As a child, Eden often walked around wearing sunglasses. The sun didn't bother her – it was her nose she was trying to hide.
"I had a very large, wide nose with a prominent bump," she says. "An ugly nose. I hated it. I wore glasses because they rested exactly on the hump, making it less noticeable. This nose had a severe impact on my self-image and had an enormous influence on my life. For years, I avoided family gatherings so no one would see it, and I counted the days until I turned 16 – the minimum age for a nose job."
When the long-awaited age of 16 arrived, Eden was more determined than ever. Her parents had mixed feelings about the decision — her mother was against it, while her father supported it. "At that time, we were in the middle of buying a house, so an expense of 12,000 shekels to 13,000 shekels wasn’t easy for us, but my dad still supported me. He said, 'I’ll come with you to a consultation. Let’s see what happens.'"
Eden and her father arrived at a consultation at the clinic of a well-known plastic surgeon in Tel Aviv, where they were warmly received — perhaps a little too warmly.
"The surgeon was very nice to me. He examined my nose and made endless promises: that I would have a very narrow, upturned nose, and the tip would look exactly the way I wanted… He created a stunning simulation for me and made me feel like Angelina Jolie even before the surgery. He also agreed to give us a significant discount. I bought into everything he said. I didn’t check with other surgeons, didn’t go for additional consultations. He just gave me a really good and confident feeling. Even his secretary was amazing – at least in the beginning."
The charm worked. Eden and her father were convinced immediately and scheduled the surgery just one week after the consultation.
Promises vs. Reality
According to data published by the Israeli Society for Plastic Surgery, 54,000 plastic surgeries were performed in Israel in 2024. The most popular procedures include breast surgeries (augmentation, reduction or lift), facelifts and rhinoplasty. Most patients considered their surgeries a great success: they arrived with a specific aesthetic issue, and the surgery either eliminated or significantly minimized it.
However, among the hundreds of thousands of patients in Israel, there is also a considerable number of individuals who are dissatisfied and describe their surgical experience as a total failure. In rare cases, actual medical malpractice occurs during surgery, leaving the patient with both aesthetic and health-related complications. More often, though, when people refer to plastic surgery as a "failure," they are talking about the significant gap between their expectations and the actual results.
On plastic surgeons' websites, you will only find "before and after" pictures showcasing outstanding transformations. The images of dissatisfied patients never make it past the editing room.
Returning to Eden’s story, her surgery went smoothly, as did the initial recovery period. A week after the procedure, she and her father arrived for what every rhinoplasty patient eagerly anticipates — the moment when the cast comes off and the new nose is revealed. It is important to note that, in most cases, the nose appears far from the final result when the cast is first removed, as full recovery from rhinoplasty takes over a year, during which the nose continues to change shape.
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"The moment he removed the cast, we were in shock." – Eden, after the surgery
(Photo: Private album)
"The moment he removed the cast, my father and I were in shock," she says painfully. "The nose was disproportionate to my face. It was upturned as promised but very wide, and my dad immediately said something seemed off. The doctor tried to reassure us: ‘Don’t worry, everything is fine. Since this is just the beginning of the healing process, the nose is swollen — it will settle over time.’"
At first, it seemed like things were improving. For the first four or five months, Eden was pleased. The swelling subsided, and her nose was small, cute and upturned. But about six months after the surgery, things took a turn for the worse.
"There’s no other way to put it — slowly, the tip of my nose just started to droop. Today, when I smile, it’s very noticeable. I have a droopy nose, like an elderly person’s — and it’s still very wide."
Eden refused to accept this outcome. Eight months after the surgery, she returned to the clinic. This time, the surgeon was much less friendly.
"I told him, ‘Listen, I’m not happy. This is not the nose I asked for — it’s not small, not narrow, not upturned, not anything you promised.’ He got very angry with me, asked why I was even coming to him, insisted my nose was much prettier than before, and tried to convince me that everything was fine. I stood my ground and told him I wasn’t satisfied and demanded a revision surgery. At that point, he became outright furious."
The price of a revision surgery
In the world of plastic surgery, a "revision surgery" refers to a procedure performed to correct the results of a previous surgery. These procedures are typically more complex and challenging because the area has already undergone a medical intervention. If the revision is performed by the same surgeon who did the initial operation, the patient is not required to pay a surgeon’s fee but still has to cover the cost of anesthesia and the operating room. However, if the revision is done by a different surgeon with no connection to the original procedure, the price can skyrocket — sometimes costing twice as much as an initial plastic surgery.
Although Eden’s surgeon disagreed with her assessment that a revision was necessary, he agreed to perform one at no extra charge.
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"At first, the nose was cute and upturned." – Eden, after the surgery
(Photo: Private album)
"He told me, ‘You want another surgery? No problem. Pay 6,000 shekels for the anesthesiologist and operating room, and I’ll do it.’ He was willing to fix it, but his attitude was so off-putting that I had no desire to put myself in his hands again. I left his office and went to speak with his secretary, and that’s when I completely broke down — she laughed in my face in front of everyone in the waiting room. She mocked me and made fun of my expectations.
"It’s embarrassing to admit, but at that moment, I completely lost it. I was furious, screaming, and even threw a chair. I was a 16-and-a-half-year-old girl whose dream had just been shattered."
Three surgeries, one nose
"If I had known what I was about to go through, I never would have done it," says Naama (a pseudonym), who has undergone three rhinoplasty surgeries. What started as a lifelong dream of a small, perfect nose ended in an enormous financial burden, multiple painful recoveries, and deep disappointment.
"As I approached 40, I decided to give myself a gift: a nose job. It was something I had dreamed about for years. Around the age of 19, I started wanting both a nose job and a breast augmentation. I had to choose where to invest my money, and I debated between the two. Eventually, at 25, after giving birth to my older kids, I decided to go for the breast surgery. The experience was perfect — I got exactly the results I wanted. I told myself that one day I would get my nose done too, but for years, it just wasn’t possible. The kids were little, and the money always went elsewhere."
It wasn’t until she approached 40 that Naama finally managed to save up the necessary funds. Determined to avoid mistakes, she conducted extensive research — joining Facebook groups, consulting with numerous people, and carefully vetting different surgeons. Eventually, she settled on a well-known plastic surgeon in Tel Aviv with an impressive 30-year track record. He made a great impression.
"I went into the surgery full of excitement and anticipation, and when the day came to remove the cast, I was on cloud nine. But the result was deeply disappointing."
What did you see?
"Let’s just say I immediately realized something was very wrong. The nose looked small and cute, but the proportions didn’t seem right. The worst part came a month later — the entire nose became crooked, tilting completely to one side."
A crooked nose and a difficult decision
Naama’s surgeon didn’t try to brush off her concerns or convince her that she was imagining things. In fact, he immediately acknowledged the problem and took full responsibility.
"He told me, ‘It’s likely that we’ll need to do a revision surgery, but we have to wait for the swelling to go down to assess how severe the tilt is.’ In the meantime, he injected hyaluronic acid (a filler commonly used to smooth wrinkles and reshape the nose temporarily) to make the asymmetry less noticeable. And so, for six months, I walked around feeling miserable with a nose that wasn’t what I had hoped for."
When the swelling subsided and the hyaluronic acid wore off, Naama was left with a nose that looked nothing like what she had envisioned.
"He had reduced the size and straightened the prominent bump, but he didn’t touch my nostrils at all –they remained very large. On top of that, the nose had a clear tilt to one side. I went back to his office and told him, ‘Listen, I’m not staying like this for even one more day. You’re going to fix it.’"
In most cases, surgeons recommend waiting at least a year before performing a revision rhinoplasty, as the nose needs ample time for full recovery. But Naama refused to wait. Just six months after her first surgery, she insisted on going under the knife again. The surgeon agreed but made her sign a waiver acknowledging that the decision to proceed so soon was entirely her responsibility.
Unfortunately, the second surgery only made things worse.
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The doctor took responsibility." – Naama, before and after the first surgery
(Photo: Private album)
"After the swelling and bruising went down, the result was even more disastrous. Before the revision, my nose was just crooked. Now, the entire front had collapsed. I was left with an extremely narrow nasal bridge, almost no cartilage, a drooping tip, and large nostrils. One side of my nose was pressed against my eyeglasses, while the other side stuck out into the air.
"And if that wasn’t bad enough, I lost the ability to breathe through one nostril. It became completely blocked, and I started snoring at night — something I had never done before. My sleep had always been quiet. What started as a purely aesthetic issue turned into a medical problem."
How did the surgeon react to the second failure?
"I only saw him twice after that, mainly to discuss the breathing issue. He told me we needed to wait and wasn’t sure if another surgery would be the right decision. He even suggested that maybe it was allergies or some other issue. At that point, I wasn’t willing to put myself in his hands again."
After consulting with two ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists, Naama decided to seek out a different plastic surgeon to perform a third surgery—this time, both for medical and cosmetic reasons. Thankfully, this experience was much better.
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The recovery is not yet complete." – Naama, before and after the third surgery
(Photo: Private album)
"It’s been six months since my third surgery. The surgeon had to reconstruct my nostrils and even implant new cartilage. Apparently, my previous surgeon had completely destroyed the cartilage along my nasal bridge. Now, my nose looks much better, but it’s still not 100% straight. The healing process isn’t fully complete yet. The important thing is that I can finally breathe through both sides."
What advice would you give to someone considering a nose job?
"If you don’t absolutely need it and your nose isn’t truly problematic — don’t do it at all. Unless it’s a severe case, the nose you were born with is probably the one that suits your face best, and you should learn to love it.
"I see so many beautiful young women in Facebook groups, obsessing over slightly imperfect noses and debating surgery. I just want to tell them, ‘Hey! Even after surgery, it won’t necessarily be perfect.’ Stop comparing yourselves to Instagram photos and feeling envious. If you don’t truly need it, don’t touch your nose."
The pursuit of perfection
Like many other disappointed patients, Sheli (a pseudonym) only wanted to fulfill a dream — but in her case, the dream wasn’t even her own. It belonged to her eldest son.
"I have a stunningly handsome son," she says. "But he always had a large nose that leaned slightly to the left. In his early years, it wasn’t noticeable, but after his bar mitzvah, it became more pronounced, and he started dreaming of plastic surgery. As he approached 16, we were told that the procedure was now possible, and I, wanting to make his dream come true, went all out.
"I did extensive research — I scoured Instagram and Facebook, checked reviews, spoke to people. After consulting with three different surgeons, I chose one who was considered one of the best in the country. I heard amazing reviews about him. He didn’t work with public health insurance — only private practice — and I decided to forgo insurance coverage and pay out of pocket because when it comes to my child, I don’t cut corners. He was going to get the very best. This surgeon gave me full confidence that he would deliver exactly what we asked for."
The surgery itself went smoothly, but the recovery process was extremely tough — especially because of her son’s young age.
"I took time off work and stayed by his side 24/7. A week later, we went in for the cast removal, and we were both terrified. His whole face was swollen — it looked frightening. The surgeon assured us that everything was fine, that the swelling would subside, and that the nose would turn out perfect."
But that didn’t happen.
"Unfortunately, no. A month passed, then another. The swelling started to go down, and his face gradually returned to normal, but the nose was far from what we had hoped for. We had asked for a straight nose, but it remained long and not particularly attractive.
"At the same time, my son started complaining that he couldn’t breathe well on one side — whereas before the surgery, he had no issues at all. It was a very tough period for him. He struggled to accept the way his nose looked because it was so far from what he had envisioned. Six months after the surgery, we went back for a follow-up consultation, and the surgeon said, ‘Look, things will still improve. It’s only been six months. There’s still swelling…’ So we kept waiting.
Doubts about a second surgery
"Another six months passed, and we went back for another check-up. This time, he finally admitted that the surgery had not been successful."
What did the surgeon say?
"He told my son, ‘Listen, I perform 700 surgeries a year. Out of all those, maybe two or three don’t turn out well. It happens. I understand that you’re having trouble breathing on one side. Take your time — whenever you’re ready, come back, and I’ll fix it. I’ll open up your nasal septum, and while I’m at it, I’ll shorten the nose as well. It will be free of charge.’
"In that sense, he was fair — he took responsibility. But I can’t shake the fear that the same surgeon who botched my son’s nose and caused his breathing issues will touch his nose again. I’m scared. From what I’ve read, revision surgeries are far more complicated than primary procedures. We’re afraid of being disappointed again — and a third surgery is truly risky."
What does your son think about it?
"It depends on the day. He has a love-hate relationship with his nose. One day, he’ll say he loves it and has accepted it, and the next, he’ll hate it."
How has the response from others been?
"Many people say the nose suits him well, but people don’t always have the courage to tell the truth. Those closest to me, like my siblings, have been blunt. They’ve told me, ‘Let’s be honest, it’s not great. It’s okay, but far from perfect.’"
A series of surgeries
Among all plastic surgeries, rhinoplasty is likely the number one procedure where patients are left unsatisfied. The reason is that the concept of a "beautiful nose" is highly subjective.
For example, in breast augmentation, a patient goes into surgery with small breasts and comes out with implants of the exact size she pre-selected. But in a nose job, the surgeon must sculpt a feature that needs to harmonize with the patient’s unique facial structure.
That being said, dissatisfaction isn’t limited to rhinoplasty. Patients undergoing other plastic surgeries can also be left unhappy with their results. Liora (a pseudonym) underwent three different body-contouring procedures — two of which were highly successful. The third, however, was a complete disappointment, making her regret the money and pain she endured.
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"I was overweight my whole life. By the time I was 30, after having my children, I reached my peak weight—130 kilos (286 pounds). I decided to undergo gastric band surgery and lost a significant amount of weight. I got down to 60 kilos (132 pounds), but I was left with excess skin everywhere. I was thin, but under my clothes, it looked awful. That’s when I decided to go through a full body transformation."
Liora’s "transformation journey" cost her 100,000 shekels (approximately $27,000) and included an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), arm lift, and thigh lift.
"The tummy tuck was perfect. For the first two years after surgery, I looked absolutely amazing. Later, I lost a bit more weight, so the skin isn’t as tight as it was, but my stomach still looks great.
"Then came the combined arm lift and thigh lift surgery. The arm lift was incredible — hardly any visible scars. My arms finally looked normal again, and today I can confidently wear sleeveless tops. But the thigh lift was a total failure."
The disappointment of a thigh lift
The issue Liora faced wasn’t necessarily a surgical error — it was a well-known complication of thigh lift procedures. The inner thigh area is not ideal for plastic surgery, as the skin there has a tendency to sag again within a few months.
"For the first four or five months after the surgery, my thighs looked fantastic. But then, the skin started sagging again — it literally got pulled downward. I can no longer wear a swimsuit without covering up with a pareo (a semi-transparent wrap skirt).
"I hoped that working out might help strengthen the muscles and improve the appearance, but it didn’t make a difference."
Do you regret the surgery?
"I don’t know. It’s not as bad as it was before the surgery because the doctor did remove a significant amount of excess skin. But I still can’t call it a success because I’m in the exact same place I was before — I feel uncomfortable showing my thighs."