Now, if you Google "rhinoplasty NYC" and you start reading posting boards, and online blog forums, you can't seem to get away from one doc. He's posted everywhere, and has a great reputation. Dr.Philip Miller. When I had initially called for my free consultation with his office, they took down my mailing address to send me an informational packet about rhinoplasty in general and about Dr.Miller. I liked that. I researched his site, and saw all the publications he's been in; all of his accreditations, etc. People seem to really like this man, and what he offers. I do have to admit, though, that going through his before and after rhinoplasty pics, it seems that some of the work in just inconsistent. I thought some of the after photos were pretty unattractive. Is that because they're just not appealing to me as a hypercritic? Or, is it because that is actually what the patient requested, which I just don't think is attractive? Is it because the patient didn't mind that he/she wasn't "great" looking after, since the before was SO much more hideous? WHY does some of this man's work look shoddy to me? I have no intention of tarnishing his reputation, but, Godfrey's before and afters didn't look this way; his were perfection, and NOT cookie-cutter at all. Hmm...
On appointment day, I was seen by one of the aestheticians. A blond-porceline doll who has had everything done under the sun (and everyone knows within a second of a glimpse), and looks like she belongs on either Dr.90210 as someone's wife, or a "Real Housewives of ____" show on Bravo. She asked me a hundred questions, and created an online profile to save my requests, health status, etc. She didn't actually say anything of substance; she was really more of a promotional tool, who sat down and explained (and reiterated) that Dr.Miller has never had a lawsuit filed against him, and how everyone loves him, how this changed her life (I think her nose looks COMPLETELY worked on...it's not smooth, at all) etc. I felt like she was really trying to sell me, which automatically put my guard up. Let the results sell themselves and stop trying to jam your promotional shpiel down my throat. She took some pics from different angles, just as Godfrey did.
When Dr.Miller came in, he used a speculum and checked up my nose. His demeanor was very pleasant, and he was kind. I found him personable, professional, and he told me I have enlarged turbinates, and a deviated septum. The before pics were pulled up onto the screen and adjusted so that I could see what I'd look like if my nose were straightened and aligned, the bridge narrowed a bit, tip narrowed and slightly lifted. I remembered what Dr.Godfrey told me about semantics, and how drastic a change can be by a mm or two. I said to Dr.Miller, "how do you know exactly how many mms to take off and from where, etc?" and to my dismay, his reponse was completely untechnical and more along the lines of him being the doctor, and going in, as "Picasso" would (PS, Mr.MedSchool, Picasso was primarily a cubist and surrealist, and the noses on his characters are literally deliberately crooked and awful, lol. Not being overly nit-picky here, just thought that was relatively comical) and sculpting & refining until he sees fit. Now, Dr. Picasso, this is my face we're talking about, and if I wind up looking like one of the afters that I think are less-than-great on your site just because it's better than the before, I'll be MORTIFIED. Then, the real kicker: PlasticSurgery Barbie comes back out with a quote. "This is after the insurance deductions." So, with anesthesia, facility, and surgeon's fees, the total is $10,400 but they'll give me 10% off (because I'm sooooooo special), so my final quote and responsibility is $9,000. Oh, and BoobieBarbie will "throw in some free skin treatments and stuff." LOL. No thanks.
