Sarah lived an uneventful childhood, not commenting on her appearance until she entered university. “I never knew a nose could be a model of beauty,” she says. She still remembers how her “boyfriend” made fun of her nose and “jokingly” embarrassed her “in normal conversations.”
“I became very insecure and even thought about saving money for rhinoplasty and other operations,” Sara recalls. It got to the point where she realized the problem wasn’t her nose or her body.
“It turned out I just needed to get rid of my friend and everything was back to normal.”
The privilege of mental silence while looking at one’s reflection is not something many women enjoy.
Nose surgery for a better life
The new year in Iran began with the country lowering the age for cosmetic surgery to 14 for girls and 16 for boys, from the previous age of 18. The change in eligibility was deemed “scientifically appropriate” for the procedure, Ibrahim Rezmpa, a board member of the Iranian Association of Rhinology, told Anadolu Agency.
This decision takes into account factors such as physical and emotional development.
Going down the rabbit hole, it turns out that plastic surgery, especially rhinoplasty, is very common in Iran and its demand continues to increase with the existing social pressure, media influence (especially from the West) and cultural norms that they push youth to meet beauty standards that often pave the way for better marriage proposals or better job opportunities.
As of 2022, Iran ranks 12th globally in cosmetic surgery. However, doctors claim that the actual number of surgeries could place Iran in the top five globally, as many operations go unreported.
These standards of beauty not only prevail in many Middle Eastern countries, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, but also extend to South Asia, where the measure of beauty, historically distorted by racism during the era of of colonialism, was never defined. .
A similar trend is taking hold in Pakistan’s entertainment industry, with a number of celebrities subtly revealing their nose jobs – and most of them doing it.
Sarwat Gilani has openly discussed her rhinoplasty, which was a fortuitous path that followed a fall that required reconstructive surgery.
Actor Zahid Ahmed, in a confessional video on YouTube in 2020, openly expressed his regret about his rhinoplasty, which did not go as planned. He shared how his insecurities about his nose arose and he felt “self-conscious” and “nervous” when the camera focused on his left side, thinking his nose was out of symmetry. He shared his experience as a cautionary tale for people to carefully consider such decisions, encouraging them to embrace themselves.
In 2023, however, actress Naimal Khawar faced heavy criticism on social media after fans speculated that she had undergone plastic surgery, including a nose job and lip fillers. Naimal only responded after some supporters spoke in her defense, thanking them and adding: “I wish more people could show kindness on social media.”
Walking We Talk “Snapchat Filters”
Dorsal hump, high bridge, prominent projection, bulbous tip and wide nostrils are features that are often mocked by society.
Mashal, who was born and raised in Saudi Arabia, only considered getting a rhinoplasty after her classmates, extended family and “aunties” criticized the nose on her “perfect” face while living in Pakistan for higher education.
“I’ve heard comments like, ‘You’re pretty generic, but your nose ruins your beauty’ and ‘You should get your nose done – it makes your side profile look ugly.’
“I lost my confidence and stopped going out. People looked at me strangely, which made me feel uncomfortable,” he recalled years later.
These standards are evident in Mashal’s life and in Saudi Arabia, where, she describes, women focus heavily on achieving facial symmetry and striving for a “doll-like appearance with outstanding features.”
A study published by the National Institutes of Health, titled Interest in rhinoplasty and awareness of postoperative complications among high school students in Taif, Saudi Arabia, shows a sharp increase in rhinoplasty procedures in recent years. As of 2024, they account for 30 percent of “all” cosmetic procedures in the country, with social media strongly influencing young women to change their appearance.
“You’ll see lip fillers, botox, eyebrow tattoos, fox-eye lifts and jaw lifts quite often here.
“If I could sum it up in one statement, I’d say they’re turning into a Snapchat filter. They are obsessed with Snapchat filters,” comments Mashal.
“Rhinoplasty transformed me”
For 35-year-old Nida from Lahore, the decision to opt for rhinoplasty wasn’t about seeking social validation or meeting beauty standards. “It was about removing a barrier that had been holding me back for years,” she reveals.
Nida thought about rhinoplasty in her 20s. “I always knew I wasn’t completely happy with my nose. For years, I found myself editing photos or avoiding the camera altogether, worrying about how it might look.”
Although she knew it wouldn’t be easy to convince her loved ones and that some might find it superficial, she felt it was deeply personal. “It wasn’t about vanity – it was about being comfortable in my own skin.”
Despite her nerves, Nida was “determined” as she believed she would make a difference in her life.
“And it did—rhinoplasty changed the way I saw myself. It wasn’t just a physical change. it was a change in how I felt every day. No longer having to worry or feel insecure about my nose has been truly life changing.
“Some may not understand, and that’s okay.”
For Nida, rhinoplasty was about removing a psychological barrier that was holding her back. “My confidence soared and I finally felt free to fully embrace myself. Sometimes, self-love means making the changes that allow you to emerge as the best version of yourself — and for me, this was one of those changes.”
A study from the Army Medical College entitled A Comparative Analysis of Body Image, Life Satisfaction and Self-Esteem of Patients Before and After Rhinoplasty found that rhinoplasty significantly improved the way people perceived themselves, with satisfaction with life to increase fivefold, body image to improve 19 times. and self-esteem increases 26 times after surgery.
The middle class showed the most motivation for rhinoplasty, and the younger participants were more driven by aesthetic changes.
Dr. Namrah works at HBS General Hospital, Islamabad as an ENT specialist and head and neck surgeon. She performs rhinoplasty not only for cosmetic purposes but also because many of her patients have genuine breathing problems and suffer from nasal obstruction.
She, however, points out that many factors are taken into account before performing a rhinoplasty. “We have a thorough method to rationalize our patients and filter out those who have body dysmorphic disorder.”
Patients diagnosed with body dysmorphia are referred for psychotherapy.
“As a result, the level of satisfaction is generally high among my patients. It helps them feel better about themselves and they usually feel much happier after the procedure.”
The Current reached out to a support group of women, asking them to share their experiences of being ashamed of their noses and how it has affected their lives. Here’s what they have to say:
“I’m in my 20s and yes, I’m thinking about it [rhinoplasty] sometimes. I might get it later in life unless my parents convince me otherwise. This awareness of my imperfections stems mostly from what I’ve seen around me, particularly the “acceptable standards of beauty” both in real life and on social media. Yes, this social pressure gets to me sometimes, but I think practicing positive affirmations helps me shake those feelings. It’s hard to accept, but then I think that I’m just beautiful and unique as Allah made me.” – Fatima
“I had a problem, but I’m kind of okay with it now. It’s interesting that I didn’t do anything, yet people still think I’ve had a nose job. I have a big, fat nose, but now I know my angles and realize that I am more than my nose, so it’s perfect.” – Faryal
“There were a lot of comments, but I was too lazy to be bothered. I never believed in public opinion.” – Zareena
“I was 13 when my aunt made a comment about my imperfect nose. I spent the next 2 years with my hand in front of my nose, fully believing it was an insult to people talking to me. I like it now, I wouldn’t We want another one, we think Kim Kardashian isn’t real – all that natural beauty in the 80s and 90s, when you saw all sorts of faces in the 80s and 90s, is no longer acceptable film world.
I love my nose. Love the dorsal hump. I think we should appreciate women with bigger noses. Actress Mahira Khan looked beautiful to me before she changed her nose.” – Safak
“I have enough money to pay for one and it’s so common now that it’s almost expected, especially here in Saudi Arabia where every girl looks perfect thanks to access to good surgeons. It’s like getting veneers. I was definitely against it since my husband isn’t happy about it, plus I know I got my nose from my dad, which I should be proud of, but for some reason, it made him look extremely attractive, or so people said. It doesn’t have the same effect on me though, I feel like I haven’t accepted it because, with so much perfection around me, it’s getting harder and harder to live with my own imperfections. – Hafsa
*For privacy reasons, all names in this article have been changed or omitted.
