A man who faced needing a prosthetic nose after snorting cocaine has joined doctors in warning about the dangers of the drug. Ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctors have urged people to beware after seeing a rise in the number of patients who have suffered irreparable damage to the nasal septum.
Damage to the cartilage and bone inside the nose can cause it to collapse and can lead to patients having their nose removed and being fitted with a prosthetic. Fraser, who did not wish to give his surname, saw his nose start to collapse after he snorted cocaine regularly and faced having it taken off.
However, following several consultations, Natarajan Balaji, an ENT consultant at University Hospital Monklands, carried out reconstructive surgery at the end of last year. Fraser said: "I cannot thank the ENT team at Monklands enough. Having been told I would lose my nose and to then be told they would be able to rebuild it was incredible.
