A PENSIONER’s nose grew so big that it prevented him from drinking pints and snogging his missus.
Gerard McAliece, 68, was left embarrassed after his massive hooter covered half of his face due to the disfiguring condition rhinophyma.
Gerard’s nose grew so big that it covered half his face
Before and after images show the incredible difference in size following surgery
The granddad, of Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire, said he didn’t want to leave the house because mean kids would taunt him.
But after years of suffering his wife Carol finally took him to see aesthetic experts who managed to return the nose to its normal size.
Gerard said: “It just kept growing and growing and, as much as possible, I tried to ignore it. People began to stare, and some would turn away.
“The great thing was that my wife Carol and I hadn’t told the family that I was going in for the procedure.
“So, when they saw me again for the first time, the surprise was complete.
“They were totally taken aback”.
The condition mainly affects older, white men, and is caused by the proliferation of sebaceous glands in the nose and underlying connective tissue.
It leads to severe swelling, lumps and redness of the skin.
But the tissue on Gerard’s nose expanded to such an extent that it was hanging down over his mouth and covering a large part of his face.
It got so bad that it impacted his social life, amid fears that people would stare or pick on him.
He went to see a doctor on the NHS but didn’t receive the help he needed.
Gerard, who worked at IBM in Greenock for 30 years, said: “In retrospect, the younger kids were the worst.
“I mean no harm to them, but they have no guile at that age, and no filters.
“I used to really worry at my grandchildren’s birthday parties – what do their wee pals think?
“When I went to the doctor it was a locum that I saw. After that I didn’t discuss it with my GP as I didn’t think they would do anything about it, as they would deem it as cosmetic.
“I am not a pushy person and I don’t expect things to be done for me. There are more important things going on.”
Gerard suffered for more than six years and said he hadn’t been “able to properly kiss” his wife.
He also struggled to drink pints as his nose would get in the way and get covered in froth.
Gerard has his life back thanks to surgery
Jonathan Toye of Ever Clinic said the result is “outstanding”
His missus then took him to see aesthetic experts at the Ever Clinic in Glasgow.
Gerard said: “They said it was the biggest job that they had ever tackled and that it was going to be a real challenge.
“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.”
Jonathan Toye, managing director at Ever Clinic, added: “Gerard was easily the most advanced case of rhinophyma we’ve seen.
“The result is outstanding. We’re so proud of the whole team.
“Hearing Gerard talk about how it’s changed his life has been a proud moment for all of us.”
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