Nose plastic surgery is enjoying high popularity among Iranian women as a way to boost their ‘social status’

AFP reported on the 8th that nose plastic surgery is gaining huge popularity in Iran, which is increasingly closely related to social status. In particular, the media analyzed that after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iranian women who are forced to wear conservative clothes, such as covering their bodies and hair, have focused on facial beauty, and the beauty industry has developed significantly.

Citing Azadeh, a 29-year-old female model working as a model, AFP reported that smoothing the nose with the raised nose, commonly called the Persian nose, to Western beauty standards has proven to be a profitable investment. Azadeh said, “After the nose surgery, we could have become a model with a higher social status than before. Our income tripled and we gained more respect from people.” He added, “I borrowed money from my family and friends for the surgery, but it was really worth it.” According to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ISAPS), more than 264,000 surgeries were performed annually in Iran as of 2023. Among them, nose plastic surgery was the most common. The capital, Tehran, and major cities are lined with billboards promising a “sculptural nose,” “impeccable skin,” and “perfect teeth,” and many people have their noses bandaged after surgery on the streets, AFP said.

Plastic surgeon Hamidreza Hosnani told the media, “In Iran, where the minimum wage is only about $100 per month, the cost of nose plastic surgery reaches up to $1,000,” adding, “It is quite cheap compared to other countries.” Iran is known as a country where cheap plastic surgery can be performed, and foreign customers are also in the spotlight as a medical tourism destination.

However, AFP warned that there could be risks in this process. This is because more and more hospitals are operating without permission due to the boom in plastic surgery. According to Iran’s Ministry of Health, 12 unauthorized operators were arrested in February, and several operating rooms were closed. In November last year, three women who were undergoing plastic surgery in Tehran died each.

JULIE KIM

US ASIA JOURNAL