Ceri’s Story

Horse riding can be a dangerous hobby – the risk of serious injury is higher from horse riding than for football, motor racing or skiing, according to the BMJ Journal .

This risk is something Ceri, a 62-year-old retired healthcare professional, can attest to. Many years of falls from horses during a childhood of riding left her with a saddle nose deformity, where the nasal tip droops, leading to issues with breathing and an unnatural appearance.

“I was a keen horse rider through my childhood and into my early twenties and had my fair share of knocks and falls.”

“Consequently, I acquired a nose that was flatter in profile with a definite bony bridge compounded by very little support at the end leading to a concave lower profile. If I ever had a cold, I wouldn’t be able to breathe on one side.”

Ceri started to feel self-conscious about her nose in her 20s. “Photos reflected an appearance that was at odds to how I felt. My facial profile appeared too flat and my nose seemed small and squashed.”
Flicking through a magazine, Ceri came across Rhinoplasty London and the UK’s leading rhinoplasty expert, Dr Charles East.

“I could see from Dr East’s qualifications that he was extremely skilled. He listened to me and I really trusted that I’d be happy with the end result.

Due to her horse-riding accidents, Ceri’s rhinoplasty was a little more complicated than most – and she needed a rib graft.

“Ceri’s injury had damaged the front of her nasal septum which resorbed resulting in a saddle nose”, explains Mr East. “This resulted in an unnatural boxer type of profile with drooping of her nasal tip, compromise of her breathing and the hanging columella (base of the nose in between the nostrils). There was insufficient local cartilage for this so rib was used to replace the septum, lift and suspend the tip creating a natural profile and a stable airway.”

“I was perhaps as apprehensive about the rib graft as my nasal surgery itself,” explains Ceri.

“I understood that rib injuries had the potential to be very uncomfortable. However, throughout the whole procedure neither my rib or nose have suffered swelling, discomfort or bruising. Following my surgery, I received daily reminders of after-care advice by email and follow up phone calls from professional support staff enquiring after my welfare”

“My nose both feels and looks much better now,” says Ceri. “It looks very natural and I undoubtedly feel happier and more confident.”