I wanted to write this as a record, so I’m leaving it here. I hope you can get lots of genuinely useful tips while undergoing plastic surgery! I also found many posts helpful.
- Reason for revision My nasal columella was too short and my left nostril was flattened. My left eyelid crease was smaller, making my eyes asymmetrical. I also naturally had an epicanthal fold only on the left, so the crease was hard to see.
- Previous surgery In my very early twenties, I had non-incisional double-eyelid surgery, a 3-mm silicone nasal bridge implant, a septal-cartilage nasal tip procedure, and alar reduction through incision. I paid a little over three million won at a factory-style clinic. The result was not bad: an in-out crease and a semi-bowslip nose, and I often heard that I looked pretty.
- How I chose a clinic Because this was revision surgery, I chose carefully regardless of price. This is supposed to last a lifetime. I had previously visited only one clinic, so this time I decided to visit several. I spread the consultations over two days, leaving two-hour intervals. If I arrived early, they sometimes saw me before the scheduled time.
My criteria were that the surgeon’s aesthetic sense had to match mine, they had to clearly say what was and was not possible, they had to pursue a natural look, and they had to prioritize safety because this was revision surgery. I hated an obvious surgical look, overly pointed features, and excessive height.
First, a nose-specialist clinic. I consulted in the order of coordinator, director, then coordinator. After examining my nose, the director asked why I wanted revision surgery. They said not to operate unless I insisted, except perhaps to correct a slightly drooping tip, because it was already pretty. They would not even tell me the price. They said correcting the uneven nostrils would have little meaning because other people could not notice it T_T. If my nose were truly problematic and needed surgery, I would probably choose this clinic. It was the first place that sent me away because they did not recommend surgery.
They said they always use Gore-Tex for nasal implants. After looking into it, I learned that Gore-Tex can be safer than silicone when used by a truly skilled surgeon. Materials have improved, and removal is not a major problem. If I ever develop capsular contracture, I would like to see this director.
Second, another nose-specialist clinic. The consultation order was coordinator, director, coordinator. They said my bridge and tip were fine and did not need work. If I insisted, they recommended lowering the columella slightly and lifting the alar wings. I was shocked when I heard the price. They also strongly discouraged surgery and said I did not need it. They did not understand the complex that only I knew about T_T T_T T_T.
Third, an eye-specialist clinic. The coordinator was average. When asked whether I had a celebrity photo I wanted to copy, I said no. I did not want to say “make my eyes like this”; I wanted surgery suited to the harmony of my face.
The director suggested two options. Because my eyes and eyebrows were close together, they said the crease was hidden and that partial incision should be designed in sections. The right crease was invisible only in the center, while the left was invisible overall. My existing crease was in-out, but the upper eyelid skin covered it, making it look like an inner crease. They recommended keeping the crease but making partial incisions in the eyelid skin. For the left eye, they thought an upper canthoplasty alone would release the epicanthal fold. The right eye already showed the lacrimal caruncle, so it did not need surgery. They were also known for lower and lateral canthoplasty, and said that could be done together. In conclusion, they said my eyes were genuinely difficult T_T.
The second option was not to have surgery at all. They asked whether anyone had ever said my eyes were small. They said my eyes were already large and sufficiently attractive. I liked the director’s honesty, but gave up because the price was absurdly high T_T.
Finally, a clinic performing both eye and nose surgery, with only three surgeons. The coordinator recommended redoing the double-eyelid line with non-incisional surgery, performing an upper canthoplasty only on the left, and revising the nose. Because one nostril had already been flattened, they said the nose needed revision. Lowering only the columella would require an open approach, which could increase the risk of infection in the existing silicone and septal cartilage. Therefore, they recommended revising the nose.
During the director’s consultation, we discussed the nose first. I finally met a director who understood my needs precisely. They said the flattened appearance of one nostril was caused by a deviated nasal tip. They recommended donor rib cartilage. When I asked about resorption, they said there was no need to worry about resorption with donor rib cartilage, and that they had already performed the procedure on two of their nieces or nephews, so they considered it very safe. They said autologous costal cartilage would make the nose hard and that my frame was too small to provide enough cartilage. Donor rib cartilage would provide enough material to support the tip firmly.
They recommended replacing the silicone and changing the semi-bowslip line to a straight-to-semi-bowslip line. My CT showed deviation, and the silicone extended too far toward the tip. They said the implant position would be adjusted because the nose could be perforated if handled incorrectly. The flattened nostril should improve, and if the columella were lengthened slightly, lifting the alar wings would not be necessary, so we decided to lower only the columella. We also decided to use one piece of right ear cartilage for the tip.
My impression was that the director was extremely professional and spent the longest time consulting, drawing diagrams as they explained. Everything was easy to understand, and they identified my problems almost like a shaman, which I liked T_T. I finally felt that a director understood and recognized my complex, and I immediately decided, “I should do my nose here.”
Then I consulted the eye director. She had apparently joined the clinic recently. She recommended lower and lateral canthoplasty, upper and medial canthoplasty on both sides, and raising the crease with another non-incisional procedure. I was genuinely puzzled. The right lacrimal caruncle was already visible, and I had no intention of touching the right eye. She said doing only one side would make the asymmetry more noticeable, so both sides needed balancing. I immediately felt strong resistance and thought I should not let this person operate on me. I also did not like her manner or speech, so I could not bring myself to trust her.
Since I had decided to do the nose, I scheduled surgery and texted the coordinator asking whether I could consult with and have the eyes operated on by another director. Fortunately, they adjusted the arrangements, and I consulted the eye director on the day of surgery. I was prepared to do only the nose if the consultation was not good lol.
The eye director said that if I had lower and lateral canthoplasty, my bone structure was already close, so red mucous membrane would show in the left eye but not the right. They did not recommend it if I disliked visible mucous membrane. Upper and medial canthoplasty should not be done on the right. Because the left had an epicanthal fold, they recommended upper canthoplasty only on the left. They discouraged medial canthoplasty. My eyes were already close together, so they could not be moved much, and a high crease would not suit my eyes. They recommended raising the existing crease by only 1 mm with non-incisional surgery.
Immediately after hearing the consultation, I felt it was nearly perfect. If I had gone with the female director, I probably would have been completely ruined. I agreed right away and decided to proceed. However, they said upper canthoplasty uses a scalpel, so scarring is unavoidable. My skin is fair, so it probably would not show much, but I had to accept that a scar would occur. I was prepared to manage it carefully and had already prepared supplements for hypertrophic scar tissue, so I accepted it!
That is how I ended up having eye and nose surgery. They designed everything, put me under general anesthesia, and operated. Oh, but I can definitely say this was not shadow-doctor proxy surgery. Why? The director and operating-room staff chatted nonstop lolololol. I could hear everything. They talked about apartment prices and real estate and so on. It was so noisy that I felt a little uncomfortable. Still, I definitely felt that it was not proxy surgery, and then the operation ended.
Today is postoperative day 6. I’ll post the essentials, advice, and useful tips later!! This got way too long.