I hadn't even joined the forum and spent a few weeks just reading what other people wrote, then after getting consultations at three places I decided to write something too. I wanted other people's opinions and wanted to share information.
Anyway, reading only and then trying to write feels really awkward; haha
In any case, I had my first nose surgery 11 years ago, and recently I started having a strong feeling of pressure, plus pain that came and went around the bridge or the tip, so I first went back to the hospital where I had the original surgery. Since it's been more than 10 years since the operation, they said there were no records left at the hospital from my first surgery. The director who operated on me said there doesn't seem to be an inflammation problem in my current condition, but I still felt uncomfortable and uneasy, so I started looking into removal surgery. (I'm okay now.)
I roughly heard that it was done with silicone and septal cartilage, so with only that information I went around getting consultations recently.
I had a total of 3 consultations.
1st clinic (consultation fee including CT: 27,000 won?) I was seen in the order of manager - surgeon - manager.
It felt like I waited more than 30 minutes, maybe because they booked overlapping appointments. After the CT, I had photos taken from several angles, filled out some forms, waited, saw the manager, then saw the doctor. The doctor was cheerful. Seemed a bit young. No palpation. He listened while typing. The consultation was based on the photos and CT report.
He said there was some calcification and that the silicone had rotated a little. I didn't know how thick the silicone was, but I found out there. haha He said it was about 4 mm, but because it had rotated, it looked lower than that from the front... Hmm.. So there was a reason my nose had looked wider and wider. Anyway, it was interesting, so I focused on what he was saying.
Then he put a mirror in my hand and explained, saying that if the silicone comes out, it would look about this much. He said removing only the silicone would take 5 to 10 minutes. He said other people even take Friday off half a day and go to work the following Monday. He talked about it as if it were very simple. And like in other reviews, he said my nose was easy, like level 0.1? 0.2? Ah, since I have rhinitis, he said we should operate on that too. He said that if the silicone is removed, there could be a step-off, so he might put AlloDerm in the tip. He also told me about the types of implants, saying I might feel a sense of loss after removing the silicone, so I should think about it. Yes, no thanks.
Since this was my first removal consultation, I couldn't ask many questions here. I met the manager again and talked about the cost, and among the three places, this was the cheapest.
After I left, I had some time before the next appointment, so I looked through the community and it seemed like they tell almost everyone the same things: that the nose is easy, that rhinitis surgery is needed, that AlloDerm may be used, and so on. It made me think once again that you really shouldn't go to just one clinic.
2nd clinic (consultation fee: 30,000 won) After that realization (?) I went to the next one. Right, here I had to deposit 30,000 won first to confirm the reservation. The atmosphere was very different from the first place. I hadn't realized there was a place like this near Hongik University Station, where I used to go sometimes... As I had heard, the building looked old, but inside the clinic was just clean, I think.
Right after I arrived, I filled out a medical questionnaire and saw the director fairly quickly.
I went in trembling after reading the consultation reviews, but the doctor was less strict than I expected? Less scary? It was fine. He examined me by palpation. He said the silicone seems to have rotated, and that they had extended the septum and tied the tip? or tied the cartilage? So one side of the tip seemed a bit pulled in, and he explained it while drawing a picture, haha. (I was thinking, I saw this in the reviews!!) He said there was no inflammation, and when I said it felt like my nose was blocked and uncomfortable, he seemed to have looked inside with an endoscope in the room next to the consultation room? I'm mixing it up with the first clinic... He put in a probe and had me breathe with the right side blocked, then the left side blocked. He said the right airway was narrow.
Then we went back into the consultation room and continued. He showed me some photos and said we should do a full removal, and then use ear cartilage in the pinched part? the indented part? of the tip to make it more gradual. And it seemed he also wanted to use ear cartilage for the nasal obstruction. He also talked about reinforcing the support structure and things like that... This was more than 2 weeks ago, so it's hazy...
I also couldn't ask questions very well this time. I wasn't planning to add anything else, so when I asked whether it would be okay to use ear cartilage, he turned the question back on me. He said, what problem do you think would happen? while pointing at the photo on the screen. I left after saying, then there wouldn't be one, haha.
After that, I saw the manager again to talk about the cost. Somehow... very kindly. I knew the price was high going in, but it was beyond what I imagined.... wow.... Wherever I go, it will probably be cheaper than this. I'm wondering if the price would have been different if I hadn't said I had nasal obstruction, so I'm considering going for another consultation.
Still, this was the place that was first in my mind when I looked at photos and did my own research, so I liked the doctor too.... He explained the surgery really well, which was nice. There was even a separate sheet for it? splint for 3 days, nose stitches for 7 days, ear stitches for 14 days, no packing. Need to wear an ear bandage. Things like that.
3rd clinic (10,000 won) Because the price gap between the first and second clinics was so huge, I figured I really needed to go around and compare more, so I immediately booked my second choice in my mind.
Maybe because I went in the morning... or maybe because consultation appointments are spaced out, there weren't many people at the clinic. By the time I finished my consultation and came out, there was one couple. This place is always mentioned when people talk about nose removal surgery, so I expected it to be crowded, but it wasn't. Hmm....
First I saw the director. He looked gentle... As soon as I sat down, he started with palpation. This doctor also said the silicone had rotated. He asked what brought me in, and I said I wanted removal because the pressure had been really strong recently.
He said if my original nose height is fine, the silicone can be removed, and the tip is mine, so it doesn't have to be removed. I asked whether my nasal blockage would get better if the silicone came out, and he said that wouldn't be solved. However, because the tip would be lowered as much as the silicone was removed, there would be more space inside the nose, so it might improve a little. That was the answer I got. Looking at the photos, he explained how to correct the step-off. After surgery the nose really does look wider... unavoidable, I guess...
And I asked about what I had mentioned at the second clinic, about the pinched tip, and he said that if the nose is lowered, the pinching will be less noticeable.
When he asked if I had any more questions, I asked one extra thing: what exactly does a full removal remove? At that point he also talked about the capsule, and said that in my current state it was my choice. Since there is no inflammation, the capsule is basically my own tissue, and it will be absorbed eventually anyway, so it can be left alone. He explained that the contraction period is part of the healing process and can feel tight, but it will return later.
Maybe because I went in the morning, he spent the longest time on the consultation and answered really well. I was satisfied.
After the doctor consultation, I talked about the cost with the manager. This place was a little more expensive than the first clinic, but if the capsule is removed too, there is an additional charge, so it was a bit over 100,000 won more expensive than the first clinic. Overall I liked everything, but when I looked at the post-op photos, the alar base looked too wide... That was the problem. My original nose already had relatively wide nostrils... I really like the price, the doctor, and the surgical method, but this keeps bothering me. In community reviews I also saw people talking about scar tissue... ugh, what am I supposed to do, seriously.
So the cost summary is: 1st < 3rd < 2nd, and consultation satisfaction is: 1st < 2nd = 3rd.
That's everything I consulted about so far, and for the ㅅ clinic with the packed schedule I'm on the waiting list, and I'm going to a consultation at the ㅈ clinic in Gangnam next month... If anyone has other clinics to recommend, please let me know... Is it ㅈㅅ? I saw that one too. The prices vary so much, but would it be better to do it somewhere moderately expensive?
What should I do about the capsule?! Is it okay to just leave the septal extension alone?! I'm really so confused and it's hard...
I said I was sharing information, but it feels more like I just came to vent...
If you read all this long post, thank you.... Looking at the consultation details, I think you can probably tell which clinic is which, so I didn't even write the initials. If you have any questions, leave a comment~