Rhinoplasty/septoplasty. Very, Very Happy with my Result.

This was my third rhinoplasty and my first septoplasty. I had an accident when I was 12 and had squashed the lower part of my nose and broken most of my top teeth. In my early 30s I had a bad rhinoplasty that left me with a hooked nose, what I wanted was my original, pre-accident nose back again. In my early 40s I had another rhinoplasty, ostensibly to fix the second, which made the situation a lot worse. In both cases I had chosen well known, respected plastic surgeons. Neither listened to a word I said and both tried to give me their signature cookie cutter nose. In the second case a nurse had actually approached me just before surgery to warn me that the surgeon tended to make noses too small and all the same. I didn't listen though because I had already committed. By the time he was finished my nose was a twisted mess, and progressively I was having difficulty breathing. I despaired.

For about ten years I decided that this was my fate and it served me right for being so vain but gradually I started looking around again, at reviews, at photos, I made a few appointments but came across the same tendency to not listen, all told me that they couldn't achieve what I wanted because mine was a very difficult case.

Then on Realself I came across Dr.Palma's reviews. When I saw the revision rhinoplasty photos on his website I was very impressed indeed, they are by far the best I've seen and there are plenty of them, I immediately made an appointment with him in Milan.

Well, he lived up to and exceeded all expectations. For a start he actually listened attentively to me. He then examined my nose and pointed out the aesthetic problems and also functional issues inside my nose that explained why I was having breathing problems. He took detailed photographs himself (the other surgeons had their assistants take the photos), he gave me ample time to ask questions, never made me feel rushed or anxious and told me that he would work on my case and get back to me. Work on my case?? A surgeon was actually going to look in detail at MY situation rather than just give it a go based on what normally works for them? I couldn't believe it, in fact I didn't really believe it until our next meeting which had to be on Zoom. He had prepared a detailed plan for my nose, he warned me that what I wanted was difficult and that he may not be able to achieve it exactly but he could certainly improve the situation. He seemed to understand precisely what I was aiming for and he showed me a simulation of what he was hoping to achieve. He allowed me to have an input into it and we made an adjustment. He listened carefully, and he explained himself with care to make sure I understood.

I felt reassured and elated so I went ahead with the operation and am now a week and a half out with a nose I love for the first time in 40 years. Very importantly, although my nose is still swollen I can breathe fully which has been a revelation, I hadn't realised that my breathing had been that much compromised. It's a miracle and I'm very happy.

He is an artist, an engineer, an aesthete, and a lovely man on top of it all.

I would like to add that both himself and his wonderful assistant Ludovica were very responsive to all questions, demands, panics, at all times, both before and after the operation. I couldn't have asked for a better experience.