A woman who struggled with blocked airways for 23 years says she flew to Turkey for surgery after being turned away by UK doctors.
Annie-Mae Dawes struggled to breathe through her nose for years and says it had become her “biggest insecurity” from the time she was just 12.
The 24-year-old says doctors put her issues down to having possibly broken her nose as a child, but found no other problems that would need treatment.
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However, Annie-Mae says she was “always certain” she would have a nose surgery to help with her breathing problems.
When doctors in the UK couldn’t help, Annie-Mae researched possible procedures and found medics in Turkey who could treat her.
“I was told multiple times I did not have a deviated septum, when in the end it turns out that it was blocking 60% of my airways,” Annie-Mae, who is from London, told Need To Know.
“My surgeon fixed it perfectly.
“I fought for 23 years, since [I was] a child to get answers.
“It was only when I went to Turkey that I got them.”
The make-up artist and beauty therapist underwent a septoplasty, rhinoplasty and perforation repair at age 23, costing £3,555 ($4,500 USD).
She added: “During the surgery, my surgeon found a 1cm hole in my septum which was caused by overusing the decongestant spray Otrivine so he repaired this.
“He removed the dorsal hump creating a strong curve, lifted the tip, refined and deprojected the tip, camouflaged some dents that I previously had.
“He used a strut graft and spreader grafts, made from my deviated septum cartilage, to help me breathe.
Annie-Mae says she opted to change the appearance of her nose during the surgery because she believes it “didn’t fit” her features.
She added: “I have a strange relationship with plastic surgery because I do believe that we should all love ourselves exactly the way we are, but equally life is short and if something is getting us down that we can’t shake then why not change it?
“I just believe my nose didn’t fit my features.
“It was the first thing I saw when I looked in the mirror and I hated being seen from a side profile.
“A lot of people have actually told me they prefer me before, but it’s all about how it makes you feel at the end of the day and it did not make me feel good.”
Annie-Mae says that while she was initially concerned about the use of anaesthesia during the procedure, she spent time doing an “extreme” amount of research on her surgeon.
She said: “I was just really scared of being put to sleep as I never had had it before.
“I trusted my decision, I went in super educated – and when I get something in my head there is no backing out!
“So people would say things but it wouldn’t faze me.
“Luckily all my nearest and dearest were super supportive, they knew how long I’d wanted the procedure and they knew I don’t jump into these things lightly, I had done a lot of research.”
Now, Annie-Mae is “so happy” with her new nose and says she felt “overjoyed”, even during the recovery process.
She added: “Now that I’m used to it, it’s nice to not have to think about it and feel confident from every angle.
“It’s been nearly two years and I’ve almost forgotten what it was like before.
“Being able to breathe is the best part it has changed my quality of life to the extreme – I sleep better, I don’t snore, I don’t mouth breathe, I don’t have daily sinus pain or headaches anymore.
“Illnesses and colds pass so much easier, flights are easier; I never realised how much breathing impacted my entire life before.
“So I’m over the moon with my results and the whole experience.”
Annie-Mae has documented much of her experience on social media, and often gets messages from others asking for advice.
She said: “I never want to influence someone into getting surgery – however I want to be there to support those who are going through it as I know how overwhelming and scary it can be.
“Especially in the early days of swelling.
“I’m actually in the works of setting up a service to accompany women getting their noses done abroad as so many people go through it alone and would really benefit from a companion during the first few days.”
Her main advice to anyone considering a similar procedure would be “don’t get it unless you absolutely hate all parts of your nose”.
She added: “Otherwise you’ll likely swap one small insecurity for another as there is no such thing as perfection.
“Be mentally prepared to not recognise yourself for a long period of time.
“Identity crisis is a real thing and you should really prepare yourself for the worst and have a therapist on hand.
“Be patient. When they say it takes over a year to see your full results, they really mean it and it can look all sorts of crazy up until then so do not freak out in the early days as it is so normal for it to look crazy.
“And lastly, I think it would be beneficial to go to a country that isn’t too far away from you or have an ear, nose and throat medic back home on standby just in the rare case of any complications.”
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