Marguerite

Nasal prosthesis attached using magnets

“In 2006, a little spot appeared on my nose and it wouldn’t go away. I went to see two different dermatologists. The first one burned the spot with nitrogen and the second prescribed me a cream, without doing a biopsy. Three months later, the spot started bleeding for the first time. It was cancer.

I underwent a maxillofacial surgical operation, but after several attempts at grafting, there were still some cancerous cells. Dr Barrière had to proceed with the total ablation of the nose. After the operation, I was introduced to one of Anne-Marie Riedinger’s patients, who was already wearing a nasal prosthesis and that encouraged me to contact her quickly.

During my first appointment, I had brought photos of me before the operation. I took my courage in both hands and I told the anaplastologist that before the operation I had had a very long, wide nose and that she could quite happily shorten it! That made her laugh quite a bit and now, with my prosthesis, my nose is more beautiful than before!

To start off with, I had a prosthesis fixed with adhesive in April 2007, but it was complicated to put on and look after, and I was allergic to the adhesive. I didn’t want to have any more operations, but my daughter insisted and Dr Hémar fitted me with implants. After two operations, I had my prosthesis attached using magnets in December 2008.

Since then, my prosthesis holds on better and is much more comfortable than the solution with adhesive. When I just had a dressing on my nose, I was afraid to go out much. I was restricted in my movements and what I could do. Having a prosthesis has enabled me to get going with my life again and to have the courage to go out once more. I have kept my independence, I drove a car until the age of 89 and I still look after my big garden all by myself! I feel good and I often say to Ms Riedinger: What would I do without you and Dr Hemar? What would I have done without a nose? It is wonderful that she should live so close by.”