me telling me what precautions or things I need to stay away from or take before surgery so I went ahead and asked. They replied letting me know not to drink, smoke etc. Before I know it I was in Turkey and in Dr. Emre’s office. This was beyond exciting for me, I’d been waiting for this my entire life. The office was PACKED, my appointment that was given to me for my first consultation was at 2:30 but I did not see the doctor until 6-7 pm. Actually the doctor did not show up until 4 and rushed through everybody. Everybody got about 5-7 minutes with him and were rushed out the door. My first consultation was not “lengthy” like they advertise them to be. My first consultation Dr. Emre was being sooo nice to my family and I. He told me my skin is good skin for surgery and is not thick nor thin. He said the surgery would be pretty straight forward since my problems were more functional but he never bothered to look into my nose, he just heard my complaints and nodded confidently( another red flag). Other than functionality I had a small bump that I wanted shaved. Simple, straight forward as you will see in the photos attached for my preop. This meeting lasted maximum 10 minutes. I was happy and excited leaving although looking back I should’ve known better. Next consultation, same thing happened I was given an appointment time and my family and I waited for 6 hours to see the doctor. Before the doctor was ready to see me they took me into a room and asked me to pay for the surgery which was about 18,000 TL. It felt wrong paying before seeing the doctor but they told me they're so busy and are trying to speed up the process.This appointment the doctor took a picture of my nose and morphed the profile view on the computer. He was rushing like he had better things to do. He did not even make eye contact with me that consultation. After the money was received, I was another case. I even asked the doctor if I can take a picture of the side profile morph he made and he refused stating its illegal to have me take a pic. I explained to him I wanted my mother staying at the hotel to see it but he refused. As soon as I walked outside and spoke to the girls that went before me, they showed me the morphs he let them take a picture of... Even writing this review, I am starting to tear up because I feel like I was so excited and naive that I missed all these signs but the money was already paid and I couldn't get it back. I walked out of the office balling my eyes out, but I convinced myself it was the nerves kicking in since my surgery was the next day. I went back to the hotel and prayed to god to protect me and went to sleep. My surgery was the next day, Dr. Emre had three patients that day. He walked in, said hi to me and told me I would be the second case. I was transferred to the operating room and put to sleep before any familiar faces even walked in. Not a single person spoke english. Cansu, his surgical assistant who is the sweetest person was not there and I wished she was before they put me to sleep. Next thing I know I woke up shivering in the hospital room. The doctor walked in around 9pm and told me the surgery went well. Cansu (surgical assistant) checked on me the next day twice. For follow ups i went on day 5 where the plastic “tampons” as they call them were taken out by dr Emre. Again, the wait was crazy and I was in so much pain already. I must mention that I did not bruise, only swell up. Dr. Emre told me he was not going to be there for my cast removal on day 10 as he was traveling but another surgeon will be here. I felt disappointed but there was nothing I can do. On day 10 once the cast came off, my nose was so terribly swollen even the surgeon was shocked. I’m not sure if that was a sign something was off. but we taped it and I went home. My swelling continued to decrease. At month four I would message the clinic and tell them my nose seemed to be collapsing from one side. They informed me it was just swelling and that this happens to thick skin. I explained that they told me my skin was not thick before but apparently they changed their mind. Month 6 something was clearly wrong, I seemed to be forming harsh lines on either sides of my nose and bone that was sticking out, my nostrils were uneven and I had bloody discharge everyday. Sometimes I could not breathe from my nose for so long I would get dizzy. I was shocked because the reason I picked dr. Emre was because he is an ENT before anything but I don't know why my breathing issues were not touched. I really started feeling like maybe it was not him who performed the surgery. That is until I met about 6 girls who are devastated by his results. The beautiful ladies I met who had their surgeries within the week I was there and 90% unhappy. Only one girl does not have clear deformities. I am never one to hurt someone’s reputation and this has taken me a lot of guts to write this review. But the truth needs to be said,please ladies be very careful and thorough with your search. Don't fall for the instagram doctors and realize that some of them only take videos from the side view for a reason(thats all they can do). At thirteen months and after so much praying and contemplation and positive thinking, I am writing this review hoping what happened to me does not happen to more people. I would not recommend doctor Emre Ilhan at all. I would also be very careful about these reviews being posted and accounts being made as most of them are fake. Feel free to message me if you are impressed by an revision work as I am currently in the process of finding one. FYI, doctor Emre did offer me a revision “for free” only paying hospital fees but I declined as you will see the problems I have any experienced surgeon should not have done in the first place. The office continues to blame my skin and tell me the same thing over and over again about him performing over 500 surgeries a year but I am no longer falling for that and I can’t bring myself to trust him again. It would save me so much money going back to him, but I think they all showed me they do not care about me as a patient so I am hoping to find a surgeon who does genuinely care about helping people, not his/her wallet.