Botched Rhinoplasty April31 Plastic Surgery Clinic
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Having it in the US. I'm sure there are great options in Korea but I'm not going to take that chance again because I feel I literally cheated death going there the first time lol. (not that it's funny or anything because people really have died when they went there, just loling at my own situation because it was a horrible decision even after researching for years and reading the korean medical journals from the "doctor"). Korea is a great option for some people, but not for me; sry but if something goes wrong, they don't treat women well at all- I really want more strong and ethical female figures with international experience to open surgical practices in Korea so women have a safer space for plastic surgeries where they're respected and thoroughly listened-to. xx
@chanelsaint did Dr. Kim remove the rib implants partially or completely? Are you experiencing any functional problems post surgery e.g breathing? Your primary rhino results were beautiful, the surgeon did a great job. I`m contemplating having the rib implants removed completely and was worried that the results would be terrible but seeing your results gives me hope coz I expected worse. With a few tweaks I`m sure a good surgeon can reconstruct your nose back to the primary result or even better.UPDATE: I ended up canceling surgery 3 times at 3 different clinics, upon further consultations-
one doctor said something that really stood out to me: he said that I went from having the First Class rhinoplasty at my primary surgeon's Johns Hopkins University hospital to downgrading to COACH at April 31. That was the confirmation I needed that I need to get an evaluation from my primary doctor and perhaps proceed with revision with him. The doctor's name was Dr. Im and VGPRS.com and he is the CEO of his clinic, I trust him very much and if you like the dramatic/dolly look, he can do it for you, and with rib.
Anyway, I've been to perhaps 30-40 clinics in Korea and I will update my blog with experiences with them; there are a lot of clinics you all don't know about because you are not in Korea- the clinics that are visible to us are the ones pushing their marketing towards foreigners, while yes in my situation- April 31 is renowned but by only board members because of the academic activity papers that Jae Hoon Kim submits (I know Brian used to help him with writing/translation before they fired him, so I don't know that academic papers are Jae Hoon Kim's own true words, or words fluffed up by english-speaking writing assistants), that will remain a mystery.
I think that using tpf should not be the primary source of your information when it comes to Korean clinics- the site has too many promoters and the promoted "reviews" drown out the botch stories and valid reviews which often go forgotten or trapped way down in the deepest depths of the tpf. In my blog I'll have some resources available if you find yourself in a similar situation, and also my full experience with april 31 and their deception/botches/unhappy patients. Any other choice besides April 31 will reap better results for you. If you do go to a different clinic and experience a botch, it is not the end of the world, you can enter mediation and take legal action although you are a foreigner (mediation is a few hundred dollars, there is free legal help for foreigners in korea, and in the event you do end up paying for a legal representative, it will be one flat fee (up to $3,000 I think), it's not like in the US where we are constantly spending money on lawyers. While yes, it is very good to leave reviews, you will need to open a mediation case against the doctor who botched you unless you can reach a resolution without getting a 3rd party involved. In conclusion, I don't really recommend Korea for invasive surgeries unless you are of East Asian descent; too many foreigners of other descent have been left botched or unhappy, and that's not what we are traveling all this distance for and pouring our money into the Korean economy.
At the same time, everyone deserves access to good and affordable QUALITY elective surgery... but my opinion still stands that if you are not of East Asian Descent or need a good cheap FFS (you're transitioning and the prices in your country are too high for very little result), then you should not undergo invasive surgery unless
1. you have absolutely no other options.
2. the doctors in your home country have no experience working on patients with ur features.
3. you know someone who has personally went to the clinic you are interested in who is not a promoter and has had a good experience.
Doctors can write all of the academic papers they want, so in Korea, I don't think you should focus on the papers too much or let that impress you (like I did). I'm American so we tend to love to read the doctor's work as a form of research, but that puts a haze over our view of them and makes us look at the doctors as more than what they actually are; doctors can write about plastic surgery and rhinoplasty cases and innovation, but it really comes down to IF they're able to execute all of the things they talk about. Some doctors use academic activity to fluff up their resume and to give the appearance of prestige in front of their colleagues, board members, and patients. No matter how drawn to intellectual energy you are, I need you to not read so much into the academic papers of the doctors because it truly creates a false veneer and expectations that are much too high- even if those expectations are a basic level of ethics, surgical skill, and decency.
And lets not forget the
pièce de résistance pictures of my nose before and after April 31.
Do NOT allow Dr. Jae Hoon Kim to operate on you even if the surgery is free or discounted. He has botched patients of ALL origins, ethnicities, and nationalities. The promoters of April 31 are in every forum including reddit; they have a very believable con game going by victimizing foreigners which is why they've been in operation for so long. No matter what, do not go to April 31 and no matter what clinic Dr Jae hoon Kim runs off to, do not have surgery with him. EVER.
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I know it's very hard to relive your trauma, but the only way for the standards of elective surgery to get better when it comes to medical tourism in Korea is to start reporting the perpetrators for medical negligence and shake up their system. The Korean culture is very different from western culture so please keep in mind that this spills over into the medical arena as well; senior doctors aren't used to having to answer to their own medical negligence. If things are to get better and safer for yourself and others who travel to Korea for surgery in the future, you must shake up the system so that they raise their standards to a level that foreigners are serviced well. There are way too many instances of botch and unhappy patients in Korea and it's not just because they do a lot of surgeries; the ratios just don't make sense- too many patients end up needing correction due to functional issues but we never hear about that unless we speak to people privately or in small groups.
In conclusion:
petit procedures: GO.
Invasive procedures: Pause.
For RIB rhinoplasty I like: Dr. Jin (wise, conservative revision, safe option), Dr. Lee, (wise, revision, safe option), Dr. Im (high ethics, very good consultation), Dr. Park (Harvard, golden-ratio aesthetic), Dr. (Gwangmin) Park (soft-spoken, artistic), Dr. (Han Jo) Kim (sweet, high ethics, cute nose aesthetic), Dr. Min (VERY sharp eye, ethical), Dr. Cho (highest level of experience, thorough, great for revision), Dr. Jeong (confident/ skilled/most BnAs/great for revision) and Dr. Kim(nice aesthetics and personality) (same practice), Seoulista (expert, revision in genio and rhinoplasty), Kowon (sweet, primaries). Dr. Suh (experienced).
I will list everyone's information in my blog, but- if you've had a poor experience in Korea in relation to cosmetic surgery, I need you take a stand, open a dispute, to NOT spend your money with any clinic in Korea before you think long and hard about it, and exhaust all other options. Korea makes a lot of money from we foreigners and their medical, tourism, and legal boards and government agencies need to make sure they create a safe environment for us by not allowing negligent doctors to practice, especially if they want continued access to our very strong foreign currency.
When you cut them tf off as a conscious effort, it's helpful not only for you in your healing process, but to other foreigners- it creates a net of safety where others a less likely to be botched, reduces the instances of death, and other unfortunate events related to cosmetic surgery because for once- the doctors will be held responsible for their actions and it's not good for Korea's economy that foreigners refuse to funnel excess funds into their economy after poor experiences and lack of safety.
I know you don't want to hear this, but our American doctors tell us to stay in the United States to have our surgeries for this very reason; while yes, they are in business to make money, they see a lot of botch cases from overseas and they are the ones who end up correcting our highly questionable and devastating choices. April 31 and doctors like Jae Hoon Kim are the kinds of people that our ethically practicing medical professionals from all over the world warn us about.
Actually, Dr. Mascaro in Miami gave me this warning on Skype when he found out I was thinking of international medical tourism; I've traveled for all of my surgeries over the years in my home country, and aside for the bad medical staff, my surgeries all went well at every facility. In Korea, you can not let unprofessionalism from the staff slide, it's package deal; in Korea, you're not just going there for the surgeon but for the full experience and ALL of your needs should be met before surgery or it may foretell of a bad outcome of the surgery, you can't ignore the issues like you can do in the States and the UK. Korea is very different than other places and you need to always be treated well. I said all that to say, he was very right and it is my fault for not considering his warning more thoroughly than I did. I know sometimes doctors can deliver their message in a harsh way, but American doctors and those trained in the states take their oaths very seriously and a lot of them try to protect the patient even if you aren't treated by them.
Drastic change rhinoplasty outside of Korea:
Wide/fatty nose: Turkey. UK. (Natural Result- Primary: Dr. Naderi. Some girls like Janjua. Dr. Nassif (yes from me). Dr. Ghavami. UK surgeons like Ion (Miss Orange reminded me of him again for Asian noses). You will be ok in the US as long as you want something very conservative. ) If you need a revision and you have a wide/fatty nose in the US- it will be sort of difficult to find your surgeon but you still have options.
Ethnic/Middle eastern nose with Thick skin: you will be ok in the United States. (Saw a girl of my ethnicity with medium skin who had surgery by Dr. Miller that was pretty). Dr. Nassif.
All of the Ethnic girls I know who went to Thailand now look mixed lol, but were not botched.
Caucasian girls and those Ethnic girls going for a mixed-race look seem to like Dr. Grigoryants in the US- natural but his signature style can give a drastic change if your nose is droopy.
xo
I love my primary results too lol. When they take out the rib they will rearrange the cartilages to fit your aesthetic so don't worry. (In my botch case from Dr. Kim at April 31, he took the rib out completely without my consent, did not rearrange cartilage, did not add ear cartilage so that was the result). In the event that they take out ur rib cartilage and your doctor feels like it's not enough support, he or she is going to re-use some of ur rib cartilage, or use ur septal cartilage IF you have enough. You result will be pretty, don't worry- just go to someone who works with autologous tissues mostly and not implants. I have all of the issues from the botch job but that's not going to happen to you because you're going to a good surgeon- if you're concerned about breathing DEFINITELY consult with an ENT and see what recommendations they have for you. You went to VIP so I'm sure he probably overdid it on the rib grafts lol I love how he can do tall noses though, if you don't then definitely get that sh*t removed esp if it's painful. Dr. Bared in Miami might be able to do it for you (if you like his noses)... did you ask him?
Yup I def need a revision. My septum is now deviated and my nostrils are assymetrical. When I contacted VIP & sent them the pics they kept telling me its`just swelling(VIP standard answer to everything!). With this ridiculous tip projection & uneven nostrils I look like Miss Piggy. No bueno. Thanks for the Dr. Bared recommendation, had never heard of him. I`m amazed that Dr. Kim didn`t leave or replace the cartilage for support coz all surgeons I have consulted with also confirmed that they can only remove some of the cartilage but not everything. I`m also researching hospitals with Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Departments because their surgeons have more routine and experience with complex reconstruction cases.
Ughhh I'm sorry love, I can't stand how clinics in Korea treat you after something goes wrong- disgusting and absolutely disgraceful, you will get your cute nose though and yes look at the reconstructive surgeons. And about Dr. Kim- I have a little septal cartilage, but not enough to support my nose, which is why my primary was rib. If they take rib out you have to have enough septal cartilage and then those cartilages have to be rearranged- that's an advanced technique that Kim does not have although he claims to be a specialist- he most definitely is not; his speciality is facelift! April 31 needs to be shut down- they have no rhinoplasty specialist on board- Kim is just who they send to give speeches and his papers are written with the help of other people; I couldve went to Cinderella Clinic or even ID and had a better nose job that wouldn't have come out botched- I saw girls who went there in person while I was in Korea and their work came out nice. I think that after VIP a reconstruction speciliast is the way to go, try university of Texas- Dr. Barrera might be able to do it for you and he'll make you get a special CT scan. You definitely can't go back to Korea because they're not going to be able to fix it after all of Dr. Lees grafts. You know Dr. Lee was trained in Texas, they'll know how to undo what he did
.Unfortunately the Korean govt protects these clinics so unless something really dramatic happens they won`t shut ithem down. Look at clinics like Grand where patients have died or ID with the shadow doctors, they are still up and running. ID`s Dr. Park was even outed on Korean tv scamming patients with no repercussions whatsoever, not even a suspension. I partly blame the govt for enabling this mess. These clinics know they are protected and the only way to beat them is to put them on blast. Will def check out Dr. Barrera tooUghhh I'm sorry love, I can't stand how clinics in Korea treat you after something goes wrong- disgusting and absolutely disgraceful, you will get your cute nose though and yes look at the reconstructive surgeons. And about Dr. Kim- I have a little septal cartilage, but not enough to support my nose, which is why my primary was rib. If they take rib out you have to have enough septal cartilage and then those cartilages have to be rearranged- that's an advanced technique that Kim does not have although he claims to be a specialist- he most definitely is not; his speciality is facelift! April 31 needs to be shut down- they have no rhinoplasty specialist on board- Kim is just who they send to give speeches and his papers are written with the help of other people; I couldve went to Cinderella Clinic or even ID and had a better nose job that wouldn't have come out botched- I saw girls who went there in person while I was in Korea and their work came out nice. I think that after VIP a reconstruction speciliast is the way to go, try university of Texas- Dr. Barrera might be able to do it for you and he'll make you get a special CT scan. You definitely can't go back to Korea because they're not going to be able to fix it after all of Dr. Lees grafts. You know Dr. Lee was trained in Texas, they'll know how to undo what he did
Yes girl you can't trust most Korean clinics at all- if you die they are still allowed to stay open. You know in the US when patients die during the surgery the doctor, anesthesiolist, or whomever made the mistake can be imprisoned esp if the family doesn't want to pursue them the civil way and settle. Atleast you went to VIP where the anesthesiologist stays with you the whole time. Just be happy you didn't die or come out with brain damage. How did Dr. Park scam people?Unfortunately the Korean govt protects these clinics so unless something really dramatic happens they won`t shut ithem down. Look at clinics like Grand where patients have died or ID with the shadow doctors, they are still up and running. ID`s Dr. Park was even outed on Korean tv scamming patients with no repercussions whatsoever, not even a suspension. I partly blame the govt for enabling this mess. These clinics know they are protected and the only way to beat them is to put them on blast. Will def check out Dr. Barrera too
some reporters from the tv station consulted with him posing as potential patients. He promised to personally operate on each of them and each got a surgery slot for the same day and time. The reporter confronted him and asked him how he could operate on 4 patients simultaneously? It was clear to everyone he doesn`t perform the surgeries himself. Park is very good with FC procedures, he did the surgeries of most of the k-pop stars and most people expect their results when they go to ID but end up disappointed coz he only operates on VIPs who bring him publicity. I heard they even use doctors fresh out of medical school as shadow doctors so that they can get some practice. Imagine paying all that $$ plus xtra surchage if you want Park to perform surgery only to end up with an inexperienced kid as the surgeon!!??
Girl.... a mess. My Korean plastic surgeon back home in states told me the same thing and he said plastic surgeons in Korea have no scruples because they're greedy and the culture is highly competitive. I know a girl who went to ID and came out good but maybe she was one of the few lucky ones. "Dr." Park should no longer be allowed to practice. Lmao the reporters got him lolol good for them.
Park is a superstar in Korea, he is popular coz of the show Let me in where they transform people with complete makeovers including plastic surgery. They won`t cancel him anytime soon. Did the girl have FC or rhinoplasty? Most people were complaining about botched FC procedures. I think their rhinoplasty results are decent.
She showed me that she had her eyes done... and I think her chin and nose but she didn't admit to chin or nose, only eyes lol.
She`s smart.
I would also only admit to procedures that others can clock otherwise keep them guessing and wondering.My goodness I am so sorry this happened to you but glad to see you’re not depressed and still enjoying life. I want to ask who was your surgeon for your primary rhinoplasty? I am considering Dr. Yoo and Dr. Lee both in Beverly Hills. I was really considering Korea but after reading this thread I am not 100% sure anymore. Thank you for posting this. What is your YouTube channel? I’d like to see more about this issue you’re having with April31.
I like that in Korea they take all the blood work, CT scans, EKG, etc before your surgery to make sure you are healthy and wont have any complications. And then not to mention the after care that we won’t get in America. In the U.S. they only take bloodwork at preop and they send you home after surgery, you’re on your own. I’m really afraid of not waking up after the surgery, that’s why I’m considering Korea, I feel like they can detect mostly everything with the tests they do on you before cutting you up. I feel like Korea is safer and more high tech. But I am weary of the ghost doctors and surgeons not following your plan like in your case.
if you have other recommendations on Asian rhinoplasty Surgeons in America pls. Do share. I have a flat, wide, bulbous nose with a low bridge.
I like that in Korea they take all the blood work, CT scans, EKG, etc before your surgery to make sure you are healthy and wont have any complications. And then not to mention the after care that we won’t get in America. In the U.S. they only take bloodwork at preop and they send you home after surgery, you’re on your own. I’m really afraid of not waking up after the surgery, that’s why I’m considering Korea, I feel like they can detect mostly everything with the tests they do on you before cutting you up. I feel like Korea is safer and more high tech. But I am weary of the ghost doctors and surgeons not following your plan like in your case.
if you have other recommendations on Asian rhinoplasty Surgeons in America pls. Do share. I have a flat, wide, bulbous nose with a low bridge.
Hi, thank you so much for this information, you mentioned NANA are they a good clinic? I saw some of their before and after results on youtube and its not really the best and it looks unnatural.