Lo Thi Le and Her Journey to Find Her 'Missing' Nose

Lo Thi Le, a girl with a nasal defect, bravely embarked on a journey to find a 'new nose' at Kangnam Cosmetic Hospital.

The Haunting of a Defective Nose

The young girl from Sơn La had to face a life of hardship from as early as 8 months old. Due to severe necrosis complications, Le's entire nasal area was destroyed, leaving behind terrifying contracture scars and deformed nasal tissue. That defect became a scar etched into her soul throughout her childhood. The curious stares and teasing from her peers became a heavy burden on Lệ's shoulders, making her feel constantly isolated and insecure.

Seeing his daughter becoming more and more withdrawn, the father’s heart ached: 'When your child is like this, what parent wouldn’t feel heartbroken? I understand the pain my daughter is enduring, but our family is struggling and cannot afford treatment for her. I just hope for some miracle to come, to help my daughter have a normal appearance like her peers.' Le's father shared.

7-Month Journey with Numerous Major and Minor Surgeries

Dr. Richard Huy and the Kangnam medical team carefully assessed Le’s case. The results showed that Le suffered from a complex condition due to complete necrosis of the nasal area, nasal tissue deformation, and severe contracture of the cartilage. 'This is a very challenging surgery because the entire front nasal structure has been completely lost, along with several areas of infection,' Dr. Richard Huy stated

Dr. Richard Huy devised a combined treatment plan specifically for Le’s case. To reconstruct a complete nose, the doctors will synchronize a new nasal structural framework and use autologous skin flaps to cover both the internal and external mucosal surfaces of the nose. This method will help form a harmonious and natural nasal shape.

Additionally, to address the issue of contracture scars, the doctors will combine fat grafting into the scarred areas and appling laser technology to fade the scars, improve skin tone, and provide optimal aesthetic results for Le's face.

Stage 1: Placing and Expanding the Skin Expansion Bag

To create a sufficiently large skin flap to cover the defect in the nasal area, the doctors performed the technique of placing and expanding a skin expansion bag for Le on her forehead. This method requires high precision, as the doctors will inject water into the expansion bag daily to gradually stretch the forehead skin according to plan. Once the forehead skin reaches its maximum size, the doctors will move this skin flap to completely cover the nasal area.

Stage 2: Transferring the Flap and Shaping the Nose

After three months of skin expansion, Le entered the second surgical stage to reshape the nose and transfer the skin flap. During the procedure, the Kangnam medical team used autologous rib cartilage to completely reconstruct the nasal framework, providing a solid foundation for the new nose. Next, the forehead skin flap was carefully detached and transferred to shape the nose. However, during surgery, the doctors noticed that the nostrils were slightly larger than proportionate to the face. To ensure the highest aesthetic outcome, they proceeded to reduce the size of the nostrils, creating better facial balance and harmony.

Stage 3: Thinning the Nasal Flap, Correcting Contracture Scars, Elevating the Nasal Tip with Ear Cartilage, and Nanofat Grafting

Following the success of the second surgery, Le entered the third stage to refine her nose shape. In this stage, the doctors focused on thinning the nasal skin flap to make the nose more slender and refined. The contracture scars were meticulously treated to ensure high aesthetic quality. To elevate the nasal tip and create a natural appearance, ear cartilage was used to shape a soft, harmonious nasal tip that complements the face. Finally, the nanofat grafting technique was applied to fill sunken areas, making Le’s face fuller, smoother, and more natural-looking.

Stage 4: Correcting Contracture Deformities and Thinning the Flap a Second Time

In stage 4, the doctors continued to enhance the nose by correcting deformities caused by contracture and further thinning the skin flap to create a more slender appearance.

Stage 5: Cutting the Nasal Pedicle and Thinning the Flap a Third Time

Lastly, the nose shape was finalized with a procedure to cut the nasal pedicle and thin the skin flap one final time, resulting in a refined and harmonious nose.

The 7-month journey with multiple surgeries, both large and small, ended with a perfect result. The new nose is not only the outcome of the continuous efforts of the medical team but also a proof of Le's determination. With her perfect nose, Le has regained her confidence and shines brightly. She emotionally shared: 'Now I have a nose like everyone else. I feel incredibly happy and grateful to the Kangnam doctors for helping me change my life.