Transformative Rhinoplasty Journey: A MultiCare Patient’s Inspiring Story
Meet Billie Langford, a woman who, for years, felt like she had to settle for less when it came to her appearance. For as long as she could remember, Billie had a love-hate relationship with her nose. “It was just one of those things you live with,” she shares, brushing aside thoughts of rhinoplasty as her priorities shifted elsewhere.
But everything changed when she visited a new dentist. This wasn’t just any routine dental appointment; it turned out to be a turning point in her life. The dentist pointed out that the bigger issue wasn’t how her nose looked, but how it functioned.
“I filled out a new patient survey, and one question stuck with me: ‘How do you sleep? Do you wake up refreshed?’” Billie recalls. Admitting she often woke up feeling drained, the dentist suggested an overnight oxygen test. The results were shocking—her oxygen levels dropped consistently while she slept.
“We’ve seen your septum during your appointments,” her dentist, Jill Hansen, remarked. Billie had no idea that she was living with a severely deviated septum since birth, struggling to breathe through one nostril and even “whistling” in her sleep. Little did she know that her insurance might actually cover the repair as a medical necessity.
Encouraged by her dentist, Billie sought help from an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist, who ultimately referred her to a facial plastic surgeon at MultiCare ENT & Med Aesthetics in Gig Harbor. During their first meeting, the conversation turned serious as they discussed her breathing problems.
“He said, ‘It doesn’t help that half your nose is caved in,’” she remembers, shocked yet relieved. But the surgeon quickly provided assurance. “It’s OK. I’m going to fix it,” he said, a promise of change that sent a wave of hope through her.
As a board-certified ENT and facial plastic surgeon, he was well-equipped to tackle both the functional and aesthetic concerns. He explained that deviated septums could occur at birth or arise from injuries, like sports mishaps. For anyone struggling to breathe through their nose, especially on one side, it’s crucial to get checked out.
“If there’s a breathing issue, insurance typically covers it,” he added. In Billie’s case, fixing her deviated septum was medically justified. But since she’d be under anesthesia anyway, they could also address the cosmetic side—something she was eager to explore.
“I didn’t want to go through the surgery and not get what I wanted at the end,” she insisted, excited about the prospect of finally getting the nose she had dreamed of.
“He definitely takes an artist’s approach,” Billie reflects on her surgeon. “He was relaxed, and I walked out of there knowing I was in the right hands.”
To her surprise, recovery was less daunting than she had anticipated.
“I love my nose so much it was just a blur,” she exclaims. One of her favorite moments? When the doctor removed the cast, beaming with pride at his work.
“It’s night and day,” she states, grinning from ear to ear. “I can breathe! I sleep soundly, wake up refreshed, and I no longer toss and turn, searching for a position that doesn’t make me whistle.”
The transformation wasn’t just physical; it was emotional, too. Her new nose harmonizes beautifully with her features, giving her a natural look. “The biggest comment I get is that I look more youthful,” she beams.
With her new appearance came a renewed self-esteem. “Every day, I would tell myself how much I hated my nose,” she admits. But now, those negative thoughts have vanished. “You don’t realize it until you’re not saying it anymore. With my newly shaped nose, my inner dialogue has shifted to positivity for the first time in years. I love, love, love my nose!”
