I have never been treated with more kindness or professionalism as a patient then when I became a patient of Dr. Kridel. When I submitted my symptoms online I heard back from his staff immediately in less than 24 hours. I was contacted initially by Linda and Heather and they are just absolutely wonderful. They listen, they were able to troubleshoot any of my complications or objections, and they did so with such kindness. They sincerely care and treated me like family from our very first correspondence. I needed to be seen for a very large perforation to my septum as well as address my crooked nose. I had sustained a violent trauma to my face and my nose took the most significant damage. Over the course of ten years I have been operated on for various complications related to my nose. Three different surgeons, each surgery leaving me worse than when I had initially gone in for a surgical intervention. Ultimately leaving me with a perforation that just got bigger and bigger. The second doctor didn't have the integrity to tell me he didn't receive proper training in the techniques necessary to close such a large perforation, but he operated on me and made my nose worse, and my perf bigger. This doctor increased the size of my perforation by a full cm when it was all said and done. Now more desperate than ever I seek out another doctor who tells me the same thing. He can fix it, but it's a low percentage of success. 60/40 against it being successful. 60% failure rate (remember that number). So he conditioned me for failure and I simply thought it was because the surgery was SO COMPLICATED. Well that is true when you don't know what you're doing. I'm not saying its not a challenging procedure, but when you're not literally trained or inventing your own techniques to bring the success rate of this procedure up to a higher number, you shouldn't be performing it. But this surgeon didn't tell me that, he simply did all he knew to do and gladly accepted my money. Not only did my perforation closure fail after two weeks, he left my nose dramatically crooked. Admitting he left me crooked, his very next sentence having the nerve to say he will straighten my nose out for $10,000 even though he is the one that made it crooked AND said my perf can never be repaired and I should just get a septum button. I was at an all time low, and I had absolutely no hope. I had temporarily accepted the fact I will have to live with this large perforation in my nose the rest of my life. So I tried to establish a routine of lubricating, blowing, saline irrigation, managing nose bleeds multiple times a day etc... It was not only consuming my life, and my every thought daily but now my nose was collapsing due to the fine work of my previous two surgeons. All either of them had to do was tell me I can't help you and I not only would have respected them, I would have thanked them. Because I soon find out that septum perforations are so serious, and can become so much worse over time that you really don't want to mess around by not going to the best of the best! You truly have to go to the best there is the first time out and your percentages of success go way up beyond the astounding percentage of 60%, which in reality is 100% failure if you go to someone that doesn't know what they're doing. He was being overly kind to him self giving me a 40% chance of success. Learn to ask questions of your doctor and don't be afraid to challenge them. If they are what they say they are then your line of questioning and the future well being of your body should not offend their sensibilities. After all of my failed operations I hardly had any native tissue left to work with, and one of my previous surgeons (for some unknown reason) removed my turbinates. Something I only found out upon my first consultation wi Dr. Kridel. Turbinates only moisten and warm the air you breathe in through your nose so who needs those anyways right?I had come to the point where my perforation was unbearable and could not wait any longer to get it fixed. I live in New Mexico (don't go to New Mexico for septum perforation repair) but I was determined to go where ever I needed to go in the world to have this treated. So I began searching online, no longer trusting doctors or doctor recommendations and I sought out the best in the world. I actually found the best in the world and he lives one state over located out of Houston TX. I made my appointment immediately. This is why I love Doctor Kridel and his staff so much, not only did they take time to truly listen and even empathize with me, they shared my sense of urgency and understood my desperation. They got me in and did a very thorough examination of my nose and in doing so cared about my emotional state. It is a very friendly and warm environment. They knew I was suffering from trust issues at this point, medically/physically desperate, psychologically damaged and just depressed, hopeless and paranoid that there is no solution for me, and even if there was how long until it fails? They took all these feelings into consideration when treating me, not only managed my expectations regarding outcome but made me feel better with their warmth and honesty. I have never been more at ease or comfortable and I finally, after ten years, had the first glimmer of hope. I was on the operating room table the next morning following my initial consultation so they could remove all the damaged scar bands still in my nose in order to increase my chances of hitting Dr. Kridels 94% closure rate! NINETY-FOUR PERCENT confirmed and documented!! The best part about my first surgery with him was he sutured in some light plastic sheeting over my perforation and temporarily closed my perf. He did this to protect the tissue but he also gave me the best night of sleep I'd had in ten years because NOW I can actually breathe. It was an incredible look into my crystal ball to see what my life can actually be like if this operation is successful!I stayed in Houston recovering from that surgery while having daily appointments so they could not only monitor where I was at in my healing but suction out my nose providing me with more comfort. Dr. Kridel has an amazing team! Aside from the wonderful Linda and Heather, Susanna took care of me on a very regular basis. Susanna even went round and round with my insurance provider for 30 minutes. She just never stopped going above and beyond. I was also cared for with such kindness by the brilliant Dr. Sturm-O'Brien and Dr. Burstein and I just never had a care in the world under their watchful eyes. I had commented to Dr. Angela Sturm-O'Brien that she had such an acute understanding of what I am going through it felt as if she had literally gone through what I am experiencing first hand. She just got it! My second procedure was blocked out for six hours. This was the big one! The permanent closure to my perforation. Lucky surgery number six on my nose. Dr. Kridel truly wanted to make everything perfect and really pay true attention to detail. He is a consummate perfectionist which is why he is the best doctor in the world for what he does. Not even for what he does, for me he is the best doctor in the world! Reason being my operation was a success and he closed my perforation. AND he even straightened my horribly disfigured nose out. I got the aesthetic and functionality of my nose back all at once! To this day I still can't believe it. They took a hopeless young man, cared for me as family and they healed me. Dr. Kridel is my healer and I thank god every day for him. I am imploring any one out there with a septum perforation to seek him out. He makes no promises, but he doesn't need to. His confidence and passion for healing patients psychologically and physically has actually brought me to tears. When Dr. Sturm-O'Brien and Susanna removed my bandages/cast it took me a couple of minutes before I could even look in the mirror for the big reveal. She and Susanna were so patient with me as well as encouraging that I finally was able to look at my face and at long last I recognized it! He gave me my nose and face back. He did it with a smile on his face the entire time as did his entire staff. The saddest part of this entire experience for me is that I will never be able to show them my full gratitude. No amount of thanks says it, even though they require none. They gave me my life back and I've felt reborn ever since I had the pleasure of being his patient. He gave me a life and a future and there is just nothing I can ever say or do to show my sincerest gratitude. Thank you Dr. Kridel, thank you to your dedication and pursuit of this revolutionary technique in healing. You will always remain in my thoughts and prayers. You are a remarkable human being and I am honored to be your patient. Most Sincerely,Matt Nickerson
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