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5 years 5 mo. post revision LAST update
Because I receive the same questions again and again I'm going to briefly chronicle this experience and hopefully it will cover everything again.
In late 2008 I had a botched surgery by Michelle Copeland in NYC. She removed 1 cm of my septum, literally sliced and diced my tip, and without my consent performed an alar reduction unnecessarily bringing my nostrils inward. She also, without my consent shaved the small bump on my bridge that I specifically expressed I did NOT want shaved down. The surgery lasted about 1.5 hr if not less. I initiated a lawsuit against her and her lawyer called me to settle which I did. A lawsuit against someone who is licensed to cut people up goes on public record so they'll avoid it if they can. A refund was all I got and I was lucky to get even that. Lawsuits for elective surgery are not easy to win.
One year later in late 2009 I had a revision surgery with Dr. Thomas Le in Baltimore MD. After I consulted with him (he spend about 1.5 hours with me) I knew he was the one. He specializes in trauma patients and reconstructed noses worse than mine. He added back 1 cm to my length using septum that I still had plenty of thankfully. He also fully reconstructed my tip using rib cartilage harvested from myself. I suppose that's called a graft. It was not and is not painful and I have a very small 3/4 inch scar that is barely visible. That surgery took 9 hours. In Jan 2012 I went back for a minor tweak to slightly shave down the size of my tip I felt was a bit larger to my liking. I don't know how long that took. 4 hours maybe. That's all folks. My tip is harder to the touch than a natural nose but it's fine. No problems breathing or anything else. Yes, it takes awhile to get imaging from Dr. Le but I kept emailing. He's likely much busier now than when I consulted with him so it probably takes longer. If I don't mention any issues I had going in (valve collapse or whatever else) it means I had none. I just had a really horrifying primary surgery and grateful to have found Dr. Le to restore my nose to appear natural and function well and with longevity. Anything else I haven't shared here means it's private, like costs, how much I got refunded, and whatever else. Additionally, if I haven't posted any info about any other grafting it means there wasn't any. I believe this is a fully comprehensive report of my entire experience minus the emotional trauma. All the best to you who have suffered a similar fate. I hope you're as blessed as I was to find a surgeon to get you back to living your life without injury and depression.
In late 2008 I had a botched surgery by Michelle Copeland in NYC. She removed 1 cm of my septum, literally sliced and diced my tip, and without my consent performed an alar reduction unnecessarily bringing my nostrils inward. She also, without my consent shaved the small bump on my bridge that I specifically expressed I did NOT want shaved down. The surgery lasted about 1.5 hr if not less. I initiated a lawsuit against her and her lawyer called me to settle which I did. A lawsuit against someone who is licensed to cut people up goes on public record so they'll avoid it if they can. A refund was all I got and I was lucky to get even that. Lawsuits for elective surgery are not easy to win.
One year later in late 2009 I had a revision surgery with Dr. Thomas Le in Baltimore MD. After I consulted with him (he spend about 1.5 hours with me) I knew he was the one. He specializes in trauma patients and reconstructed noses worse than mine. He added back 1 cm to my length using septum that I still had plenty of thankfully. He also fully reconstructed my tip using rib cartilage harvested from myself. I suppose that's called a graft. It was not and is not painful and I have a very small 3/4 inch scar that is barely visible. That surgery took 9 hours. In Jan 2012 I went back for a minor tweak to slightly shave down the size of my tip I felt was a bit larger to my liking. I don't know how long that took. 4 hours maybe. That's all folks. My tip is harder to the touch than a natural nose but it's fine. No problems breathing or anything else. Yes, it takes awhile to get imaging from Dr. Le but I kept emailing. He's likely much busier now than when I consulted with him so it probably takes longer. If I don't mention any issues I had going in (valve collapse or whatever else) it means I had none. I just had a really horrifying primary surgery and grateful to have found Dr. Le to restore my nose to appear natural and function well and with longevity. Anything else I haven't shared here means it's private, like costs, how much I got refunded, and whatever else. Additionally, if I haven't posted any info about any other grafting it means there wasn't any. I believe this is a fully comprehensive report of my entire experience minus the emotional trauma. All the best to you who have suffered a similar fate. I hope you're as blessed as I was to find a surgeon to get you back to living your life without injury and depression.
5 years post revision
By popular demand, I give you photos 5 YEARS after my revision with the wonderful, skilled surgeon and artist Dr Le.
I experienced a very dark time after the first surgeon did what she did. I know many of you relate. I acted with vigilant determination and did the diligent research and footwork to rehabilitate and make myself whole once again. My work paid off and I found Dr Le.
After meeting him for the first time my gut said this is the dr who can fix this mess.
Always trust your gut.
Countless numbers of folks have asked me to post pics and I've declined the demands. I don't respond to people who don't trust my word, claim I have an obligation to post pics, accuse me of irresponsibility for not updating pics, or give me the impression they need to judge based on their expectation.
I posted my review against the surgeon and gave my advice to do your research. I voluntarily posted photos.
I'm compelled to express again that I'm not obligated to keep this post or photos visible or to update it. Snarky messages are ignored.
One person inspired me to post pics and this person didn't even ask me to. I felt strong empathy for this person and sad that this person has missed out on a lot of joy and possibilities due to his own horrifying experience.
"F'ed up face", it takes a lot of strength and courage to share your vulnerability without expecting or demanding someone provide you with the capability in dealing with the situation and to move forward. I'm afraid you may feel you have nothing more to lose in life but the fact that you get out of bed every day means you have the strength to get through another day. There is hope.
I experienced a very dark time after the first surgeon did what she did. I know many of you relate. I acted with vigilant determination and did the diligent research and footwork to rehabilitate and make myself whole once again. My work paid off and I found Dr Le.
After meeting him for the first time my gut said this is the dr who can fix this mess.
Always trust your gut.
Countless numbers of folks have asked me to post pics and I've declined the demands. I don't respond to people who don't trust my word, claim I have an obligation to post pics, accuse me of irresponsibility for not updating pics, or give me the impression they need to judge based on their expectation.
I posted my review against the surgeon and gave my advice to do your research. I voluntarily posted photos.
I'm compelled to express again that I'm not obligated to keep this post or photos visible or to update it. Snarky messages are ignored.
One person inspired me to post pics and this person didn't even ask me to. I felt strong empathy for this person and sad that this person has missed out on a lot of joy and possibilities due to his own horrifying experience.
"F'ed up face", it takes a lot of strength and courage to share your vulnerability without expecting or demanding someone provide you with the capability in dealing with the situation and to move forward. I'm afraid you may feel you have nothing more to lose in life but the fact that you get out of bed every day means you have the strength to get through another day. There is hope.
4 years post revision
As anyone who has followed the posts and comments below know, I've had a revision by Dr. Le in Nov 2009 and a minor tweak in Jan 2012. While my vision of perfection can never be achieved especially after such mutilation by named surgeon (ha!) Michelle Copeland, I'm pleased with Dr. Le's diligent efforts in constructing a new nose, replacing the mincemeat Copeland made out of my entire lower cartilage with rib cartilage.
Nothing at this point can be done with the nostril/alar reduction she took the liberty of giving me without my consent but, this wasn't a revision to "make me look pretty again". More like "make me not look deformed". I certainly appear to have a normal looking nose and I can live with it without wincing every time I look in the mirror.
I'm updating for all the people who are still commenting on this as if it happened last month and I'm seeking a revision. It was 4 years ago and my life has moved on from this. I hope you who have suffered under someone who you should trust, someone who took the Hippocratic (more like hypocrisy) oath to "first do no harm, also find the strength and determination to move on.
Nothing at this point can be done with the nostril/alar reduction she took the liberty of giving me without my consent but, this wasn't a revision to "make me look pretty again". More like "make me not look deformed". I certainly appear to have a normal looking nose and I can live with it without wincing every time I look in the mirror.
I'm updating for all the people who are still commenting on this as if it happened last month and I'm seeking a revision. It was 4 years ago and my life has moved on from this. I hope you who have suffered under someone who you should trust, someone who took the Hippocratic (more like hypocrisy) oath to "first do no harm, also find the strength and determination to move on.
Provider Review
This doctor gave me a obvious bad nose job, she was argumentative, VERY impatient, dodges questions, and told me to seek therapy to accept the outcome. She doesn't even deserve one star but instead a big fat F for failure as a doctor and ethical human being. I was stunned that she actually looked me in the eye and told me this is what we had discussed and that it looks great but she wouldn't put it on her website when I asked. If she was so proud of this, why wouldn't she want to use it for advertisement and exposure.