A 29-year-old woman from Bulgaria has given a starkly honest account of her nose job journey, revealing the severe physical pain and profound mental shock that followed her £2,400 surgery.
The Decision for Surgery: From Insecurity to Medical Need
Inna Victoria explained she had been self-conscious about her nose since childhood, enduring teasing from family and classmates. While she long desired a rhinoplasty, the cost was prohibitive. The situation changed when she developed a deviated septum, causing breathing difficulties, constant headaches, and sinus infections. Her doctor recommended surgical correction.
"Since I was going to get surgery on my nose anyway, I decided to make my old dream come true and get a septorhinoplasty," Victoria told the Daily Mail. A septorhinoplasty corrects both the internal structure and external appearance of the nose. She underwent the procedure in November.
A Gruelling and Emotionally Taxing Recovery
Victoria said the aftermath was more "severe" than she ever anticipated. The physical recovery was intensely difficult. "I couldn't breathe with my nose at all. I had to sleep with my mouth open," she recalled. "And the first three days blood was coming out all the time so I also had to sleep with my head lifted up. Everything was hurting from my shoulders up."
However, the greater challenge was psychological. She struggled to accept her new reflection. "I didn't know what to think but it felt like a stranger looking at me from the mirror," she said. The swelling and bruising were expected, but the "shock of such a dramatic face change" led to moments of regret. She questioned why she felt she had to change her whole face and endure "post op hell" to gain confidence.
Viral Reaction and a Cautious Final Verdict
Victoria documented the raw moment she removed her bandages, sharing a video on Instagram where it went viral. The clip shows her taking off the cast, looking in disbelief, shaking her head, and covering her face. "Taking the cast off at home, not knowing I was about to face major disappointment," the text overlay read.
She chose to share her story because she felt "no one shows the real, physical struggle and emotional confusion you have during the process." Now fully recovered, Victoria is happier with the results and does not regret the surgery, but she strongly cautions others.
"I feel like women have so many expectations from society. We have beauty standards that aren't reachable," she reflected, noting that people still criticise her new nose online. "Plastic surgery for beauty in my opinion is very destructive. I do not recommend going through this struggle to anyone else."
Her advice is clear: "Unless you have medical reasons or reasons that will improve your quality of life, don't do it. The post op is very painful and difficult, it's not worth it to change yourself so someone else will be happy with your face." She urges people to work on self-acceptance, stating, "Your value doesn't change from someone else's perception of beauty."
