Born Without a Nose — At 17, She Made a Decision That Would Change Her Face Forever

When Jennifer was born in Honduras, she had an extraordinarily rare congenital condition that made her appearance different from the very beginning.

She had no nose.

Instead, there were two small indentations in the area where her nose would normally have developed. These were not functioning nostrils.

Her condition, known as congenital arhinia, is so uncommon that fewer than 100 cases had been described in medical literature when Shriners Children’s shared her story in 2020.

Yet Jennifer grew up without allowing her facial difference to define her identity.

A Rare Condition Present From Birth

Congenital arhinia occurs when the external nose fails to develop before birth.

The condition can be associated with other developmental differences and may present serious medical challenges, particularly in infancy.

Jennifer’s experience was unusual. Despite being born without a nose, she grew into an active young woman and did not pursue reconstructive surgery during childhood.

She later explained that she had not initially wanted an operation because she was comfortable with who she was.

A Decision at Seventeen

In 2017, Jennifer underwent an initial medical evaluation through a Shriners-affiliated foundation in Honduras.

She subsequently traveled to Shriners Hospitals for Children in Boston for further assessment and treatment.

By then, she was 17 years old.

Although she had spent her childhood living with her condition, Jennifer eventually decided to explore the possibility of reconstructive surgery.

She did not know exactly what to expect, but she wanted to give herself the opportunity.

Creating a Nose Using Tissue From Her Forehead

Jennifer’s treatment was led by Dr. Eric C. Liao, a specialist in cleft and craniofacial reconstruction.

The first major step involved placing a tissue expander beneath the skin of her forehead.

Over several months, the device gradually stretched the surrounding tissue, creating additional skin that could be used during reconstruction.

Dr. Liao then moved a section of forehead tissue downward and used a piece of Jennifer’s rib to help create the framework of her new nose.

The process was medically complex and required Jennifer to adjust to dramatic temporary changes in her appearance.

The Difficult Days Before the Final Result

Jennifer admitted that the tissue-expansion stage was especially uncomfortable.

She had to live with a prominent swelling on her forehead while the device was gradually adjusted.

After the expander was removed, the intermediate stages of reconstruction also looked unfamiliar to her.

There were moments when she questioned whether undergoing surgery had been the right decision.

But as the reconstruction progressed, her feelings changed.

Looking at the developing result, Jennifer became increasingly pleased with the decision she had made.

A New Chapter, With More Treatment Still Ahead

When the hospital published Jennifer’s story in September 2020, she was 20 years old and had visited the Boston hospital on three separate occasions.

She was described as a confident, sociable young woman and an active member of Team Brave, a community reintegration program.

At that time, Jennifer still had another planned operation. Her surgeon intended to refine the reconstructed nose and create nostrils that could potentially allow her to breathe through them.

The hospital did not report that this final stage had already been completed.

Jennifer expressed gratitude not only for the reconstructive treatment but also for the relationships she had developed with the people caring for her.

Her journey was never simply about changing her appearance. It was about having the freedom to make her own decision and receiving the support needed to pursue it.

Source: Shriners Children’s Boston, September 15, 2020 — Born with an Incredibly Rare Congenital Defect, Jennifer is One in a Million.