French plastic surgeon suspended after patients claim he left them with 'potato' noses

A well-known French plastic surgeon, Olivier Gerbault, has been suspended from practicing for two years after multiple patients accused him of performing unsatisfactory nose surgeries. Gerbault, known for his ultrasonic rhinoplasty technique, allegedly left some patients with breathing difficulties and deformities.

Several women who filed complaints with the medical ethics committee described their noses as resembling "potatoes" after the procedures, according to a New York Post report. Elisa, one of the patients, said:

“My nose was long, crooked, thick, and looked like a potato. My left nostril was collapsing, and I couldn’t get any air through.”

Another patient, Chloé, reported similar experiences, claiming her nose became infected and her nostrils collapsed after the surgery. She said:

“I had a lump [in place of my nose], a big potato. From then on, I lost all taste for life.”

Alix, another patient, alleged Gerbault inserted a chin prosthesis without her consent during her rhinoplasty.

“I feel like I’ve been mutilated," Alix said, as quoted by New York Post. "When I woke up, I was vomiting liters of blood. The doctor must have used a trowel. Since then, I’ve had a horrible burning sensation, air rushes in too strongly, and it gets on my nerves. Gerbault has ruined my life.”

Gerbault, 58, received a two-year ban in November 2023.

Despite the suspension, Gerbault continues to practice with permission from local authorities. He denies all allegations, claiming the complaints are part of a smear campaign orchestrated by a rival surgeon.

“These patients are all connected and the complaints are strictly the same, sometimes down to the last word. It’s obvious they are being helped by a colleague, which is particularly serious and unprofessional,” Gerbault said, as quoted by New York Post.

The surgeon is currently appealing the suspension.