Iranian Actresses and Rhinoplasty: Procedures, Risks & Recovery

Iranian actresses’ plastic surgery is one of the most searched film topics on the Persian-language internet. Every new photo of a well-loved star fills up with the same questions: is her face natural, and what did she look like before? Most of what circulates on those pages, however, is guesswork rather than fact.

In this guide we treat these artists with the respect their work has earned, and rely only on what they themselves told reputable media. For each star we explain what the related procedure or injection is, how long it lasts, its risks and its recovery. Along the way we look at why Iran is known as the nose job capital of the world.

Iranian Actresses Plastic Surgery: A Nose Fracture Repair and Verified Facts

So far only Negar Foroozandeh has said clearly that she had nose surgery, and she put it down to a broken nose on the set of the series «Rah-e Sevom» (The Third Way). The other actresses here have either never spoken about cosmetic surgery or have only shared their views on natural beauty (Sources: Tasnim, Mizan).

The table is built only from the interviews cited in each star’s section below. «No reliable report» means neither confirmed nor denied: there is simply no credible evidence, and judging a face from photos is not fair.

Why Is Iran Called the Nose Job Capital of the World?

Because rhinoplasty is Iran’s most common cosmetic operation, and its rate is high compared with many countries. A Financial Times report, published in Persian by Etemad Online and based on figures from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), put Iran 12th in the world in 2022 with about 320,000 surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures, up from 18th place in 2016. The same report names rhinoplasty as the most popular procedure, says about 80% of applicants are women, and counts about 430 licensed plastic surgeons in the country (Source: Etemad Online).

In April 2025 AFP reported, citing ISAPS, that more than 264,000 cosmetic operations were performed in Iran in 2023, again with the nose job in first place (Source: AFP).

A study in the Iranian Journal of Public Health estimated the standardised rhinoplasty rate in Tehran in 2015 at 2,286 per 100,000 people, higher than the rates reported for the United States (469), France (371) and South Korea (898). The authors stress that the claim of the «most rhinoplasty in the world» had until then come only from unofficial sources (Source: Bidkhori et al., 2022).

Worldwide, ISAPS recorded about 1 million nose jobs in 2024, while eyelid surgery, at more than 2.1 million, became the most common cosmetic operation for the first time. Botulinum toxin (7.8 million) and hyaluronic acid filler (6.3 million) lead the non-surgical treatments (Source: ISAPS).

Negar Foroozandeh and Broken Nose Repair: Septorhinoplasty and Breathing

A fracture repair, in her own words. Negar Foroozandeh, star of «Ekhrajiha» (The Deportees), «Cafe Setareh» and «Dayereh Zangi» (Tambourine), told Jam-e Jam, in an interview republished by Tasnim, that her only beauty-related operation was on her nose and that it was not for looks: her nose broke while filming the series «Rah-e Sevom», and she had no choice but to have it operated on (Source: Tasnim).

In the same interview she said the high rate of cosmetic surgery among Iranian women is not normal and mostly reflects a lack of self-knowledge and self-confidence. Her line that made the headline was that some people should treat their mind instead of having cosmetic surgery (Source: Tasnim).

A year later, when social media claimed she was getting fewer acting offers because of cosmetic surgery, she told Mizan News Agency: «I have only had surgery on my nose». She said «before and after» posts were misleading, and offered to let a cosmetic doctor confirm on air that she had had no other facial surgery (Source: Mizan).

Negar Foroozandeh behind the scenes of a TV film; she says her only surgery was a nose operation after a fracture
📷 Source: Wikimedia Commons (Mostafa Azizi (مصطفی عزیزی) · Public domain)

Medically, surgery after a broken nose differs from purely cosmetic rhinoplasty. The surgeon may re-break and reset the nasal bone and rearrange the cartilage, sometimes using grafts from the ear or elsewhere in the body to rebuild the nose. It is done under general anaesthetic and takes 1.5 to 3 hours (Source: NHS).

If the septum is also bent and breathing is affected, surgeons usually perform a septorhinoplasty, correcting both the shape and the airway. Most people notice better breathing within six weeks, and about 15% later need a small revision operation (Source: Cleveland Clinic).

Read more in our guide to rhinoplasty for a broken nose.

How Long Does Recovery After a Nose Job Take?

About two weeks for the first stage, and up to a year for the final result. A splint stays on the nose for the first week and breathing through the nose is difficult; most people return to work after one to two weeks, bruising and swelling around the eyes last about three weeks, and strenuous exercise can resume after four to six weeks (Source: NHS).

About 90% of the swelling is gone by three months, but mild swelling, especially in the morning, can last up to a year, when the nose takes its final shape. Possible complications include nosebleeds, infection, a hole in the septum, a changed sense of smell and an unsatisfactory appearance (Source: Cleveland Clinic).

See real healing stages in rhinoplasty recovery photos day by day.

Fatemeh Motamed-Arya and Over-Reduced Noses: Breathing and Smell Risks

Because, as she puts it, Iranian women are among the most beautiful in the world without surgery. Fatemeh Motamed-Arya, star of «Rusari Abi» (The Blue-Veiled), «Gilaneh» and «Here Without Me», told Fararu that Iranian women’s beauty is «natural and God-given», with bony, large noses, dark almond eyes and olive skin (Source: Fararu).

She said eyes can be made wider, noses smaller and lips fuller, but such artificial beauty takes people away from their own nature, and she does not understand the effort to create fake beauty. She even described feeling happy when her first white hair appeared, as a sign of change and maturity (Source: Fararu).

Iranian surgeons echo her concern. The head of the Iranian Society of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgeons has said the «authentic Iranian face» is being distorted by widespread surgery, and the secretary of the Iranian Rhinoplasty Society warned that the fashion for very small noses ignores principles of beauty and ethnic features and can cause breathing problems and loss of smell (Source: Etemad Online).

That is why many surgeons now aim to keep a face’s identity: removing too much bone and cartilage can lead to permanent breathing difficulty, damage to the septum and an altered sense of smell (Source: NHS).

We explain this approach in our guide to ethnic rhinoplasty.

Bahareh Kianafshar and Dermal Fillers: Side Effects and High-Risk Areas

Bahareh Kianafshar, star of «Kolah Pahlavi», «Asheghaneh» and «Golshifteh», told Setareh magazine, in an interview republished by Faradeed, that «beauty should be natural». In her view, what a person does with her face is her own decision, and surgery to correct a flaw is fine as long as it does not draw attention. Asked about herself, she said honestly that she might need it one day but hopes she will not (Source: Faradeed).

Doctors draw a similar line: most «small corrections» today are made with filler injections rather than surgery. Dermal fillers are injectable implants approved for smoothing wrinkles and adding volume to the lips, cheeks and chin in adults aged 22 and over. Absorbable fillers such as hyaluronic acid are gradually broken down by the body, so treatments need repeating (Source: FDA).

Common side effects are bruising, redness, swelling and pain, which usually settle within days to weeks. The most serious risk is accidental injection into a blood vessel, which can cause tissue death, vision problems including blindness, and stroke. The FDA advises against filler injections into the nose, around the eyes, the forehead and the neck, warns that injectable silicone is not approved for any cosmetic use, and tells patients not to buy fillers online (Source: FDA).

More in our guide to dermal fillers.

Niki Karimi and Skin Care: How Botox Works, Its Side Effects and Sunscreen

Simple care, in her own words. Niki Karimi, actress and director of «Sara», «Two Women» and «The Hidden Half» and maker of «Atabai», told Didebaan magazine, in an interview republished by Bartarinha, that she uses ordinary creams that suit her skin, has never followed a medically supervised diet and has always put her health first. She added that everyone’s appearance changes every few years (Source: Bartarinha).

She did not mention Botox or surgery, so any claim either way is speculation. Still, Botox is the world’s most common anti-wrinkle treatment, and the facts are worth knowing: it blocks nerve signals to a muscle, smoothing forehead and crow’s-feet lines; results appear within a few days, are complete within about a week and typically last three to four months (Source: ASPS).

Possible side effects include bruising and pain at the injection site, headache and temporary facial weakness or drooping, which is why patients are told not to rub the treated area so the toxin does not spread (Source: ASPS).

For daily care, the American Academy of Dermatology names daily broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher and quitting smoking among the most effective ways to prevent premature skin ageing (Source: AAD).

Merila Zarei and Crash Dieting: The Health Risks of Rapid Weight Loss

It put her health at serious risk. Merila Zarei, star of «Two Women», «About Elly», «A Separation» and «Track 143», said on the TV talk show «Gap» that she went on a severe weight-loss diet for a film role, and one of her blood markers rose so high that a doctor warned she could lose her liver or a kidney. She said the experience changed the way she looks at life (Source: Khabaronline).

Her story is a reminder that the pressure for a «perfect image» does not stop at surgery. The NHS advises against losing weight suddenly with diets and recommends aiming for a steady 0.5 to 1 kg a week (Source: NHS).

Anyone considering body-contouring surgery should be at a stable weight first and make the decision with a plastic surgeon.

Beauty Without Surgery Like Leila Hatami: Eyelid Surgery Facts

No statement or credible report of cosmetic surgery by Leila Hatami has been published, which is why her name appears so often in searches for the most beautiful Iranian actress without surgery. The star of «Leila» and «A Separation», which won the Berlin Film Festival’s Silver Bear for its actresses, and a member of the Cannes jury in 2014, has not spoken about surgery in the media.

Since most questions about mid-career actresses’ faces concern the eyes, it helps to know that eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) removes excess skin or fat from the eyelids, takes 45 minutes to two and a half hours, and most people go home the same day. About two weeks off work is usual and bruising lasts several weeks; possible complications include blurred vision, uneven eyes and visible scarring (Source: NHS).

See celebrity blepharoplasty before and after for more.

Golshifteh Farahani and Skin Ageing: Sun, Tanning and Smoking

As far as the public record shows, yes: there is no statement or credible report of cosmetic surgery by Golshifteh Farahani. From «The Pear Tree» and «About Elly» to «The Patience Stone» and «Paterson», she is one of the best-known Iranian actresses in world cinema, and in August 2025 she received the honorary Excellence Award on stage at the Locarno Film Festival.

Golshifteh Farahani receiving the honorary Excellence Award at the Locarno Film Festival, August 2025
📷 Source: Wikimedia Commons (Kalai Ramu · CC BY-SA 4.0)

Faces that spend years under stage lights and cameras depend above all on skin care. The American Academy of Dermatology says the sun plays a major role in premature skin ageing, that tanning, whether outdoors or in a tanning bed, speeds it up, and that smoking greatly accelerates how quickly skin ages (Source: AAD).

Googoosh at 76 and the Facelift: Technique, Recovery and Risks

No statement or credible report of a facelift or any other cosmetic surgery by Googoosh has been published. The queen of Iranian pop, born in 1950, has stayed on stage from the films «Bita» and «Hamsafar» to her 2000 comeback tour and a Hollywood Bowl concert in 2018, and in February 2025 she announced a memoir to be published in English by Simon & Schuster, with a Persian translation by Homa Sarshar (Source: Radio Farda).

Googoosh at a concert on her world tour, 2006
📷 Source: Wikimedia Commons (Bahman from Toronto, Canada · CC BY 2.0)

Because «facelift» is the most searched question about older stars, here are the medical facts: through cuts at the temples and in front of and behind the ears, excess skin is removed and the remaining skin is repositioned and stitched. The operation takes two to three hours, most patients stay one night, recovery takes two to four weeks and the full result is visible after six to nine months. Risks include nerve injury, asymmetry, hair loss around the scars and thick scars (Source: NHS).

See famous facelift before and after for celebrity examples.

Celebrity Nose Job Before and After Photos: Why Shape Changes for a Year

Because they set photos from different ages, lighting, makeup and angles side by side. Negar Foroozandeh made exactly this point: pages that put a teenage photo next to a recent one create a false impression (Source: Mizan).

Even after a real nose job, the final shape keeps changing for up to a year, so a single photo cannot tell the whole story (Source: Cleveland Clinic).

That is why, wherever we did not have the star’s own words, this article says «no reliable report» rather than «natural» or «had surgery». The fairest way to judge anyone’s face is to hear her own account.

When Does Cosmetic Surgery Not Help? Beauty Pressure and Body Dysmorphia

When worry about appearance turns into an obsession, surgery usually does not solve it. Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition in which a person spends a lot of time worrying about flaws in their appearance that others often cannot see; constant comparison with others and frequent mirror checking are typical signs, and the main treatments are cognitive behavioural therapy and SSRI antidepressants (Source: NHS).

A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis found a pooled BDD prevalence of about 21.6% among plastic surgery patients, roughly one in five applicants (Source: Kaleeny & Janis, 2024).

It is the same idea Negar Foroozandeh put simply: sometimes the mind needs care before the face.

Thinking About a Nose Job? Cost, Safety and Choosing a Surgeon

If, after talking to a doctor, you are considering a nose job, cost is part of the decision. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons puts the average surgeon’s fee for rhinoplasty at $7,637 (approx. £5,700), excluding anaesthesia and operating room costs (Source: ASPS).

Through International Clinics in Turkey, a primary rhinoplasty package is $3,500 (approx. £2,600) and a septorhinoplasty or revision rhinoplasty is $4,500 (approx. £3,400); see nose job in Turkey for details.

If you travel abroad for surgery, check the surgeon’s training and experience before paying, have two consultations, and know where follow-up care will happen if there is a complication. After facial procedures, avoid flying for 7 to 10 days because of the higher risk of blood clots (Source: NHS).

International Clinics is neither a treatment centre nor a hospital broker. It is the link between you and the right treatment: it selected experienced doctors and reputable hospitals and medical centres, contracted with them against the highest standards of medical quality, and prepares a treatment plan tailored to each patient. Surgery is performed by surgeons contracted with International Clinics, a licensed company with international partners that is expanding its hospital contracts across several countries, starting with the UAE. Compare other procedures in our guide to plastic surgery in Turkey.

More Guides: Actresses, Rhinoplasty and Cosmetic Surgery Around the World

This article is part of our series on famous actresses and cosmetic surgery, told through their own words and medical facts. Read the stories of Arab actresses and singers, French actresses, Spanish actresses, Italian actresses, Russian actresses and Hollywood stars.

In the end, the beauty of the actresses we love comes from the roles we remember, not only from the shape of a nose or lips. Any decision about cosmetic surgery is a medical one, best made with accurate information, realistic expectations and an experienced surgeon.