Post by Deedee on Apr 4, 2003 21:33:38 GMT -5
I really know how you feel. My first rhinoplasty was when I was 16. The Dr. performed my surgery on camera during Rhinoplasty Week in the '70's. He did a good job (although I wished it were smaller.) He told me that the surgery was radical and that no other Dr. should work on it without getting my records and consulting with him.
In the late 80's I needed surgery for a deviated septum and a local Dr. said he didn't need the records as the surgery was very basic. He also said he would remove a tiny cyst that was on the tip of my nose. WHAT A MISTAKE I MADE!
This Doctor made an incision in the center of my columme (sp?) he changed one nostril and left the hospital after surgery without a word. My Mother got nervous after waiting a very long time for some word on how my surgery was going. She found me laying on a gurney in the hallway with a bag of ice over my face!
Late that evening I woke up at home and went into the bathroom. I undid the drip pad and gasped in horror. I looked like Phantom of the Opera!
The Doctor assurred me it would be simple to correct the problem but put me off for 2 years before telling me he couldn't do anything for me. I found out that he was protecting himself from getting sued as 2 years is the statute of limitations!
No other Dr. would help me in Iowa so I found my original surgeon (now in Sacramento!) sent him pics and he agreed to treat me. He was furious when he saw me in person. The pics (although horrible) weren't as bad as I looked in person! All he promised was that I would look better than I did then.
The surgery took hours. The end result was better but not nearly as good as his primary surgery had been. He couldn't make the deformed nostril match the one he originally made for me so he had to elongate the small nostril to match the ugly one. He moved the scar in the middle of my collume (?) to the base of my nose , and made my nose somewhat straighter.
About 3 years ago I noticed that my nose was collapsing on both sides. The collume(?) curves to the left,my nose is crooked,and my septum is S shaped! Airflow is restricted to the point that I have chronic sinus infections and snore like crazy! My Dr. wanted to do a sleep study but said my nose needs to be corrected first.
I drove to Omaha and consulted with Dr. Dennenberg. He referred me to Dr. Vito Quatela (Rochester,NY) I also consulted Dr. Krivit and he said Dr. Quatela is very good but I should also consider Dr. Toriumi in Chicago. Chicago is much closer to home and from what I have heard Dr. Toriumi is very good.
Both Drs. I have consulted with so far have told me that they would not do my surgery. I am thankful that they were willing to refer me to someone that has more experience performing the type of revision surgery I need . Both Drs. have said that my surgery will be EXTREMELY difficult . Dr. Dennenberg said that due to the lack of cartlidge,the excessive scarring,and numerous other complications there is a possibility that medical science won't be able to help me at this time!
The best I can hope for is minimal improvement . Grafting is going to be necessary to open my airways. My nose will have to be widened which is not exactly what most of us want to hear when we have dreamed of a small nose all our lives! A successful outcome would make my nose straighter (Not straight). They could try to center my collume (I've got to memorize how that word is spelled! loll)
I am scared that nothing can be done. I am also scared that something can be done and that I will look worse than I do now!
Good luck to you. Let me know what you find out! I'll do the same!
In the late 80's I needed surgery for a deviated septum and a local Dr. said he didn't need the records as the surgery was very basic. He also said he would remove a tiny cyst that was on the tip of my nose. WHAT A MISTAKE I MADE!
This Doctor made an incision in the center of my columme (sp?) he changed one nostril and left the hospital after surgery without a word. My Mother got nervous after waiting a very long time for some word on how my surgery was going. She found me laying on a gurney in the hallway with a bag of ice over my face!
Late that evening I woke up at home and went into the bathroom. I undid the drip pad and gasped in horror. I looked like Phantom of the Opera!
The Doctor assurred me it would be simple to correct the problem but put me off for 2 years before telling me he couldn't do anything for me. I found out that he was protecting himself from getting sued as 2 years is the statute of limitations!
No other Dr. would help me in Iowa so I found my original surgeon (now in Sacramento!) sent him pics and he agreed to treat me. He was furious when he saw me in person. The pics (although horrible) weren't as bad as I looked in person! All he promised was that I would look better than I did then.
The surgery took hours. The end result was better but not nearly as good as his primary surgery had been. He couldn't make the deformed nostril match the one he originally made for me so he had to elongate the small nostril to match the ugly one. He moved the scar in the middle of my collume (?) to the base of my nose , and made my nose somewhat straighter.
About 3 years ago I noticed that my nose was collapsing on both sides. The collume(?) curves to the left,my nose is crooked,and my septum is S shaped! Airflow is restricted to the point that I have chronic sinus infections and snore like crazy! My Dr. wanted to do a sleep study but said my nose needs to be corrected first.
I drove to Omaha and consulted with Dr. Dennenberg. He referred me to Dr. Vito Quatela (Rochester,NY) I also consulted Dr. Krivit and he said Dr. Quatela is very good but I should also consider Dr. Toriumi in Chicago. Chicago is much closer to home and from what I have heard Dr. Toriumi is very good.
Both Drs. I have consulted with so far have told me that they would not do my surgery. I am thankful that they were willing to refer me to someone that has more experience performing the type of revision surgery I need . Both Drs. have said that my surgery will be EXTREMELY difficult . Dr. Dennenberg said that due to the lack of cartlidge,the excessive scarring,and numerous other complications there is a possibility that medical science won't be able to help me at this time!
The best I can hope for is minimal improvement . Grafting is going to be necessary to open my airways. My nose will have to be widened which is not exactly what most of us want to hear when we have dreamed of a small nose all our lives! A successful outcome would make my nose straighter (Not straight). They could try to center my collume (I've got to memorize how that word is spelled! loll)
I am scared that nothing can be done. I am also scared that something can be done and that I will look worse than I do now!
Good luck to you. Let me know what you find out! I'll do the same!
