Life just threw a little curve ball & I need a clown nose

Perry, I almost PM'd you for advice on a clown nose, but just in case this happens to someone else...thought I'd discuss it here. That's why we call it the forum. My face painting business has started to "take off" after a year. I love doing it & need the $ on a fixed income now that my husband & I are retired. My biopsy of an area on my nose came back positive for Basal Cell Cancer. OK, I'm a retired RN, so I knew that wasn't going to kill me...BUT, it's on the tip of the nose (not a good area) so I had to see a plastic surgeon today. He told me we won't know how big the area will be until they perform the MOHS procedure. If anyone has this happen look this up. They remove the cancer under local anesthesia & test it. 30-60 minutes later (my surgeon said bring a book for the downtime) they come back & either say it's all gone (IN MED SPEAK...MARGINS ARE CLEAR) or they continue to remove small amounts just where they found some still there. This continues 'till it's gone. This MOHS procedure has a 99% cure rate. If it's on any other facial area, they suture you up & you go home. Mine is already too wide, so I will then be taken to my plastic surgeon. He'll do a skin graft from in front or behind my ear.
Now Perry...picture me sitting in his exam room, asking if I need to do it right away or can I wait till the week after Thanksgiving. I've got a 4 hr event Nov 24th. His answer...NO! Did I mention his wife is a friend of mine? SO-O-O, I'm thinking I need a good sized clown nose, since this thing could be big. I am booked for surgery on the 14th & have nothing until the 24th, other than Thanksgiving on the 22nd & our 44th wedding anniversary on the 23rd. The Dr & I discussed how hard it is to keep a bandage on the nose. He said it will look pretty bad for months, so I thought of the clown nose & we were all laughing. Perry, please tell me where to get some & how can I stick it on? I refuse to give up my face painting!

Oh, dear, Pat! Well, I wish I had a big ol' clown nose to give you to get you through this!!!

I'll be keeping you in my thoughts & prayers

Wishing you all the strength you need to get through this pat!

Since a nose bandage will be so hard to keep on, why not buy one of those funny glasses with a nose attached to it? I would think that a clowns nose will hurt since it is either glued to your nose or holds on by pinching your nose a bit.

just google funny party glasses

Well, I use a ProKnows attached with adhesive directly on my skin of my nose, but I don't think that would work well with your situation because you will have cuts and bandages and stuff.. you don't want to be ripping adhesive off of your nose or have something holding moisture and possibly germs right up against it.

BUT, I do think that a string nose would work for you perfectly in this case.
https://www.mooseburgeronline.com/products/ACME-String-Clown-Nose.html

Perry, that's just what I need. Thank you so much. I also saw a mask @ the local CVS for $5. I'm thinking of making a nose out of Gelatin, hoping to attach it to some gauze over the bandage. Next, I'll paint around it to make a mask that looks like this:


Another option would be to just use the mask & try to paint w/o glasses.
That would be REAL interesting w/my eyesight!

If already wearing glasses , why not detach a nose from one of those funny glasses, attach a pliable eyelet to it and hook it over the bridge of your own glasses? It will then hang loosely over your own nose, covering it up without touching it too much.

I'm really amazed about how you're dealing this issue, I admire you. Sending warm hugs and best wishes from Spain

Pat, wishing you the best with your health and recovery!
You are really a 'trouper' going ahead with your painting! And a what wonderful idea to work around it for now.
Isn't it just the greatest line of work...what other job could we go to, that we could wear a clown nose and look perfectly acceptable.

Valerie aka NieleA wrote:Isn't it just the greatest line of work...what other job could we go to, that we could wear a clown nose and look perfectly acceptable.

Ahww, so true! I'm wishing you good thoughts, speedy healing, and beautiful painting.

sorry to hear this. I had one on my leg 6 yrs ago and it never came back after being removed. Hope you heal soon! A clown nose...what a great solution lol!

[quote="Valerie aka NieleA"
Isn't it just the greatest line of work...what other job could we go to, that we could wear a clown nose and look perfectly acceptable. [/quote]

How true! Love a job that let's us celebrate the child in all of us.
MamaKatrien, since the size of the bandage will vary thru healing, that nose will certainly be an option...& I'll be able to wear my glasses!
Thanks for all your kind words, my fellow FPF friends. It's not the 1st, nor will it be the last time one of us finds help &/or support on these pages. How very unique this forum is. We can search the International Face Painting world for answers, learn from many, seek comfort, support, constructive criticism & even complain...all in one place.
Love & thanks

You will have to confirm this with Perry Noia.
I have heard a rumor that
The bigger the clown nose....
the smaller my butt will appear.

xoxo

WHOO-HOO!!!!! I'll be sure to tell my plastic surgeon that one. But wait a minute, if I tell a lie, my Pinocchio nose will grow. Darn, talk about being caught between a rock & a harn place!

I have to check my spelling before sending these off!!!

I don't know about the larger nose, but I have noticed that the larger my hat gets, the smaller my bum appears to be

Off to buy a sombrero.....

Me too!

OK, no clown nose needed but will wear the lg pink hat. I know the secret now. If they're looking @ your hat (& nose) they don't even notice your large derriere! Thanks for all the good wishes. PLEASE see a dermatologist when you suspect anything &/or when you are a tad older. This cancer was more invasive than they thought, going all the way to my cartilage. It was too large & deep for a skin graft, so my plastic surgeon built me a new nose. God bless him! The bandages & most stitches came out today. He'll be seeing me weekly, but I'm painting @ a birthday party for a little boy with Autism tomorrow. I am a gift from his uncle. Saturday, I have a 4 Hr event. No heavy lifting, so family will help w/setup. Today I'm grateful for family, friends & a wonderful surgeon. Happy Thanksgiving & blessings to all.

((((((HUGS)))))))

I swear, you are such a kind person, Pilareta, not just to me, but to many others. Such nice people on the Forum...AND they love what I love.

You must be such an amazing person Pat I'm not sure I would handle things as well as you have! I wish I lived closer to you so I could Jam with someone that has such a passion for painting...take care of yourself. I'm sure you will heal up just fine and then you can donate the clown nose.... Your brushes aren't going anywhere!

You're so making lemonade with all those lemons given to you!

Aww Pat I'm so glad everything worked out for you I just read this and wanted to give you a hug! You're such an inspiration <3

Wow! I just came upon and love this thread. You are a wonderful inspiration! No pity party for you! Happy painting! I'm in the 'buy-a-big-hat crew too! Sending love and warm wishes for a quick, easy recovery from Switzerland.

Yay for new nose! (I guess?) It's still surgery and I'm sure not pleasant, but I'm glad it's all working out for you in the end.