A painter who couldn’t breathe and eat properly because his nose had grown so bulbous and big has received life-changing surgery.
Conrado Estrada was working at Dr. Thomas Romo’s property when the plastic surgeon noticed his condition and offered to reconstruct his nose for free.
“I saw this gentleman landscaping in my backyard when I noticed his severe case of rhinophyma. I introduced myself and offered to correct his facial deformity, to which he happily accepted,” Roma said on Facebook.
Speaking about his condition – rhinophyma – Estrada explained: “They would stare at me. Children would ask their mothers what happened to me, and I would get around it by using a face mask all the time.
“It had reached my lips and whenever I took a bite when I ate that would touch the spoon.”
His nose also made it hard for him to breathe and caused him to snore loudly at night.
“I had spent six years seeing doctors and skin specialists and nothing would get better,” he expressed.
Dr. Romo told the New York Post: “This was a bad one. It was a smoldering infection… and it would have just kept going.”
He said that Estrada’s condition left him as though he had a private part on his nose.
“This has to be affecting his life, his relationship with other people and his ability to get work, and his self-esteem,” he said.
Romo said to the Post: “Not many people know how to fix this thing and health insurance won’t necessarily cover it,”
When Romo told the painter that he was going to help him for free: “He saw me and he gave me a hug.”
“I hadn’t seen a rhinophyma in maybe 20 years,” he continued.
Only days after he met, Estrada went underwent surgery.
“I re-shaped his nose, and applied sterile bandages. He was so thrilled and thankful! There is no better satisfaction than being able use my specialty and skill to improve another persons quality of life,” Romo said.
“It’s not just the shape of his face that’s changed. You’d think he won an Olympic gold medal. Chest is out, face’s out, he’s a smiley guy. I feel great for him!”
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments section and SHARE this story with your friends and family!