Surgeons rebuilt my face - amazing pictures

The first operation saw Neil on the operating table for three-and-a-half hours as surgeon Sanjay Sharma took skin grafts from his forehead and stomach to patch up the nose, requiring more than 60 stitches.

Two cuts were made down his forehead to create a flap of skin, which was then twisted down to become the new nose.

Skin and fat from his belly was stitched over that to protect and help the new skin take to the nose.

His forehead was sewn back together, leaving Neil unable to make any facial expressions without excruciating pain during his recovery.

Neil said: “When he first told us what he had to do in the operation I nearly broke down, it was horrible.

The pain was ridiculous. I couldn’t smile or talk without it hurting.”

Five weeks later he had his second surgery, during which cartilage from his ear was used to build the bridge of his nose.

“I was devastated to wake up and still find the flap of skin over my nose”, Neil said.

But the flap was removed on the third operation, five weeks later, when the forehead skin was stitched properly into his nose.

He just has one more operation in May to reduce the puffiness around the scarring but he will never regain his sense of smell or feeling in his nose.

Neil added: “Mr Sharma is my hero.

We are lucky in this city to have such great care.

“I have complete faith in Mr Sharma, who says it will take a couple of years before it is completely healed.

“I am absolutely ecstatic with how it is now. I would have never believed it would look this good.”

Tracey added: “He looks pretty good. Mr Sharma (below) is fantastic.”