After <day 3 after removal> After <day 2 after removal> Before <botched nose> Before <pre-op natural nose> Removal surgery review. If you're busy, start from section 3.
1) Why I had nose surgery: I had a small nose with a bridge that was a little high, but the tip looked low. Still, I had never once been dissatisfied with my nose in my life, and I liked my round, kind-looking impression. But why did I end up getting a nose job? Because I went to a consultation for facial contouring since my square jaw was a complex of mine, and the surgeon diagnosed that if I lifted the nose tip a little while doing the square jaw surgery, the midface would project more and my face would look more three-dimensional. So I got greedy, and I had no idea that the tip would end up like this...
2) Why I did not get it removed at the original hospital: When I went back to the hospital where I had the surgery, if the doctor had said even one line like <This part was a bit severe, sorry>, I would have trusted the doctor and either had it removed or had a revision surgery. But the actual response was <It looks fine now. It just feels awkward because it's different from the face I've seen my whole life, like how wearing a short skirt feels awkward after always wearing long skirts>, so I gave up on the idea at first. Even to me, to my family, and to passersby, it looked strange. And they told me to wait two more months and then decide whether to remove it or have revision surgery, but when I asked the staff by KakaoTalk about the removal cost, they said they could not tell me because nothing had been decided yet. Honestly, at that point, shouldn't they just do it for me? So I was sure I couldn't do it there. It was only 440,000 won for just the tip...
3) How I chose the removal hospital: I was so worried that I searched for a hospital for removal and found the one I'm at now. It happened to be a public holiday that day, but I was able to get a KakaoTalk consultation. They even gave me a direct phone number, so I could make an appointment for a consultation. The consultation booking was for a month later, but I repeatedly messaged the consulting manager by KakaoTalk, begging them to contact me if a slot opened up, and I sent my nose photos and all the dates I could come. Then, as it happened, they said I could come in on a day when I had to visit the hospital where I had the surgery, so I went. There were many consultations lined up, so I waited quite a while. The doctor looked at the CT scans, the photos, and my natural nose photos, and explained everything in detail one by one. After looking inside my nose with an endoscopic camera, they said the mucosa was very red, scar tissue had formed, and above all, the nasal tip would not hold and would keep gradually dropping. Over time, the pinched nose would be even harder to loosen. They said the septal cartilage had been stacked upward without considering the overall shape, and the columella was also bent. Rather than waiting six months, they judged that it would be better to remove it as soon as possible.
They also said I might be able to return to 90 percent of my pre-op state, but the pinched area would be hard to restore completely. After hearing that, I felt this was not a situation where I could delay any longer, so I immediately booked the removal date. And the surgery fee was set at the rate applied when posting a review and sharing photos (with the eyes covered). (They said the review would be on two specific plastic surgery apps, and that the marketing team would contact me. Not Sungyesa.)
4) On the day of surgery <Doctor's opinion before surgery> 1. The condition of the existing incision site is poor (both on the outside and inside), so there is concern that the scar from the incision may become worse. 2. The septal cartilage had been raised too much, and because the internal scar tissue is severe, it is collapsed; the already pinched area may remain despite maximum effort. 3. They said only the nasal tip had been done with septal cartilage, but they suspected that something else might have been inserted too, so they would open it and judge. 4. Because it had been built up too high without regard to shape or function, removing it could cause the nasal tip to sink in, meaning it could collapse. They showed an example photo from another patient's surgery. In that case, since it would be impossible to wake me up mid-procedure and communicate what to do, they said they would harvest AlloDerm or my own dermis and fill it in. (Harvest sites: under the breast fold for women, the waist, and the groin area covered by underwear.)
<What was done in surgery> 1. After removing the septal cartilage, it was repositioned into the original area. It had been cut into three chunks, one chunk was discarded, and only two were repositioned. (Usually many hospitals take septal cartilage and grind it up before placing it, but luckily the hospital where I had the nose surgery had harvested it in chunks, so it could be salvaged.) 2. Repositioning the nasal tip cartilage 3. Straightening the bent columellar strut 4. AlloDerm was found at the nasal tip! Since the nose had been built up so high, there was a risk of collapse if removed, and the AlloDerm was in acceptable condition, so they left it there.
5) Current condition on day 3 after surgery After going to the hospital and getting one shot of antibiotics plus a swelling-reduction injection, the doctor personally removed the gauze and tape. They said the tape is good for reducing swelling, so they reattached it and told me to keep it on for a few more days. They said it is not an inflammatory or contracture case, so there is no real need for pressure taping, but if I want the nasal tip to come down a little more than it is now, I can do it, and they explained how and sent me an example video by KakaoTalk. They said it is not an enormous effect, but it does help somewhat. My nose is still puffy, but the line of my natural nose is starting to show little by little. The day after the removal surgery, maybe because the tension eased, my period, which had stopped, started again, so I think I got even more swollen. I'm taking my medicine properly and trying to stay as calm as possible now.
6) Predicted outcomes for the concerns the doctor had during surgery 1. Fortunately, the incision line does not seem like it will be very noticeable. 2. The pinched area was pinched because it had been made too high, so there should not be a mark left there. 3. Because AlloDerm was left in place, the shape will actually be slightly better than my natural nose, though only by a subtle margin.
7) What I liked about the removal hospital 1. I was really impressed that the doctor personally read every surgery-related consent form with me and signed together with me. At the hospital where I had my previous nose surgery, I remember a nurse saying, "Please fill out the consent form," and I quickly signed because there was so much to read, and she smiled and said, "If you read all of that, you won't be able to have the surgery~"
2. I could really feel that the doctor and the manager genuinely wanted to save me. The manager replied to my KakaoTalk questions, worried about me, comforted me, and even called several times even after 9 p.m. It was so moving for me, since I was mentally shaken after the failed surgery. The doctor is extremely meticulous, highly responsible, and cautious. And I really, really liked that they gave me a realistic judgment instead of raising false expectations.
3. The staff were all kind too. During the removal consultation, the wait got long, but they didn't just make me wait blindly; they kept coming in to apologize and explain roughly how much time was left. The nurses at the surgery center were also very kind and made me feel comfortable.
8) Refund issue with the previous hospital My parents and husband were so upset that I lied and said I had received a refund from the hospital that did the surgery. In case they might not believe me, I said I had gotten a refund and gave half of the money I had saved to my husband and the other half to my parents. I was already suffering enough on my own, and seeing my family suffer too made me think I needed to tell a white lie if only to ease everyone's minds. I have asked the hospital to return at least part of the money, even if not the full amount, but the staff said they would pass along my opinion, and there has been no response yet. I also mentioned this to the doctor at the removal hospital, but they did not say I could recover the money. I guess since they are in the same industry, they were hesitant. Can a refund only happen when there is a major medical accident? Cosmetic surgery is, after all, meant to make you prettier...
9) How I controlled my mind until the removal surgery 1. Think that people care much less about my face than I imagine. 2. Find something I can focus on: I'm a homemaker, so I cleaned the house like crazy. Cleaning every day like a full-house deep clean helped me ease my anxiety even a little. And so that the kids wouldn't feel anxious because of my condition, I talked with them a lot and played with them very hard. 3. Try not to show my family how hard it is: sadness gets worse when you share it. But I do agree with worrying together about similar problems in this community. 4. Think, this too shall pass. After controlling my emotions all day like that, when night came I put the kids to bed and cried alone in my room..
10) Lastly, why I'm writing this It's not because I have too much time, and it's not to promote the removal hospital, and it's not to bash the hospital where I failed the surgery. Through this incident, so much in my life has changed, and I have come to treasure myself far more than my appearance. I reflect on how lightly I used to think about plastic surgery, and how overconfident I was, assuming everything would go well again this time too. I can fail too, and anyone can fail. It's just so painful that I ended up being one of those failure cases.. From now on, when I have time, I will organize and post about the symptoms after removal surgery and how my appearance changes over time. I hope it can help even a little bit for those who are struggling with the same worries as me. Everyone, stay strong!!