A businesswoman who was bullied for the lump in her nose has revealed how she regrets spending $36,000 (£27,470) on three nose jobs to help her breathing, and admits her issues are now even worse now than before.
Nicole Spinden, 43, from Washington, said her classmates would throw rocks at her and torment her every day on the way to school.
She always hoped for a nose job growing up, but it wasn’t until Nicole was 34 that a doctor told her she had a deviated septum and needed surgery.
However, following surgery, her septum shifted back to its original shape, making her breathing worse.
Nicole Spinden (pictured left before her nose job, and right after), 43, from Washington, said she her classmates would throw rocks at her and torment her every day on the way to school
Nicole went back to the doctor, but she was encouraged to wait longer before undergoing her next surgery.
In 2012, she underwent a second surgery, but the same thing happened, and it became more swollen.
She said: ‘When I went to the doctor for something do to with my ear, he was doing an exam and told me “I could actually fix your nose and insurance will cover it”. My face lit up, I was so excited.
‘I would be able to breathe better and my nose would be aesthetically fixed, I thought everything would be great.
In 2012, Nicole underwent a second surgery, but the same thing happened, and it became more swollen. In 2016, she had a third surgery (pictured here after)
‘But I was wrong. I never even thought about the possibility that it would not work – that never crossed my mind.
‘When I went to have the nose surgery, I had to wean off the medication I was on following the doctor’s protocol to stop 48 hours before the surgery. But it did not work.
‘When I had my second nose surgery, they did it differently, they put me on opiate drugs until my procedure was over.
‘But the septum started shifting and my husband went with me.
‘My doctor said, “you’re going to have more scar tissue if you don’t allow it to heal longer. I’ll operate anyway.”
Nicole, pictured left before any surgeries and right after three, said: ‘When I went to have the nose surgery, I had to wean off the medication I was on following the doctor’s protocol to stop 48 hours before the surgery. But it did not work. ‘When I had my second nose surgery, they did it differently, they put me on opiate drugs until my procedure was over.
And even after the three surgeries, Nicole’s health is now deteriorating as she struggles to breathe normally. Now, she is working towards the future and hopes to undergo another surgery to help with her breathing. She is pictured here after three surgeries
‘I think that was the first mistake, because you need a year for it to heal.’
In 2016, Nicole underwent a third surgery but added that she instantly regretted getting it done, having collectively spent $36,000 (£27,470) on her surgeries.
And even after the three surgeries, Nicole’s health is now deteriorating and she struggles to breathe normally.
Now, she is working towards the future and hopes to undergo another surgery to help with her breathing.
Nicole, pictured after three surgeries, added: ”I do want to get my nose fixed again. I’m hoping to get a doctor who knows what they’re doing. My face is my work. My nose is worse off than when it was natural, and I wish I never touched it,’
‘I do want to get my nose fixed again. I’m hoping to get a doctor who knows what they’re doing. My face is my work. My nose is worse off than when it was natural, and I wish I never touched it,’ she said.
‘It hasn’t affected my business except just when having my own insecurities. I don’t allow my appearance to dictate my life.
‘I’ve been able to accept myself for how I am, and it is what it is. I look in the mirror and I can still see the lump and all the things that are wrong with it.
‘I’ve had three surgeries; I can’t breathe well at all, when I’m running, I have to breathe in through my mouth.
Nicole now advises people to think very carefully before undergoing surgery
‘With social media I definitely think we’re out in the public eye more than we used to be, we’re always posting pictures, so there is pressure on that, but I also think we’re more accepting of different beauties.
‘It’s not just skinny models now. I think the more natural, the better, the more authentic we are, the more we step into owning, that makes a person beautiful.
‘My advice to those considering surgery is to think “why do you want to get it done?” For me, I grew up very insecure.
‘I was always hard on myself and compared myself to models and beauty standards that don’t exist because now we have Photoshop.
‘So, find out why you choose to have it done; is it for aesthetic reasons, or for your health.
‘Also, doctors are human, and they make mistakes but there is this misconception that once you come out they will be able to fix everything, when this isn’t always true.’