Did Jessica Thivenin have a rhinoplasty? Yes, and she explained it herself

The French celebrity magazine Public quoted her explanation from Snapchat: “I had a bump on the side, I did contouring every day, and I had never told myself I would do it, because I thought I won’t have surgery, there is make-up. But since my darling was really self-conscious and said he would have an operation, I said I’ll do it with you.”

She insisted that it was not an impulse: “I just wanted to say that I didn’t go and buy myself a nose the way you buy a hamburger. It was thought through, we had several appointments.” She added that the surgeon had told her the change would be small, which is why she had not planned to talk about it, and she was clear about her message to young followers: “I don’t encourage any young person to have surgery.”

That is all this article relies on. Jessica Thivenin did not name a surgeon, a clinic or a technique in these comments, so we do not guess. Where the text below explains methods and recovery, it describes rhinoplasty in general, not her treatment.

That is how a good rhinoplasty is usually planned: correcting a detail rather than creating a new nose.

She also refused to present surgery as a model for teenagers, which is a responsible thing for someone with a very young audience to say. Nothing here judges anyone’s appearance; the interest is in how the decision was made and explained.

Typical reasons are a pronounced hump, a wide bridge, a drooping or wide tip, asymmetry, a deviated septum or the effects of an injury. Which approach fits is decided at the consultation, not from a photo of someone else’s nose.

• Tests start about three weeks before: blood count, urinalysis, infection tests, blood group, biochemistry and a physician’s report.
• One week before, stop smoking and drinking alcohol, cut out salty, fatty and spicy food, and agree with your doctor on stopping medicines that affect blood clotting.
• Avoid skin-damaging cosmetic procedures such as peels and scrubs before the operation.

The splints come out on day 7, and the cast and stitches on day 14. Between day 8 and day 30 the swelling gradually goes down, although the tip may stay swollen for longer, and physical exertion is limited for a month. Slight congestion can last 1–1.5 months. First improvements show after 2–3 weeks, but the final shape is judged after 1–1.5 years, when the tissues have fully settled. Check-ups at 7 days, 3 and 6 months follow the healing.

To be clear: City Medical Centre has no connection with Jessica Thivenin or her treatment. Her story is simply a well-known example of a woman who explained her decision openly.