I did not want to turn 60 like that.

The trigger

Her 50th birthday became a decisive experience for Iris F. At the birthday party a colleague had taken photographs and afterwards sent her pictures “in which you have come out so well”. When Iris F. saw the images, she felt she might fall over with shock.

“I had never seen myself that way before.”

She had always been convinced that she was an attractive woman. But in the photographs a hard woman with a large nose and stern features looked back at her, a woman she did not know and did not find likeable. She went to her mother and asked why she had never said anything. “I thought your nose wasn't a problem for you,” her mother replied.

From then on she knew: “I don't want to turn 60 like this.”

The decision

Around that time Iris F. met a former colleague again who suddenly looked 20 years younger. She no longer came across as stern but as attractive and friendly. “I had my nose done,” her friend revealed light-heartedly. Iris then arranged two appointments with doctors in Vienna.

“After the first appointment I had a bad feeling and went to the second doctor without great expectations.”

At the Kuzbari Centre she felt comfortable with the atmosphere, and Dr Kuzbari gave her the feeling that she was in good hands with him. She developed the trust she needed to have the operation.

“I gave the doctor complete freedom and only wanted a nose that suits my face.”

The result

The result exceeded her expectations.

“I used to be a pretty woman; now I am more beautiful still.”

Iris F. is a manager at a bank. At work nobody has mentioned the operation to her; she has told only a few people about it. Only a single client has noticed the operation so far, because he had himself had three nose operations and therefore evidently has a more sensitive eye for it. What has changed, however, is the effect she has on other people.

“I come across as less stern, less unapproachable. In client conversations I can create more closeness. People used to have an incredible amount of respect for me; now I come across as friendlier.”

When Iris F. told her family that she intended to have her nose operated on, she initially met with little understanding. “They found it incredible that after 50 years my nose was suddenly bothering me.” Her daughter said at first: “Mum, you really don't need that.” Today she says: “It's good that you had it done.” Her partner thinks the result is wonderful too, although the nose had not bothered him before: “The whole package was always right.”

Self-worth

For Iris F. it is above all her sense of self-worth that has changed. Since the operation she feels free and unselfconscious.

“I used to be insecure and afraid of not presenting a perfect picture. Today I stay overnight in mountain huts without any problem and do not worry about my appearance in the morning.”

She has the feeling that everything is now where it belongs.

“If you have doubts that something is not right, then you should have something done about it. The quality of life is simply different — better.”