This is my fourth revision surgery. I’m erasing my foolish past of deciding based only on what others said, and now I’m visiting clinics myself, having consultations, taking notes, and making my own decision. Note: Several directors said this is a particularly difficult case of contracture. The columella is deeply indented, the tip is lifted and curled, and it is pinched into a straight-line shape. I was so self-conscious that I hardly went outside without a mask. I wanted to avoid the large clinic [Clinic A], but it happened to be on my route, so I was curious. The price gap from the event price was quite large, and there was no consultation fee. As soon as I entered, an intensely unpleasant feeling from the coordinators hit me. Even though I had an appointment, they told me to wait because there was a queue, without a single smile. I wondered whether it was right to start a procedure I was paying for while already feeling this way. The director consulted with me for about ten minutes. It felt rather textbook-like. I said I wanted a normal-looking nose more than a particular shape, and although they seemed to listen to my preferences, I felt they were not reflected at all. Then it ended. After the coordinator came in, there was constant pressure about the deposit. When I said I would think about it, her expression, attitude, and tone changed completely. I just left.
[Clinic B] I liked the aesthetic of the reviews, but I had heard there were some issues, so this was the place I was most curious about. The price gap from the event price was the smallest. The coordinators had a gentler impression than the usual plastic-surgery-clinic type. I had booked in advance, waited about ten minutes, got an X-ray, and entered the consultation room. They said they mainly handled autologous costal cartilage, so this was my first time getting an X-ray. The person who brought tea and snacks seemed to be a coordinator and had a blank expression, but the consultation manager was kind. After about ten minutes discussing my concerns with her, the director came in. I explained my previous surgeries and current condition, and the director examined my nose in detail—almost embarrassingly so. They asked whether there were any special issues. Looking at the X-ray, they said there was little remaining tissue and cartilage, so we had to prioritize, then asked whether I had a desired shape. I showed the photos I had brought. They said it would be difficult. They would try to match the photos as much as possible, but it would not be easy, and achieving a nose that would allow normal daily life seemed possible. For someone like me, they recommended giving up a little on the bridge and choosing a safe approach without an implant. The director’s consultation lasted about 25–30 minutes. Throughout the consultation, I felt that they really understood noses. The approximate cost was a little over 10 million won. There was a guarantee in case the tip dropped, and the follow-up period was definitely longer than elsewhere—six or eight months, perhaps. Aftercare seemed to include swelling injections and some kind of laser treatment. After the consultation, they sent me the consultation details and before-and-after images by messenger. No consultation fee.
[Clinic C] There were quite a lot of advertisements, but this was also a place I was curious about. The price was slightly different from the event price, and the consultation fee was 20,000 won. There may have been a booking error. I had arrived on the correct date, but fortunately they adjusted it. The staff were so-so. The wait was about 40 minutes, and the response was somewhat disappointing. I liked that the director explained things specifically and told me realistically what was and was not possible. They carefully explained that even making the columella rounder and lower had limits because of my current skin thickness and cartilage condition. The director seemed confident, which was good, but I also felt a certain distance. I do not know how other people feel, but after accumulating a fair amount of failure experience like me, I instinctively hesitate when someone is excessively positive. Other than that, I think it was generally one of the better places. The cost was also a little over 10 million won here—apparently similar almost everywhere. I did not ask about aftercare, but it seemed generally similar. There was slightly some pressure to pay a deposit, but it was understandable to this extent. Choosing a clinic is really difficult. Other people say they earn money, get married, and buy a house, but I earn money and spend it on revision surgery, so I’m having a real existential crisis lately T_T You don’t need to recommend other clinics, and please spare me the lectures. I’ve already visited enough clinics. If I had gone straight for revision instead of doing this, or had it done properly from the beginning, I wouldn’t have regrets, right? T_T