Many patients pen thank you notes, but one in particular stands out.
When A.D. (privacy laws prevent us from revealing her name) now 29, came to see us, she said she could not recall a time when she liked her nose or willingly posed for pictures.
Her displeasure with her nose was constantly on her mind when dating or attending social functions.
She wrote: “I always wondered if people noticed how big my nose was, the size of the bump on the top or the way it comes down too far, covering my upper lip.”
If you read much about plastic surgery, you’ll find there are many who feel that we should accept ourselves as Nature made us, forgetting “vanity” and nose jobs.
But all that depends on whose shoes you are walking in.
A.H. was in the accept-yourself-as-you-are camp for a while, writing, “I thought I needed to simply accept my nose and finally learn to love it.”
Nonetheless, A.D.s nose had a clear impact on her self-esteem and confidence. Three years ago, she made an appointment with a plastic surgeon but cancelled. And then never rescheduled.
More recently, she realized the hours she fretted about her nose was a waste of time and energy. Like many who have an intensely disliked body feature, she wanted confidence when meeting new people and appearing in pictures.
A.D. then came to us after combing the Internet and doing other research with her mother, an R.N. The duo asked all the right questions and, when satisfied, booked cosmetic surgery. She wrote: “Dr. Kotler’s academic credentials and quality of work were obvious …as was his empathy and compassion.”
She also liked our computer-enhanced “after” image prediction. (Read more about cosmetic surgery “after” imaging.)
Her procedure: Classic rhinoplasty with hump removal, narrowing of the entire nose and raising the nasal tip.
One-month after surgery, A.H. reported that her nose was tender, but she did not require medication. She was delighted no marks were seen on her face while friends said the rejuvenated nose matches her face and is so natural-looking, it makes her face look smaller and her profile softer.
She writes: “I can’t adequately describe how much better I feel knowing my nose no longer haunts me….it’s such a relief to look in the mirror and be happy.”
Regrets? Yes, one.
“That I waited so long…”
(See videos of patients telling about their cosmetic surgery.)
Dr. Kotler: Ranked by MapQuest as #5 out of 500 medical & health professionals in Beverly Hills’ “Golden Triangle”