68-year-old Gerard McAliece from Kilmacolm, Scotland, first noticed small changes about six years ago. His nose began to swell slightly and look redder, though he didn’t think much of it at the time.
He assumed it was simply part of aging and chose to ignore it. But as time went by, the changes became more severe, and soon it was clear that something was seriously wrong.
The retired builder remembered how people would stare at him in public, sometimes even turning away. He recalled: “Yes, people began to stare, and some would turn away, but my view was: this is me. Take me as I am.”
As the growth worsened, it reached the point where his nose drooped over his mouth. Everyday things like eating, drinking, and even kissing his wife, Carol, became difficult and sometimes impossible.
Doctors later diagnosed him with Rhinophyma — a rare condition that causes thickening of the skin on the nose due to enlarged oil glands and connective tissue.
Even though his case had become extreme, Gerard struggled for years to get any real medical help.
His wife Carol eventually decided to take matters into her own hands. After reading online about the work of Ever Clinic in Glasgow, she reached out to them, hoping they could help her husband.
When Gerard visited the clinic, the doctors were shocked by the severity of his condition. They immediately scheduled an intricate four-hour operation led by Dr. Cormac Convery, where surgeons carefully removed the overgrown tissue and reshaped his nose to restore its natural look.
The surgery completely changed his life. For the first time in years, he could look in the mirror and feel comfortable again.
The grateful grandfather added: “The result has been fantastic. It has totally turned my life around. Carol says that I am back to being the man that I used to be. I am now talking to people, going for a pint and enjoying meals out in restaurants, which we haven’t done for years.”
“Dr Cormac really outdid himself with this case, and the result is outstanding.”
Gerard now hopes that his story will inspire others who are living with the same condition to get help sooner, especially if they’ve been told by the NHS that nothing can be done.
