Did Liane Foly have a nose job? Yes, and she talked about it herself

What did Liane Foly say about her rhinoplasty?

Her words were reported by Paris Match and Marie Claire. About the reaction at the time she said: “When I had my nose operated on, it was terrible, because people talked more about my nose and my operation than about the wonderful album I had made at the time!”

About the decision itself: “This operation was really a wish, because when I started out in this business I saw myself in photos, on TV, and this rather hooked nose bothered me a bit. I didn’t hesitate, I did it.” In the Paris Match version she adds that she did it in 1997, about ten years after her start. She also said: “Personally it caused me no problem, it was other people who bothered me about it.”

Looking back, she said: “When you get older you think, ‘I didn’t have the maturity to accept myself as I was and to love that nose.’ Today, after my journey, I might not do it again.” She added that she has never had a facelift.

That is all we rely on here. Foly did not describe the technique or the course of her recovery, so this article does not guess at them. Where the text below explains methods and timelines, it describes rhinoplasty in general, not her operation.

What her story says about the decision

Foly’s account is useful precisely because it is balanced. She explains a real reason — she saw her profile in photos and on television and it bothered her — and she describes the decision as her own wish, not something imposed. At the same time, decades later, she says she might choose differently now. That is a thoughtful way to talk about any cosmetic operation: it is a personal choice that deserves time, a realistic idea of the result, and an honest conversation with a surgeon.

A nose also has a function. Many people who consider rhinoplasty have breathing problems as well, and a surgeon checks both form and breathing at the consultation.

How rhinoplasty is done today

Rhinoplasty reshapes the nasal bones and cartilage. It is done under general anaesthesia or TIVA and is usually followed by one day and night in the clinic’s inpatient unit. At City Medical Centre the expected result is shown with 3D modelling before surgery, and bone work is done with an ultrasonic piezo device. There are two main approaches:

When breathing is also a concern, the surgeon may combine the operation with septum correction (septorhinoplasty). The choice of approach is made at the consultation, after an examination.

Who is it for and how to prepare

The optimal age for rhinoplasty is 18–45, and older if health allows. Typical reasons are a hump, a wide or drooping tip, asymmetry after injury, or breathing problems combined with cosmetic concerns. Preparation starts about 21 days before surgery. It includes a complete blood count, biochemistry, a coagulation panel, infection tests, an ECG, a chest X-ray and a sinus X-ray or CT. Blood-thinning drugs are stopped with the doctor’s agreement, alcohol and smoking a week before, and the last food and drink six hours before. Class 2 compression stockings are also needed.

What recovery looks like

The first 24 hours are spent in the inpatient unit. For the first days patients breathe through the mouth, with splints in the nostrils; swelling and bruising are possible. The nasal splints come out around day 7, and the external splint and stitches around day 14. For a month, exercise, sauna, pool, hot baths and sun are off-limits. Mild congestion can last one to one and a half months. The first improvements appear after two to three weeks, healing takes about four months, and the final shape settles after one to one and a half years. Seek a doctor immediately for difficulty breathing, severe pain, high fever or a change in shape. The timeline below shows the usual stages.

1. Day of surgeryGeneral anaesthesia or TIVA; the first 24 hours are spent in the inpatient unit.
2. Days 1–3Mouth breathing with splints in the nostrils; swelling and bruising are possible.
3. Day 7The nasal splints are removed.
4. Day 14The external splint and stitches are removed.
5. Weeks 2–4First improvements are visible; no sport, sauna, pool or sun for a month.
6. Month 4Healing is largely complete; mild congestion has usually passed.
7. 1–1.5 yearsThe final shape of the nose settles.

Rhinoplasty at City Medical Centre

City Medical Centre performs primary and revision rhinoplasty and septorhinoplasty for international patients. The first consultation is free and can be held online; the exact cost is confirmed after an in-person examination and fixed in the contract. Primary rhinoplasty costs $4,200, rhinoseptoplasty $5,000 and revision rhinoplasty $5,400. More details are on the rhinoplasty page.

To be clear: City Medical Centre has no connection with Liane Foly or her treatment. Her story is simply a well-known example of someone who talked openly about the operation.

Frequently asked questions

When did Liane Foly have her rhinoplasty?

She said she had it in 1997, about ten years after the start of her career. She talked about it on France Bleu in April 2023, as reported by Paris Match and Marie Claire.

Why did Liane Foly have her nose done?

She said that seeing herself in photos and on TV, her “rather hooked nose” bothered her a bit, so she did not hesitate. Today she says she might not do it again.

Did Liane Foly have a facelift?

No. In the same interview she said she had never had a facelift, although many people think she has had several.

Is rhinoplasty painful?

The operation is done under general anaesthesia or TIVA. Afterwards the main discomfort is mouth breathing, swelling and congestion in the first days; strong pain is a reason to call the doctor.

How much does rhinoplasty cost at City Medical Centre?

Primary rhinoplasty costs $4,200, rhinoseptoplasty $5,000 and revision rhinoplasty $5,400. The exact price is confirmed after the examination and fixed in the contract.