‘Video calls made me hate my nose’

Megan Williams, 25, works for an entertainment company and lives in Liverpool with her partner, Paul, 28. She says,

“I’ve hated my nose since I was a teen. I despised having my photograph taken because of it. But things got really bad once the pandemic hit. Suddenly, we were all having to make video calls – both for work and socially – and with every one I could feel my confidence take a hit. For an entire call I felt like my nose was all you could see. I hated it more than I ever had before and was desperate to change it.

“The situation last year made it easier. Firstly, it meant I could do it in secret without judgement or comments from friends. When

I’d mentioned it before, people were very quick to tell me I didn’t need one. I think they thought I was just being vain.

“I was furloughed from my job in an entertainment company, which meant I didn’t need to take time off, so last October, before the restrictions were tightened again, I booked in to a UK clinic. The procedure took two hours and cost £8,000, which I paid for with savings and a small loan. I was very bruised, and it took four weeks before my stitches weren’t noticeable. I felt very fortunate not to be in the office – it took off the pressure to recover quietly and I could just rest.

“Now, five months on, I love my new nose – it’s pretty subtle and some friends didn’t notice when I was able to see them – which is how I wanted it to be. I struggle to accept compliments – I never know how to react, so I’m glad I’ve been able to keep it quiet. This way I could just get on with it and have time to recover.”