He Couldn’t Even Kiss His Wife Because of His Nose—Wait Until You See Him Now
A pensioner was left unable to kiss his wife or enjoy a pint due to the extreme size of his nose, which had grown so large it covered much of his face. Gerard McAliece, 68, from Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire, suffered from rhinophyma, a disfiguring condition that caused his nose to swell and become severely enlarged. The condition left him feeling deeply embarrassed and self-conscious. Cruel comments, particularly from children, made everyday life difficult for Gerard. “It just kept growing and growing,” he said. “As much as I tried to ignore it, people would stare — and some would even turn away.”
The growth on Gerard’s nose became so severe that it hung over his mouth, preventing him from kissing his wife, Carol, and even from drinking pints of beer, as his nose would get in the way and become covered in foam. Rhinophyma, which mostly affects older white men, is caused by the overgrowth of sebaceous (oil) glands and underlying tissue in the nose. It results in thickened, lumpy, red skin and can lead to major physical and emotional discomfort.
Although Gerard sought help from the NHS, he said he didn’t receive the support he needed. After seeing a locum doctor once, he didn’t pursue the issue further, believing it would be considered a cosmetic problem and not treated. “I’m not a pushy person,” Gerard explained. “There are more important things going on. I didn’t expect anything to be done for me.” For over six years, the condition affected not just his appearance but his entire lifestyle. Social events became a source of anxiety, and he worried especially during his grandchildren’s birthday parties about what their young friends might think.
“It was the younger kids who were the worst,” he said. “I don’t blame them—they’re too young to filter what they say—but it still hurt.” Eventually, it was his wife Carol who encouraged him to seek help. She took him to the Ever Clinic in Glasgow, where he consulted with cosmetic specialists. “The team told me it was the biggest case they’d ever worked on, and that it would be a real challenge,” Gerard said. But the results exceeded all expectations.
After undergoing treatment to restore his nose to a natural size and shape, Gerard says his life has completely changed. “The result has been fantastic. It has turned my life around,” he said. “Carol says I’m back to being the man I used to be.” The transformation allowed Gerard to return to enjoying everyday pleasures again — talking to people, going for drinks, and dining out at restaurants — things he hadn’t done in years due to embarrassment.
“The best part was that Carol and I didn’t tell our family about the procedure,” he added. “So when they saw me afterward, they were completely stunned. They couldn’t believe the difference.” Jonathan Toye, Managing Director at Ever Clinic, said: “Gerard was easily the most advanced case of rhinophyma we’ve ever seen. The outcome is outstanding, and hearing how it’s changed his life has been a proud moment for the whole team.”
A pensioner was left unable to kiss his wife or enjoy a pint due to the extreme size of his nose, which had grown so large it covered much of his face. Gerard McAliece, 68, from Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire, suffered from rhinophyma, a disfiguring condition that caused his nose to swell and become severely enlarged. The condition left him feeling deeply embarrassed and self-conscious. Cruel comments, particularly from children, made everyday life difficult for Gerard. “It just kept growing and growing,” he said. “As much as I tried to ignore it, people would stare — and some would even turn away.”
The growth on Gerard’s nose became so severe that it hung over his mouth, preventing him from kissing his wife, Carol, and even from drinking pints of beer, as his nose would get in the way and become covered in foam. Rhinophyma, which mostly affects older white men, is caused by the overgrowth of sebaceous (oil) glands and underlying tissue in the nose. It results in thickened, lumpy, red skin and can lead to major physical and emotional discomfort.
Although Gerard sought help from the NHS, he said he didn’t receive the support he needed. After seeing a locum doctor once, he didn’t pursue the issue further, believing it would be considered a cosmetic problem and not treated. “I’m not a pushy person,” Gerard explained. “There are more important things going on. I didn’t expect anything to be done for me.” For over six years, the condition affected not just his appearance but his entire lifestyle. Social events became a source of anxiety, and he worried especially during his grandchildren’s birthday parties about what their young friends might think.
“It was the younger kids who were the worst,” he said. “I don’t blame them—they’re too young to filter what they say—but it still hurt.” Eventually, it was his wife Carol who encouraged him to seek help. She took him to the Ever Clinic in Glasgow, where he consulted with cosmetic specialists. “The team told me it was the biggest case they’d ever worked on, and that it would be a real challenge,” Gerard said. But the results exceeded all expectations.
After undergoing treatment to restore his nose to a natural size and shape, Gerard says his life has completely changed. “The result has been fantastic. It has turned my life around,” he said. “Carol says I’m back to being the man I used to be.” The transformation allowed Gerard to return to enjoying everyday pleasures again — talking to people, going for drinks, and dining out at restaurants — things he hadn’t done in years due to embarrassment.
“The best part was that Carol and I didn’t tell our family about the procedure,” he added. “So when they saw me afterward, they were completely stunned. They couldn’t believe the difference.” Jonathan Toye, Managing Director at Ever Clinic, said: “Gerard was easily the most advanced case of rhinophyma we’ve ever seen. The outcome is outstanding, and hearing how it’s changed his life has been a proud moment for the whole team.”
