Rising Demand for Nose Surgeries in Iran

Looking at passengers in a ‘Women-only’ train coach one can see that from among six women at least one has done a cosmetic surgery, mostly a nose job.

Figures released by the Rhinology Research Society show that during a three-year period 2011-2013 alone, 240,000 Iranians underwent nose plastic surgery (which constitutes 90% of all cosmetic procedures performed in the country) and during the same period $167 million (6,000 billion rials) was paid to doctors who performed the surgeries, ireconomy.com reported.

According to Seyed Abolhassan Emami, head of the society, Iran has the world’s highest rate of nose jobs per capita; however blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), is the most popular facial surgery globally.  “Ear surgery, facelift, breast surgery, abdominoplasty, and liposuction, are other popular plastic surgeries in the country,” he said.  

While there are only 285 qualified and certified cosmetic surgeons in Iran, the huge demand for the surgeries which also earn high profits has encouraged other specialists and GPs to enter the field.

“Cosmetic surgery can be considered as violence against women, because under social and cultural pressures regarding women’s physical appearance, they go under the knife and endure pain which is unnecessary,” said Parvin Panahi, an Iranian researcher and woman activist.

“Annually thousands of women go under the knife in the country. The issue is not new, but the extent to which it is invading the lives of young girls and women, and the lengths to which women will go to achieve an attractive look, or enhance their personality is a growing problem,” Panahi said.

The rate of plastic surgery is much higher in less developed countries due to the existence of gender stereotypes, which are misplaced. However, the problem is increasing all over the world.

Self esteem, life satisfaction, and media advertisements are among other factors that influence people’s attitude towards opting for cosmetic surgery. “Females with low self-esteem and low life satisfaction, who are heavy TV watchers, are more likely to undergo a plastic surgery.”

“Women should bear this in mind that important people in their life are those who love them unconditionally,” she added.

In July, 2015, a 20-year-old girl, Armita, lost her life when she went for a nose job. In all surgeries there is a risk of death but the risk is acceptable when the surgery is needed to save people’s lives or health; but surgeries to satisfy a person’s whim and fantasy are completely unnecessary.