Woman #1: I have no idea how you would find out about the surgeon.

Woman #2: Places like in Chicago or L.A., probably the more vain places.

Woman #3: I would talk to other people who have had it done before.

Reporter: Every year more than 177,000 people go under the knife to have their noses reshaped. For many people, rhinoplasty offers the promise or normalcy, even physical perfection. But for Roberta, the surgery has left her with nothing but new imperfections. At 18 years old, Roberta moved out of her parent’s house to attend college in Los Angeles. Free from the nest, she soon began her search for a cosmetic surgeon.

Roberta: I found him in the phone book, and he was centrally located to where I was. It was supposed to be routine where they you know take off a little that’s left and then move on with your life.
Reporter: Instead of merely shaving down the bump, the surgeon talked Roberta into a more extensive procedure.

Roberta: He told me that we could possibly take it in a little bit. I guess I didn’t really think about the fact that if he was taking off the bump all he had to do was take off the bump but if he was bringing it in he had to actually break the nose and readjust the bones.

Reporter: The consequences became apparent almost immediately after surgery.

Roberta’s Mother: Once she saw our reaction in our faces she started crying. We were afraid to say after what she had gone through that it was crooked.

Reporter: In the weeks following the surgery the situation only worsened. Roberta’s left nostril sank, essentially collapsing, leaving the bone in her nose crooked and the bump still intact. Roberta confronted the doctor, he operated again to repair the damage, but the second surgery was as disastrous as the first.

Roberta’s Mother: That operation left her devastated.

Roberta: It’s taken me two years to actually get up and think hey this isn’t right; I need to get his fixed once and for all so I can forget about it.

Reporter: After consulting with a myriad of surgeon’s, Roberta came upon Dr. Paul Nassif.

Dr. Nassif: When a patient has been traumatized they’ve lost a lot of the confidence, and so having to go through that step again after they’ve already been let down, it’s very difficult to build that confidence back up.

Reporter: Now Roberta’s bracing for her third operation in three years.

Roberta: You’re taking a risk no matter what and I think I wasn’t ready to take that risk up until now.
I’m scared.

Roberta’s Mother: You’re scared?

Reporter: The surgery will take almost five hours.

Dr. Nassif: Ok, we’re finished. Let’s go talk to mom.

Roberta’s Mother: How’s she doing?

Dr. Nassif: She’s in the recovery room right now, and she’s waking up. Now we just have to make sure she heals well.

It went perfect.

Roberta: Really?

Dr. Nassif: It went perfect, it really did.

Reporter: Roberta must rest and recuperate for a week at home before her cast can be removed, and she can finally see if the surgery has been a success. After an anxious week of healing Roberta’s back in Dr. Nassif’s office. It will still be months before the swelling subsides and she can see a finished product.

Dr. Nassif: So how are you feeling?

Roberta: I’m feeling really good.

Dr. Nassif: Any problems?

Roberta: No.

Dr. Nassif: What I want to do now is take out the little stitches, a little bit sensitive, and at that point we’ll go ahead and start taking the tape off. Put your head back, lift your head up ok. Great, keep breathing now. I’ll look in your nose first. I’ll look at it, examine it, and then I’ll let you see it.

Roberta: I’m so excited!

Dr. Nassif: Ok but remember, you’re way too early.

Roberta: I know, I know. I’m happy.

Dr. Nassif: Ok but again we have to wait, by the end of next week we’re going to take the tape off, then you’re going to be happier.

Reporter: After years of struggles and uncertainty, Roberta begins to breathe easily.

Dr. Nassif: I’m going to put some TLC on your nose.

Roberta: He went into straighten it that was our goal and he did it. I’m just really happy, I just couldn’t see it straight and when the tape is on there’s no hiding it. It was nerve-racking and I’m just so happy.

Reporter: Roberta attributes her successful procedure to her diligent research this time around.

Roberta: I’m just saying for people to research their doctor. You can spend more time after dealing with the consequences than you could have if you just researched your doctor.