Choosing a surgeon

Written by Escobar MD     

You have had this idea in your head for a long time: getting nose surgery. You have taken pictures in all angles and positions, and you realized long ago that you did not look good on pictures, and after analyzing it...

yes, the nose is to blame.

Once you decide that you need surgery to improve your self-esteem and to gain self-trust, the most important thing is to choose a good specialist.

GATHERING INFORMATION A first step tends to be surfing the internet in search of information (Google, YouTube, even Facebook are nowadays the best sources).

You find videos, photos, specialized forums, opinions... some recommend one thing or another. Another way is talking to someone who has already had surgery, ask about their experience with their surgeon, etc...

When you really start searching for a surgeon for the first time you have so much information, you see and hear so many things, that you end up more confused than you were at the start.

I recommend that you gather information without rushing. Planning your surgery begins with you...

You can begin by consulting with at least 3 specialists (unless you have very good references of one in particular and you trust them). Observe the way in which they present your case, if he/she is the one who sees you in the first consultation; if he/she takes his/her time to explain what you need, how the surgery would be done, etc... In short, that you get the information that you need and that it is as clear as possible.

Check and see that he/she is a specialist who belongs at least to one group of specialists, ask where the surgeries are performed, and find out if that hospital meets the minimum requirements that these types of centers should have...

Oh! and something very important please is not to trust people who say ¨it is very easy¨... or the ones who tell you that it can be done without surgery, and instead try to sell you a product that fixes your life, or the ones who sell a rhinoplasty as if were a supermarket product.

Remember that the surgeon should be the one to see you during the entire process; it is not good for you to arrive at the operating room and not even know who your surgeon is, or to get your pictures taken right there at the operating room...CAREFUL with this!!!

THE PRICE OF A RHINOPLASTY The main reason that tends to discourage people from having surgery, aside from the fear of the surgery itself, is normally the money. Let's not fool ourselves, it is not an inexpensive surgery, and the reason for this is that it is the most complex of plastic interventions, and there are few people who perform it correctly. Each rhinoplasty has the surgeon's signature on it, so we can say that it is a work of art.

At times it is amazing how we do not hesitate to buy a car, or the latest television, or to take a trip to a paradise destination, but we do consider that what we spend in our health is too expensive.

I believe that we should give a lot of importance to this, if we cannot get surgery with a good specialist now it is better to save a little more, but do not be in a hurry to get surgery thinking about money. I am not telling you that the most expensive surgeon is the best, but I will give you an example of the figures for a guaranteed rhinoplasty: in Spain you will not pay less than 4,800€ all included, and it could be more expensive. Depending on the changes that are needed and the patient's history, it can cost up to 6,000€ or more. In Colombia, nevertheless, the prices are somewhat lower, although an all-inclusive guaranteed rhinoplasty costs a minimum of approximately 2,800€. If it is a primary rhinoplasty (which means that it is the first surgery that you are getting on your nose), it is cheaper than if have to get a revision of a previous badly done rhinoplasty (in that case, logically, the prices will be higher).

Yes, it is an expensive surgery, but it is your face you are talking about... is your face not worth it? Your face is the only part of your body that you cannot hide, and if you get bad results the first time, everything is more complicated and more expensive to fix...this is why it is ideal to get good results the first time around with your surgeon.

THE BEST SPECIALIST ¿Who can be the ideal specialist? There are plastic surgeons who operate the nose well and other who do not... some specialize in aesthetic surgery of the body (mammoplasty, liposuction, etc.) and do not fully master the nose surgery, to the extent where they hire an ear nose and throat specialist to help them operate the functional part.

There are some ear nose and throat specialists who also perform rhinoplasties, but only a few actually do it well; and then are the ear nose and throat specialists who are specialized in facial plastic surgery, who are the ones who perform most of the rhinoplasties in the United States and Latin America (Colombia, Brazil, Mexico). In Spain, for example, there are a few who are well trained.

Whoever the specialist may be, the most important point is that they are real nose experts, and that they not only operate the nose as a complement to other surgeries. It must be their strength. I insist, you must only be operated by someone who masters rhinoplasties, because let me remind you that it is the most difficult surgery!

After having the surgeon, it is important to build a good doctor-patient relationship; if you do not trust your surgeon, or they are not reliable, it is better to look for another one.

Regardless, there are not many specialists that are really good at operating noses, many say that they operate noses, but they do not get good results, so choose well. Find out all the information you need, and once you have gathered all the necessary information, choose consequently. Remember that the results will be with you for the rest of your life...