I post about my fake nose to normalise prosthetics

A woman who lost her nose to a rare medical condition is posting about her prosthetic nose online to help normalise facial prosthetics.

Jayne Hardman, 48, from Redditch, Worcestershire, was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease called ANCA-Positive Vasculitis after her dog knocked her nose, leading to its removal in 2017.

She now uses magnetic prosthetics and has more than ten versions matched to different skin tones and situations.

Jayne told the BBC she shares her story on social media to raise awareness of the condition and support others living with facial difference.

The condition was identified after her dog accidentally knocked her nose in 2012.

The swelling didn't go down and she began experiencing frequent nosebleeds. Two years later she was diagnosed with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), a rare form of vasculitis that can cause severe tissue damage if left untreated.

Her nose gradually collapsed into her face and surgeons told her it could not be reconstructed and would need to be removed.

"It's massively rare," she said. "I looked and looked and looked and I couldn't find anyone like me."

She now has titanium implants in her facial bones to attach a magnetic prosthetic nose - with more than ten versions, including a summer nose, a winter nose and what she calls her "drunk nose", which matches the flushed tone her skin takes on after a drink.

Hardman said she stores them in a wooden tea box.

"I've been known to line them up on the window sill in the bathroom to wind my husband up, but he got sick of me doing that".

The 48-year-old said she started posting because she couldn't find anyone else with a prosthetic nose and wanted to help others feel less alone.

"I get really personal, intrusive questions," she said. "But if I can help somebody else going through what I did or stop anyone going through what I did it's worth it."

Her videos show her clipping on her nose, answering questions about her condition and talking openly about confidence and facial difference. Some have reached millions of views.

Hardman said: "It took me a long time to be comfortable. Now I'm incredibly proud of what I wear and I just want everyone to see it."

She now volunteers for charity Vasculitis UK and uses her platform to raise awareness of GPA and vasculitis, which require early diagnosis and treatment.

"I think the dog saved my life," she said. "Without treatment, it can be fatal.

"I breathe normally through it. It's just part of my life, it's me now."

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