Influencer details ‘difficult’ nose job experience and successful revision

Katie Farhood says her second nose surgery helped her regain both her confidence and ability to breathe after complications from her first procedure left her struggling with pain and discomfort.

The 27-year-old Los Angeles-based influencer opened up to People about her rhinoplasty journey, revealing that her initial surgery in January 2025 was intended to address a deviated septum that affected her breathing while also making a subtle cosmetic change.

Farhood said her goal was never to completely change her appearance but to create a more refined version of her natural nose.

“My aesthetic goal was really conservative,” Farhood told People. “I have a very prominent Persian nose, and I never wanted to erase that or end up with an ‘overdone’ nose. I just wanted a version of my own nose that looked a little more refined while still feeling like me.”

She underwent both a septoplasty and cosmetic rhinoplasty performed by a board-certified ENT and plastic surgeon.

However, after the procedure, Farhood said she quickly noticed signs that something was wrong.

About a week after her cast was removed, she experienced severe pain on one side of her nose along with significant swelling. She said she raised her concerns but was told the issues were likely part of the normal healing process.

“I was told it was just swelling,” she recalled. “Since everyone tells you rhinoplasty takes six months to a year to fully heal, I trusted the process and waited.”

Months later, Farhood said her breathing difficulties had become worse than before the surgery. She described feeling as though she could not get enough air and said the issue affected her sleep and daily life.

“I constantly felt like I couldn’t get enough air, and it affected my sleep because I always felt like I was suffocating,” she said.

“Even something as simple as kissing my fiancé was painful because part of my nose apparently wasn’t properly supported or attached.”

Farhood eventually discovered there was a structural problem with her nose.

Along with the functional issues, she said she was also unhappy with the cosmetic results, including an uneven appearance of her nostrils and a nasal tip that did not achieve the look she had hoped for.

“The hardest part wasn’t even the cosmetic outcome, it was feeling like my concerns were repeatedly dismissed,” she said.

“Being told everything looked fine when I was clearly experiencing pain and functional problems made me question my own experience.”

Her original surgeon later offered to perform a revision procedure, which was scheduled for January 2026.

However, Farhood said the surgery was cancelled just weeks before the planned date after the surgeon told her he believed her nose looked “perfect.”

The experience left her feeling discouraged, but it also encouraged her to search for another specialist who could address both her breathing concerns and the structural issues.

Farhood eventually underwent revision rhinoplasty in March 2026 with a new surgeon who specialised in advanced rhinoplasty techniques, including the Piezo method, which uses ultrasonic technology to reshape nasal bones.

She said the surgeon had to use a small piece of cartilage from her rib to rebuild and support her nose because there was not enough healthy cartilage remaining from her first procedure.

The revision surgery became a turning point for Farhood, who said she noticed improvements as soon as her cast was removed.

“I honestly started crying because I had forgotten what normal breathing felt like,” she recalled. “After struggling for so long, it was such an emotional moment.”

By three months after surgery, Farhood said swelling had reduced and she was finally happy with both the function and appearance of her nose.

“That was when I really started feeling like myself again,” she said. “I finally felt confident in photos and genuinely happy with my results.”

Following her experience, Farhood shared her journey online and received messages from others who had experienced similar challenges after cosmetic procedures.

She said many people told her that her story gave them the confidence to consider revision surgery after years of uncertainty.

Farhood explained that she wanted to highlight the emotional impact of disappointing plastic surgery outcomes, saying that changes to the face can deeply affect confidence and mental health.

Despite describing her first rhinoplasty as “one of the most difficult” experiences of her life, Farhood said the journey did not make her against cosmetic surgery.

Instead, she believes it taught her the importance of carefully choosing a surgeon.

“It taught me how incredibly important it is to thoroughly research your surgeon, especially for a procedure that permanently changes your face,” she said.

“Credentials and certifications absolutely matter, but they aren’t the whole picture.”

Farhood added that patients should also consider a surgeon’s experience, revision rates, previous work and communication style before undergoing any procedure.