Influencer Recounts ‘Validating’ Nose Job Revision After First Surgery Left Her with Breathing Issues (Exclusive)

Catherine Santino, Hedy PhillipsSun, July 26, 2026 at 9:00 AM UTC

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Katie Farhood.Credit: Katie Farhood -

27-year-old influencer Katie Farhood tells PEOPLE about how her first nose job led to breathing problems and chronic discomfort

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

After feeling “dismissed,” Farhood sought out a revision that taught her an important lesson

Katie Farhood’s confidence was at an all-time low after having her first nose job.

The Los Angeles-based influencer, 27, had both a septoplasty and cosmetic rhinoplasty in January 2025 due to a deviated septum that caused her breathing issues. At the same time, she wanted to soften the hump on her nose.

“My aesthetic goal was really conservative,” Farhood tells 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 felt “confident” going into the procedure, which she says was done by a board-certified ENT and plastic surgeon, but about a week after her cast came off, Farhood noticed something was wrong. “I developed severe pain on one side of my nose, and it swelled dramatically,” she recalls. “I brought it up to my surgeon, but I was told it was just swelling. Since everyone tells you rhinoplasty takes six months to a year to fully heal, I trusted the process and waited.”

Six months later, however, her breathing problems had become worse than they were pre-surgery. “I constantly felt like I couldn’t get enough air, and it affected my sleep because I always felt like I was suffocating,” says Farhood. “Even something as simple as kissing my fiancé was painful because part of my nose apparently wasn’t properly supported or attached.”

She eventually learned that there was a structural issue with her nose, which left her feeling “dismissed.” Her cosmetic results were also not what she had hoped for — her tip wasn’t lifted and her nostrils appeared uneven.

Katie Farhood before her first nose job.Credit: Katie Farhood

“Looking back, the hardest part wasn’t even the cosmetic outcome, it was feeling like my concerns were repeatedly dismissed,” says Farhood. “Being told everything looked fine when I was clearly experiencing pain and functional problems made me question my own experience.”

Farhood’s surgeon offered to do a revision procedure, which was then planned for January 2026. However, just a few weeks before the surgery date, she says that the surgeon wanted to cancel because he thought her nose was “perfect.”

“It left me feeling completely abandoned and delayed my revision even further,” Farhood says.

She felt “incredibly discouraged,” but took it as an opportunity to find a surgeon that she could fully trust.

Another surgery date was eventually set for March 2026. In speaking with her new surgeon, Farhood says she communicated the importance of restoring her breathing issues as well as correcting the asymmetry of her nose.

Katie Farhood after her first nose job.Credit: Katie Farhood

“I felt much more confident going into this surgery because my new surgeon specialized in advanced rhinoplasty techniques, including the Piezo method, which uses ultrasonic technology to precisely reshape the nasal bones rather than breaking them with a hammer and chisel,” says Farhood. “This approach typically results in less trauma, swelling, bruising and pain.”

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Farhood’s surgeon ended up needing to harvest a small piece of cartilage from her rib to help restructure the shape because there wasn’t enough healthy cartilage left in her nose.

The procedure was a success. “[My surgeon] was so incredibly knowledgeable and talented, and I am so happy he was able to restore everything beautifully!” Farhood says. “My revision surgeon was truly my knight in shining armor.”

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She “immediately” noticed an improvement when the cast came off — the most prominent of which was her ability to breathe through her nose.

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

Katie Farhood after her second nose job.Credit: Katie Farhood

By the three-month mark, the swelling decreased, and she could see that the aesthetic results were also what she had hoped for. “That was when I really started feeling like myself again,” she says. “I finally felt confident in photos and genuinely happy with my results!”

Farhood went on to share her nose job experience on social media, sparking a flood of feedback from those who faced similar issues. “A lot of people told me that seeing my revision journey gave them the confidence to finally pursue a revision themselves after feeling stuck or afraid for years,” she says, adding that the response reminded her that she wasn’t alone.

The influencer was inspired to share her story because she feels that the emotional aspect of a disappointing plastic surgery outcome is often overlooked.

“When you’ve spent thousands of dollars and the result ends up negatively affecting the center of your face (the first thing you and everyone else sees), it can have a huge impact on your confidence and mental health,” she explains. “There was definitely a period where I felt depressed because I couldn’t escape it. Every mirror, every photo, every conversation reminded me of it.”

Despite her first nose job being “one of the most difficult” things she’s gone through, Farhood says it didn’t make her “anti-plastic surgery.” Instead, it served as a valuable learning experience.

“It taught me how incredibly important it is to thoroughly research your surgeon; especially for a procedure that permanently changes your face,” she says. “Credentials and certifications absolutely matter, but they aren’t the whole picture. I think it’s just as important to look at the surgeon’s body of work, revision rates, patient experiences, communication style, and whether they have lots of experience with the specific procedure you’re having. Choosing the right surgeon is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make, and it’s worth taking the time to get it right.”

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”