” big nose” has become a source of concern for Iraqi men, after it was an “Iraqi fingerprint”, especially since it is considered an extension of the Sumerians, the first inhabitants of Iraq. However, this Sumerian legacy on the faces of Iraqis did not continue, as the trend towards cosmetic surgeries became the prominent feature for men, after it was limited to women. Men even began to buy cosmetics more than women, according to what shop owners and doctors in Kirkuk Governorate confirmed .
Ghaith Mohammed stands in front of a beauty center on Doctors Street, in the center of Kirkuk Governorate, to undergo cosmetic surgery on his nose and face, so that he can appear different from others .
Mohammed says, “Iraqi youth flock to the beauty center to undergo cosmetic surgeries and change facial features, to appear beautiful. There is a demand from young people for these surgeries, especially nose reduction .”
He points out that “the price of a nose or lip plastic surgery ranges between $400 and $700, and these prices are good compared to neighboring countries where plastic surgery costs about $1,000, especially in Turkey and other countries .”
He continues, “Beauty is not limited to nose and face surgeries, but extends to buying cosmetics and accessories, similar to women who use lipstick and other cosmetics. There are young men who use and buy cosmetics more than young women .”
On December 31, 2024, the Iraqi Dentists Syndicate announced a judicial decision allowing dentists to practice non-surgical cosmetic procedures, and confirmed that the Administrative Court had issued its decision to cancel the Ministry of Health’s circular that prohibited all dentists from practicing non-surgical cosmetic procedures within their specialty .
The Supreme Administrative Court had previously issued a decision to cancel the state order submitted by the Dentists Syndicate, in which it demanded that dentists be allowed to perform filler, Botox, mesotherapy, or other materials used in the field of cosmetics .
On May 6, 2024, the Iraqi Ministry of Health decided to prevent dentists from injecting meso, fillers, Botox, and other things in all beauty centers .
Men buy more cosmetics
A cosmetics seller, named Jenkis Falah, says, “There is a great demand from young people to buy cosmetics, to the point that they are buying these materials more than women .”
He explains that “prices vary for the items that young people like to buy, but the most popular are powders and ointments for improving the skin .”
Falah added, “Young people are buying a lot of materials for the purpose of using them in facial beautification, and this increase has reached more than 40% during the last two years, as we have a semi-annual documentation of the male and female shoppers from the store .”
The most beautiful man’s nose
For his part, the specialist in the field of cosmetic surgery, Ayoub Asem, explains that “over the past years, the rate of cosmetic surgeries has increased among young people, especially those under the age of 30, with nose reduction surgery and lip contour changes being the most common type of surgery. These were mostly for women, but men outnumbered women in cosmetic surgery .”
He confirms that “the average cost of the surgical operation ranges between $300 and $800, and the cosmetic operation for the nose differs from its reduction, as the difference lies in the surgical intervention of cutting and reducing the nose or only performing cosmetic surgery on it in specific areas, by lifting part of it and tightening the skin, and this differs according to the request of the person undergoing the operation .”
Sumerian legacy
In addition, historical researcher Ali Hamdoun confirms that “the origin of the Iraqis goes back to the Sumerian civilization, as they are considered to be among the original inhabitants of Iraq, as they were distinguished by their dark skin color and large noses, and sometimes the nose is curved or slanted at its end .”
He continues, “Large noses were the most prominent feature of Iraqis in the past, but recently we have noticed the disappearance of this feature due to the large number of women and even men seeking nose plastic surgery, so most of their interest has become focused on external, outward beauty .”
He points out that “historical evidence indicates that the Sumerians were distinguished by their large noses, and this is reflected in the Iraqis to a large extent, as you find large noses in men and women. It is a legacy from their Sumerian ancestors, who are considered the first inhabitants of Iraq.”
