Comestic and Plastic surgery in Taiwan

[twig]

Anyone going to doctor Kao between the periods of mid aug- early sept?
Would like to buddy up and share lodging costs, shopping sprees, food adventures and pain

Hey, are you still planning on going to DR KAO? I am interested, pls let me know!

Actually I pushed forward my surgery. I just had my rhinoplasty done yesterday with dr kao. No pain to my nose at all. But my rib area hurts like a biatch each time I try to lie down or get up. T_T

[terrie35]

I did my fillers for nose and chin and Botox jaw 3x with Star clinic and quite happy w their services..

I'm thinking of doing my nose and epi after seeing this review...

http://www.wretch.cc/blog/STARCLINIC/34471272

E epi is around $800 only.. Any reviews??

I don't understand the Mandarin text but the photos are 'wow'. I thought I will not do any ps but now I am tempted. Do you have the address or email of this clinic? Does the clinic do revision double eyelids and nose? Does the girl have eye creases and nose done in the clinic? Is it silicone for the nose? So sorry for so many questions but I am keen to go for revision after Sept.

[girlnextdoor]

thanks no1209 and nose for your replies, sounds like he's a pretty honest doctor.... ^^

[terrie35]

hi people do any of you read bongqiuqiu's blog? i think shes the only person that i've actually seen having only alarplasty done (w/ mani pictures after the procedure) and i think it really improved her looks. but i cant help but notice the 2 slanted lines between the alar and her sill in her pictures. i dont think people would notice it unless they've researched about alarplasty before, but still.. O_O has anyone went for alarplasty before n do you have the same scar as her? because some b/a pictures on the internet dosn't show any lines at the base of the nose...i've also taken to observing random stranger's nose, and I THINK i can tell whether they had gone for a nosejob before, and that really unsettles me. or maybe im having pre-op paranoia ;x

Yea, alar at the base of the nostrils can cause scars, sometimes this appears as a deep line. But alar on the inside sill is ok but by this method, only a small change is obvious so I do not know if this method is worth it. On the other hand, many have rhino and they don't need alar.

[Xiaoxuan]

Hi Terrie

http://www.starclinic.com.tw/

I already decided to have my nose done there instead of BKK. I was thinking of nose & chin to be done in BKK but will skip my chin if my new nose will improve my face overall.

[drose2022]

Anyone going to doctor Kao between the periods of mid aug- early sept?
Would like to buddy up and share lodging costs, shopping sprees, food adventures and pain

Hey, are you still planning on going to DR KAO? I am interested, pls let me know!

Actually I pushed forward my surgery. I just had my rhinoplasty done yesterday with dr kao. No pain to my nose at all. But my rib area hurts like a biatch each time I try to lie down or get up. T_T

wow nicce! do you like the results so far? Keep us posted! What did you get done? did you go by yourself?

[flyawayfriday]

hi guys, it's 2 weeks past my procedure (goretex bridge and ear cartilage tip) with dr kao so i thought i'll share some stuff which can hopefully help

1) accomodation

i stayed at kangning service apts for 10 days. it was 2400ntd/day for a room with 2 single beds. there's cable with channels like hbo and starworld so you don't have to worry about being bored. the ethernet cable was fast too. the furnishings were abit worn but still comfy and there was daily room service.

the 24h 7-11 at the hotel lobby was great! it stocks salads and pineapple, oatmeal, basically lots of healthy food you should be having after surgery. you can also try the hotel restaurant's freshly baked breads - they're all very good + cheap. i would not recommend cooking as you would have to buy utensils (unless you want to lug a wok to taiwan), groceries and condiments. it really adds up! i spent about 700ntd on groceries but in the end i didn't even use them. cos besides the price and inconvenience i doubt you would feel up to cooking for a couple of days afterwards.

2) consultation with dr kao

the consultation was reasonably long + detailed. dr kao will take a few photos of you and photoshop them but be warned they are not accurate at all LOL so don't panic if it kinda looks terrible.

i can't stress the importance of being clear and concise in what you want.
select just 1 or 2 celebrity noses instead of a whole bunch (which was what i did, because i wanted to ask him which was more suitable for my face). in the end, the discussion sort of lost focus instead! also, i would suggest organizing the aspects of your nose you want to change + how your ideal nose should be like in your head/on paper. prepare a list of all the questions you want to ask.

3) pre-surgery

my surgery was set on the day after consultation (he mentioned it would be late afternoon so i figured about 4 or 5), with blood testing being in the morning. on the day of surgery, he called at about 1130 and asked me to head down for my blood test. after registration + payment, i went to the room outside the surgical theater (dr kao was there in scrubs but he was busy with something and i only managed to say hi) where the nurses asked me to sign some papers before being instructed to go for my blood test. after the blood test, i went back to the room as instructed and suddenly the nurses were like "IT'S TIME FOR YOUR SURGERY". i was kinda shocked cos 1) dr kao mentioned the surgery would be in the late afternoon so i wasn't mentally prepared 2) he also said we would discuss more about my desired results before the surgery but he was nowhere to be seen. anyway, i guess that means the blood test was strictly procedural cos they wouldn't even have time for testing it anyway. i lost all that blood for nothing TT more importantly, do try your best to confirm and ask him everything during the consultation. he may promise you more discussion but since he's really busy he may not have the time in the end.

worried, i asked the nurses (who were professional but not particularly friendly) whether i would get a chance to talk to dr kao at all and they said i could talk to him in the surgery theater. in the end, i was in my surgical gown and hooked up to the iv before i could talk to him for ~5 mins.

4) surgery

some of you guys might be concerned about the pain. since everyone's pain threshold is different i can't comment much but i would say it's really worth it for the results! go for it if you would really like a nice new nose but is worried about the pain!! in fact, since you're under la, you won't feel a thing during most of the procedure. when they were removing my ear cartilage i was awake and happily chatting hehe. the only part that kinda hurt was one short period of time when he was working on my nose. during the surgery, i was drifting in and out of consciousness and i rmb him commenting that my nose was one of the most difficult he's done recently haha o.O

5) post-surgery

after the ~4hr long surgery, i was wheeled to a resting area for about 30mins. the nurse also provided me with a free ice pack, face mask and my medication. she didn't explain the directions for the medicine but most of them were pretty straightforward. the only one i had trouble with was a bottle of paraffin - it's actually for dripping in your nose to prevent the blood and crusts from clogging and crusting so it'll be more comfortable

when i got back to the hotel, i felt kinda sick and nauseous (probably due to the anesthetic) so i mostly slept. also, i was dripping A LOT of blood D: it continued well into the 2nd day and only stopped on the 3rd day. anyway, by the 4th day, i was feeling kinda normal already albeit being swollen. dr kao mentioned that the swell peaks on the 4th-5th day before subsiding on the 6th. also, i had sinecch and didn't suffer from any bruising so i do think it works!

6) post-surgical care

tbh, it wasn't that great. i only saw dr kao once about 3-4 days after my surgery so he could clean up my nose and another time for him to remove my stitches. he said he was gonna go visit me ~6 days after the surgery but he didn't show and didn't even call so i was quite disappointed well, i get the impression that it's not that he's apathetic or anything but he is simply very very busy and would tend to overlook/forget some details.

7) results

the most impt part! when he removed my cast i was horrified cos my nose tip was bulbous and so witchy-looking. my whole face was also kinda off and i was really self-conscious about it. while everyone always tells you not to worry as results that close to the surgery date are far from final, and i knew that obviously it wouldn't stay that way forever, it's really hard to not feel a little depressed when you're experiencing it yourself. stay positive!! even now my tip is still swollen. you wouldn't be able to see the final results 6 months or even up to a year post surgery.

my nose isn't that similar to the celebrity nose i requested (it was more of a guideline anyway), but it's really not due to dr kao's surgical skills but my inherent limitations. my bridge was very, very, very flat and almost non-existent D: he did the best he could by adding 6mm of goretex (the max i think) but my bridge is still kinda flat. however, he did a lovely job with my tip! it was very flat, fat and upturned and and made it look very pretty. i think it's important to be realistic and right now i'm quite happy with the results even though my tip is still swollen.

ok, that's all that i can think of to write for now! feel free to ask me if you have any questions and i'll try my best to help

[cersepn]

flyawayfriday: Thank you for sharing. It's wonderful to read about people's surgery experiences and how they felt, the entire community is definitely grateful for that!

I find it amazing that you are quite satisfied with how your nose looks like now, even with all that swelling. So, it must have been quite a fabulous job. Congrats!

If it's not too much to ask, do you mind sharing pictures, privately via pm or here?

[bclioness42]

[quote="flyawayfriday"]hi guys, it's 2 weeks past my procedure (goretex bridge and ear cartilage tip) with dr kao so i thought i'll share some stuff which can hopefully help

7) results

my nose isn't that similar to the celebrity nose i requested (it was more of a guideline anyway), but it's really not due to dr kao's surgical skills but my inherent limitations. my bridge was very, very, very flat and almost non-existent D: he did the best he could by adding 6mm of goretex (the max i think) but my bridge still kinda flat. however, he did a lovely job with my tip! it was very flat, fat and upturned and and made it look very pretty. i think it's important to be realistic and right now i'm quite happy with the results even though my tip is still swollen.


Hi Flyawayfriday,
I had my rhinoplasty with Kao in mid June and like you I had similar problems that I had wanted him to correct but using costal cartilage. I am almost 50 days post op but my nose still looks upturned and my tip is still very bulbous just like it was pre-op. My tip doesn't look extended either. I was just wondering if your upturned problem was corrected and noticeable after Kao removed the cast. What about the tip? Is it longer now. Your input is greatly appreciated! Can you share your before and after pics with me? Just the nose and I will do the same. I have a feeling my tip will need to be revised.

[chixie]

hi everyone!like all the newbies,i have been a silent reader for 6yrs (YES,6yrs!) before i decided enough is enough,i will do something about my nose!
have read all 107pages of this link and have decided to go to Dr Kao. had emailed him with regards to consultation and surgery end of october.


looking for buddies to share cost of lodgings and kaki to eat ,shop and play!

pls drop me a msg ...

[superficial]

hi everyone!like all the newbies,i have been a silent reader for 6yrs (YES,6yrs!) before i decided enough is enough,i will do something about my nose!
have read all 107pages of this link and have decided to go to Dr Kao. had emailed him with regards to consultation and surgery end of october.


looking for buddies to share cost of lodgings and kaki to eat ,shop and play!

pls drop me a msg ...

Hi Chixie...

I have also been a silent lurker and am planning to visit Taiwan in November what made you decide on Kao...

[twig]

Hi Flyawayfriday,
I had my rhinoplasty with Kao in mid June and like you I had similar problems that I had wanted him to correct but using costal cartilage. I am almost 50 days post op but my nose still looks upturned and my tip is still very bulbous just like it was pre-op. My tip doesn't look extended either. I was just wondering if your upturned problem was corrected and noticeable after Kao removed the cast. What about the tip? Is it longer now. Your input is greatly appreciated! Can you share your before and after pics with me? Just the nose and I will do the same. I have a feeling my tip will need to be revised.

Deswelling would take up to a year. 50 days is still too early to tell if swelling has subsides.. it's recommended by many surgeons that to wait a year to do any revision. So i think you should wait further.

In the links below is a lady who also wants to do revision at 4 mths. But ALL plastic surgeons that replied are saying its too early and there still swelling. So hopes it put your mind at ease.

http://www.realself.com/question/do-i-n ... hinoplasty
http://www.realself.com/question/is-my- ... -too-round

[chixie]

hi superficial,

i was contemplating between Dr Hsu,Dr Kao and the koreans.Rule out the koreans becos i wanted to have a natural looking nose that wld fit my whole face rather than attracting the whole world attention.Besides,i have some serious allergy so i would prefer an ENT .

Chose Dr kao becos after reviewing 107pages of forum,it seems that he is someone who actually pays attention to what you want instead of what he think will suit you. So all in all, these are just some reasons why i chose Dr kao.

However, i do realise that it's really your bone structure ,asymmetry ,the communication bet your doc and you,and lastly-the skills of the doc that will decide the outcome of the surgery.

i am trying to push the surgery date to the 3rd week of october as i wana spend more time to recover.Unpaid leave actually ends november. Superficial, r you able to make it?

[twig]

Any body knows where i can get liquid parrafin wax for the nose in singapore?

I went to guardian but they dont sell... so werid.

[twig]

Hi all,
It's been one mont since i had my rib rhino done with Dr Kao.
i thought i share my one month review with Dr Kao. I also like to thank the members who contributed and answered my constant questions on rib rhino.

Long post so here goes!


Procedure
I did rib rhinoplasty and ear cartilage for the tip. I also did an extra procedure for my nasiolabial folds also using rib cartilage grafts. Because i have depress folds.

The Doctor
I enjoy talking to Dr kao. His a nice, friendly doctor. And he jokes. His nurses are nice also. He doesn't have that - I'm better then you cos I'm a doctor kind of aura.
Anyone who emails him, i suggest that you ask few questions at a time. He always replies my emails. I notice he tends to skip some part of my questions when i send him lengthy emails. So keep it short and simple. Leave your other questions for the next email after he replies.


Getting there.
Just take a taxi. I'm not sure how much it costs from the taoyuan to KN. Because i went somewhere else after i landed.
But going the other way, it cost me 1300 NTD from KN to the airport. it's a fix rate me thinks.

Accommodation
I stayed 10 days at Kangning hospital. Comes with free breakfast daily. But i find the breakfast to to blah.
Over all its a nice place to stay. Lots of tv channels to watch! Both english and chinese. i can't stop watching old skill hongkong movies when andy lau and tony leung was still so young. LOL They have bizarre channels too which was interesting for me.
The 7-11 downstairs was great. there's a lot of food. So you don't have to worry about heading out in your swollen state.
The only downside is there no wifi in the rooms. Either bring your own router or use cable internet. Else there's there's wifi at the lobby


Consult
We exchange lots of emails before i went for consult. And i did lots of research and asked feedback from members of this forum, so i already know what i wanted and how it goes. So mine wasn't very long. Most of my questions were answered in the email. Though i agreed with flyawayfriday. Dr Kao photoshop skills suck. He needs to put that away. LOL So please do not assume his surgery skills are the same.

Before surgery
After checking in to the hospital, i was brought to a nice private room with TV and toilet.
I had a funny incident that everyone was asking if i have a guardian. And i said no and they looked worried. Only to find out that in my file, it states I'm 19! I'm actually 30. It's because they don't use 2012 in taiwan. They have they own kind of date format. I think they use year 101. So using my birthdate and converted in their date format. It turns out I'm 19.

I had some tests done, x ray, heart and blood work. The worst part for me was inserting the IV into me. It's even worse then the surgery itself. The nurse couldn't find my vein. So i was poked a few times. Hurt like hell. In the end still cannot. Switch to the other hand. FInally got it. Half an hour later i was called to go to the operating theater. I talked to Dr kao a bit in the operating theater, he assured me everything was fine and a while later i zonked out.

After Surgery
My surgery lasted 6 hrs. When i woke up i was dizzy and disoriented. I was in the operating theater holding area. And i keep saying, i need to pee, i need to pee.
My vag*** hurts. ( i will explain more on this later) My nose had NO pain.. i only had this urge to pee… and it hurts down there, The nurse were saying something that i wasn't even listening. But i think they said they already cleared my bladder and just wheeled me back to my room.

After surgery
Back in the room, i tried to get up to pee. Only to finally realize the pain in my ribs. Lying down not moving is fine. But getting up and down the aching pain is quite bad. But i was determine to pee. So i had some help and went to pee. Only to have nothing come out. But theres a burning sensation/ sharp pain there. I was so puzzled. But i was so groggy as well and i hated the fact that i cannot drink water. I just walked back to bed, took a lonnngg time to lay down (due to the pain) and went to sleep. But again there was no pain to my nose.

During the night, 10 plus dr kao, dropped in to see how i was doing. I was too tired to talk to him so he told me to rest and he'll see me in a few days.

On the 2nd and 3rd day,
every part of my face swelled! I send images to friends and they say i look quite cute. I look like a chipmunk. Or someone who went crazy with botox. Ribs area still hurting each time i try to lay down and get up! Please do not do rib rhino when you have a flu. Each time a cough or sneeze comes along, it will cost you a little part of your life. lol thats how i felt.


On Saturday, 4th day,
I haven't washed my hair for so long. Couldn't take it anymore. head out with a surgical mask over my face and went to the hair salon to have them wash my hair. The salon is like 5 mins walk away and in that area theres not a lot of people so don't mind getting seen. Ask the lady to not let water touch my face and ear. Felt so much better after the hair wash. Funny thing was she asked if i was from Singapore. Cos another singapore lady just went to their hair salon to have her hair washed and had the same bandages as me. LOL

Evening, Dr Kao he dropped by KN apt and check on me and told me to go to him on monday to get some light therapy and clean up wound and bandages. Rib not so bad now.

Monday, 6th day.
Dr kao cleaned my wounds and took out my cast/splint on my nose. The part where he rip the cast up scared me. I was so unprepared by it, and it happened do fast. He taught me how to massage and stuff. and gave me some light therapy. Nose is damn ugly but expected so i wasn't too bothered by it. ANd OMG, the amount of clogged dirts on my nose. So gross and scary! Grabbed a surgical mask from the clinic and went back hotel to slowly/gently clean them off. Thank god they came out easy.
That night i went out to the street market and walk a bit. But i got tired after like 4 hrs. Ribs start to feel the ache. So i went back in a cab.

7th day, 8th day
SHOPPING! My nose still swollen so i wore the surgical mask out. Its common for people to wear a surgical mask in taiwan anyways. So no body will care.
but seriously taiwan nothing much to buy. Branded stuff there more expensive the SIngapore.
The clothes also not say much different form singapore. And i got tired easy after like 5 hrs of shopping due to rib injury. So not me!

9th day
Went back to clinic to have stitches removed. OK this is the 2nd worst part of the whole thing compare to my peeing incident. It hurts and sooo scaryyy…
Dr kao wasn't in. he was in US attending some medical seminar. so some random female doc removed it for me. i literally broke out in sold sweat and had to stop her a few times so that i can relax. After the whole ordeal i went for some more light therpy and after that back to apartments to get my stuff and head to the airport for my flight.

Overall
It's only a month after surgery. I know my nose is not settle yet cos some areas are stiff especially the tip. So its still bulbous. And i know for the tip to settle it could take up to a year. But right now i happy with it progress so far. my tip size now actually look like my old nose just with a bridge. And it doesn't look too bad. So I'm excited for months to come. My rib injury doesnt hurt anymore but i can't do any active excerise yet… i tried, there's still a little pain. So not worth the risk. I'll post my review here again maybe after 3 mths.

Ok now i will talk about the pain down THERE. I had a case of UTI before so i suspected that it might that because the pain was somewhat similar just much worse. And each time i pee it hurts like hell (imagine a knife slipping thru it). So i went to see a GP at the hospital and told him that i suspect what it was and had a unrine test done and some medication. BUt i had to go back in 5 days to get the report. The pain diminish slowly as the days passed. On the 4th day no mre pain when i pee. 5 days later i got my report and doctor tells me i have no problem at all. And no one can explain my pain. So i did a bit my research. i suspect its the catheter they used on me when operating. catheter is the thing they insert in a female V during operation so that u pee in a bag and not soil the bed. Actually i do not know if they use a catheter on me cos i forgot to asked Dr Kao. But reading show some people will get pain from it when inserted and removed. So high probability? But since i did my check ups and reports are in the clear and theres no pain, thats at the back of my mind now.


Others
I just want to tell anyone who is thinking to do this, that you really need to do your research well. This thread have tons of info and it helped me a lot. I also pm members to ask of their experiences and after care. Another good source of information would be the thepurseforum and realself.com. For me I was actually contemplating to do my nose surgery in korea, i even went for consolation there in may. But i changed my mind due to the cost (almost 7k in difference) and language barrier. I emailed many doctors both in korea and taiwan with lots of pictures and information on what i need. Until i was down to Dr Hsu and Kao. In fact Dr kao charges was higher then Dr Hsu. But i chose Dr Kao because he seems more sincere and made recommendations. Also you MUST be prepared for your nose to deswell and settle. DO not expect immediate results. Good things must wait!


----


Here is my list of things that i could not do without!
- Taiwan SIM Card ( you get this at the airport. for 1000 +/- NTD. Theres a few telephone operators. I think i went with ChungHwa?. Its a must to get for low cost fees to call home PLUS it comes with 3G for 7 days. I think you must ask the person selling you the card to activate it. Especially useful when you're in the hotel without wifi or when out and about. If you need wifi for more then 7 days i suggest you can buy another extra card cos outside of airport i don't think theres a way to top up for 3G. But you can top up for call credits when it runs out.)
- Sinchee ( pills for sugary $60, suppose to help deswell faster)
- Wu Gong Chao ( you have to ask dr kao for the contact, some drink to help deswell. Dr Kao recommend this i think its less then 1250 NTD for 10 bottles)
- Compress pack ( the nurse will provide 2 for you as well, but buy extra to alternate)
- Dry shampoo spray ( this worked for me on the first 3 days only until i have to wash my hair)
- Small head toothbrush ( you can't open you mouth too wide after surgery)
- Mouthwash
- Q tips ( get a lot a lot from the nurses before you check out! their is the larger ones which is better plus free!)
- Face wipes (I bought Simple cleaning facial wipes - are $13? per bag. Brought 3 packets. Used 2 1/2 These worked great for me! no pimples! You can't wash your face until you remove your cast/splint. So this is very important to splurge on the more expensive ones for cleaning the face. )
- Detergent ( if you staying at kang ning they have washing machine inside the room, i forgot mine so i had to buy a whole new box to only use like 2 spoons and leave it in the room when i left - wasted)


Hope this helps anyone.