I have been considering rhinoplasty for a nose that I can’t stand. However, I don’t want to run the risk of not liking the results. How can you guarantee that I will be satisfied with my new nose?
There is of course no way to guarantee that you will be satisfied. That is the quick answer. Let me say a little more.
After I have met with you, discussed your concerns, and examined you (and your nose), we undertake computer imaging. Computer imaging is a very helpful way to communicate surgical goals. The patient understands that computer imaging is a video game – it is not a guarantee, but it is a way to find our shared goal. It is important for me to know what the patient wants to accomplish, and the patient must know what the surgeon envisions as a goal for the surgical result. Computer imaging is extremely useful to communicate this information, and we therefore perform computer imaging on virtually all patients prior to surgery.
With computer imaging, I work with the patient to generate an imaging result that is the goal for surgery, and I want to be sure that the patient agrees to the goal. The patient understands that this is not a guarantee, but that this is our shared goal.
If, after surgery, a patient is not satisfied with something about their rhinoplasty, then I am happy to address this. In a small number of patients, additional surgery is necessary, and in these cases I do not charge an additional surgeon’s fee. (there are additional relatively modest, anesthesia and operating room fees, however). All surgeries have risks, and you will have to discuss with a specialist the specific risks and benefits in your case to make a decision about what to do. Once you have chosen a surgeon, have a candid discussion with the surgeon regarding your goals and expectations of surgery. A discussion of the potential complications is critical, so that you understand the risks of a complication. Although most complications are relatively minor and correctable, more serious, debilitating, and uncorrectable complications do occur.
Not all Rhinoplasties are the same – some have smaller risks, and some have greater risks. One of the risks of any cosmetic surgery is the risk of an unacceptable cosmetic result. We try to minimize this risk but it cannot be eliminated. Fortunately, we encounter this problem in a very small percentage of patients only.