I am here now to write the consultation review I had at the end of June. (Conclusion: I am a patient waiting for surgery here in August)
This is my fourth nose surgery, meaning a re-revision surgery, and I am the kind of person touring 11 hospitals.
In my third surgery a year ago, I even had autologous costal cartilage removed for a major operation, but it twisted, and one side of my nose could not even breathe.
I had already spent 10 million won only on nose surgery, and it ended up ruined, and now they say I have to open the nose again and wear a splint for another week... The more open the surgery, the greater the risk of contracture, they say, and sigh.. Does anyone know this feeling?
I was in tears, staying up all night and searching through every bit of information on this community, from the doctor’s educational background to whether they are an ENT specialist, reputation, whether they have more than 10 years of experience, which hospitals they trained at, whether they have a private clinic, I even made a portfolio with my past photos, why I am going through a fourth surgery, and what I want from this operation, and carried it into the consultation room like a villain. Honestly, since this is my fourth surgery and I went to 11 places this time, I think I visited all the famous nose hospitals mentioned here. I met all the famous directors, even the ones with YouTube channels.
There were doctors who said they did not need any of that and turned me away, and doctors who calmly listened. My current doctor was the latter.
Everyone in this community, and everyone working in plastic surgery, will understand. Patients who go to plastic surgery clinics are not only people whose faces hurt,ㅋㅋ they are first and foremost people whose hearts hurt. Even if the former kind of doctor is skilled and all-powerful, if they do not understand the patient’s needs? That is a case that does not match me.
The more you dig, the more information keeps coming out in this field, and honestly, it is tiring. There are really way too many plastic surgery clinics. It is such a sea of information that I cannot choose.
The current director, first of all, I went knowing he was highly specialized, and I think he is a hidden gem whose reputation is less known than his career deserves. He does not do viral marketing or aggressive advertising. From what I can see, people seem to come through introductions from acquaintances or, like me, by searching obsessively and getting lucky.
Director’s characteristics) He recommends options that suit facial harmony. And he understands exactly what the patient wants and what their complex is. After meeting 11 directors, I could compare and see that clearly. He is as safety-oriented as possible. Against implants, against keeping silicone if it is already there and removing it if possible, against making it unnatural, against removing existing rib cartilage if it can still be used, so when he set up both Plan A and Plan B, I felt, yes, this is the one, and left a deposit, and eventually set my surgery date for August. I know better than anyone that I am a difficult case. At another famous hospital, they said they expected only 50% improvement and suggested surgery. There, they even quoted 15 million won for the surgery. ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ The director was confident and professional, and when I asked, so how do you think I will change? I actually liked the changes he drew on the iPad. Even if it does not turn out exactly that way, if the director’s impression, based on looking at my nose, was that then I felt hopeful.
I liked the conservative surgical plan that considered the patient step by step, and the manager was kind, did not force unreasonable demands, and was calm. I will come back with a surgery review in August.
Ah, this time, because septal deviation and rhinitis and other issues ended up developing due to my previous surgery(?), and because they were clearly visible on the CT scan(?) - though I do not think this is something to be happy about - it will be covered by insurance, so I think I will get around 1 million won reimbursed from that amount. There are probably many friends burdened by surgery costs, so if you have a case like mine, keep this in mind.
Also note that you need to go to an ENT specialist doctor, not a plastic surgery specialist, to get insurance reimbursement.