Vanessa Zavala underwent rhinoplasty to address a hooked nose, a deviated septum and breathing issues
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She found her doctor through TikTok and emphasizes to PEOPLE the importance of research and realistic expectations for surgery
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Zavala credits her smooth recovery to a strong support system and advises against prioritizing cost over quality in procedures
ForVanessa Zavala, rhinoplasty was something she wanted from the moment her nose essentially grew on her face.
The 26-year-old from Texas, now living in New York, went viral after posting a before-and-after video onTikTokandInstagramof the surgery she underwent in February that left her practically speechless. In text over the video of herself getting the cast off, she wrote, "the feeling of getting your cast off after wanting ur nose done for 15 yrs>>."
Before seeing the results, Zavala admits in the video that she's about to cry and that her "heart's racing." Once she looks in the mirror, her jaw drops and she's too stunned to speak. Eventually, she says she looks "like a Barbie" with a huge smile on her face.
She tells PEOPLE that having a "hooked nose" was "just a family thing," but ever since she was 10, it has always been in the back of her mind.
And as she grew older, the relationship with her appearance kept getting worse, not to mention that her breathing "wasn't great" and she had a deviated septum, which occurs when the cartilage and bone that separates the nasal cavity is off-center.
Growing up without health insurance, Zavala never had the option to get a nose job.
As she got older, though, she knew that now was a better time than ever — and it certainly didn't hurt that she had a friend who could also answer her questions after having undergone plastic surgery a year earlier.
Zavala visited an ENT who confirmed that her septum was deviated and that she had enlarged turbinates, meaning the bony structures inside her nose had become swollen.
She sought out more information from Facebook groups, Reddit threads, Instagram and even WhatsApp support groups, until she eventually found her doctor on TikTok.
"He didn't charge a consultation fee," she says. "I met with him, felt really comfortable, and just went for it."
Zavala knew exactly what she wanted. "I basically just told him I did not want a natural look," she recalls. "I wanted to look snatched. I asked for the bump completely gone, the nose upturned a little bit, and slimmer overall."
Her doctor came up with a plan to "fix the hook, lift the droopy tip, straighten the deviation, and thin it out."
Having never undergone general anesthesia before, Zavala was "really, really, nervous." But having the rhinoplasty at a hospital on Long Island, rather than at a "random clinic," gave her the peace of mind she needed.
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Zavala tells PEOPLE that the surgery lasted about four to five hours and went "really smoothly."
The healing process "was definitely uncomfortable at times," but "totally manageable."
"I think what made the biggest difference was being in my own home, surrounded by people I love," says Zavala. "That's something I would not have had if I'd gone overseas for the surgery. My boyfriend was incredibly supportive every step of the way and honestly just babied me through the whole thing, which I loved. With that kind of support system around me, I felt pretty good throughout recovery."
A few months removed from the surgery, Zavala tells PEOPLE that she feels "really good" about her nose and if anything, wishes she had gone a "little more dramatic."
Zavala, however, set "realistic expectations" for herself.
"I did so much research and saw so many people spiral over every little thing post-op, so I went in telling myself: there will be hiccups, your nose could have bumps during healing, things could shift — even the best surgeon can't guarantee perfection," she says.
For those looking to also get plastic surgery, Zavala advises them to do their research.
"Look at long-term results, read real patient stories, and be honest with yourself about what you want," she says.
Having learned from her own experience, she reminds others that "surgery isn't perfect, healing isn't linear, and the more mentally prepared you are for that, the better your experience will be."
"Post-surgery, set yourself up for success: surround yourself with supportive people and don't be afraid to tell your friends that negative comments about your appearance are off-limits until you're fully healed (or honestly, just... forever," she says.
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"And if you're considering medical tourism, please do your research — the cheapest option is not always the best option," she says. "Overall, though, it was not as scary as I thought it would be, and I wish I'd done it sooner. I'm so happy I did it now while I'm still young."
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