Iran’s nose job obsession

From facial feature fixation to life-changing surgeries, 29-year-old Azadeh is one of many Iranian women reshaping their futures with rhinoplasty.

Transcript

00:00That's a 29-year-old Iranian model, Azadeh, with a recently done nose chop.

00:05Women in Iran have been required to dress modestly and cover their hair ever since the

00:091979 revolution, making facial features the centre attraction.

00:14Iran has earned the title of the nose-chop capital of the world, with rhinoplasty being

00:19the most popular cosmetic surgery in the country.

00:21Women across Iran opt for rhinoplasty to smoothen out the bump on the Persian nose, also known

00:39as the Middle Eastern nose, often characterised by a bump or dorsal hump on the nasal bridge.

00:46People feel that they are more successful in society and perform better after the surgery.

00:50This isn't just an Iran thing.

00:52Nose and facial surgeries are huge across the Middle East, partly because with the hijab,

00:57facial features take centre stage.

00:59But this booming industry isn't without risks.

01:02In 2023 alone, three women died during cosmetic procedures in Tehran on the same day.

01:07Iran is considered as Asia's lowest cost country for rhinoplasty by the International

01:11Society of Plastic Surgery, with prices ranging from 1200 dollars, which is approximately

01:161 lakh rupees, to 2500 dollars, which is 2.5 lakh rupees, making it a popular hub for affordable

01:23cosmetic surgery.

01:24According to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, over 2,64,000 cosmetic surgeries

01:30were done in Iran in 2023, with nose jobs topping the list.

01:34Despite a 100 dollar, which is 8,000 rupees minimum wage, many still borrow or save the 1,000 dollar,

01:41which is 83,000 rupees needed for a nose job.

01:45For Azadi, the nose job didn't just boost her looks, it landed her a modelling gig and tripled

01:50her income.