Alan Findlay, 56, living in Scotland, had a disease called rosacea. Having struggled with rosacea for a long time, Alan developed rhinophymia, which affects the nose, years later. Rhinophyma is a more severe skin disease in which the skin thickens around the nose. Alan stated that he felt like an ‘Elephant Man’ after the changes in his nose.
WRINKLES STARTED TO GROW OVER TIME
Alan said, “I started to feel a difference in my nose around 2018. Wrinkles began to form on the right side. They got bigger within a year. I knew I looked scary because people were talking about it. My social life deteriorated, I didn’t go out much. I didn’t have confidence in myself.
“WORST EXAMPLE WE HAVE EVER SEEN”
“I felt in my head that I was a bit like the elephant man. I more or less cut myself off.”
Alan said his appearance has had a real impact on his mental health.
“I won’t lie, it impressed me, but it was still difficult for my wife, Rowan, to drive me to the clinic.” Rowan searched the internet for answers and eventually found a clinic that specializes in treating my rhinoid with lasers. Dr Cormac Convery, who led the procedures, said Alan was “almost certainly the worst specimen we’ve ever seen”.
THE FIRST OPERATION TAKED FIVE HOURS
His condition was so bad that the laser treatment had to be done in two sessions instead of one, and the doctor wasn’t sure how good the result would be. The first procedure was carried out in March and took about five hours. He then had a second operation two months later, which took another two and a half hours. Now, Alan has regained his joie de vivre thanks to the surgery. He said: “I know it sounds trite but they gave me my life back.
“AMAZING TRANSFORMATION”
Alan said, “This is an incredible transformation. It’s definitely life-changing for me when you compare the before and after.” Alan’s self-confidence has greatly improved since his treatment. “Christmas will be different this year, I’m much more confident in myself. I’m going out to socialize.”