Will It Be Obvious if a Patient Had a Rhinoplasty?

It’s not unusual for patients who undergo rhinoplasty surgery to be concerned about privacy. Under these circumstances, patients should feel no obligation to discuss their medical history with their peers.
                The vast majority of patients who undergo this procedure would like to look better without looking different. They want subtle changes that improve harmony balance and proportion. When this situation arises, maneuvers that draw attention away from the nose are helpful. For example a new appearance might be attributed to a new hair style rather than a change in the nose.

                Unfortunately, when major alterations are made in the nose disguising the procedure can be difficult. Under these circumstances it might be impossible to hide the fact that you’ve had a rhinoplasty.

Whether or not you wish to tell your peers about an upcoming nose job is completely up to your discretion. An experienced surgeon will design your new nose to look as natural as possible, making sure the changes suit your surrounding facial features and avoiding a look that is too overdone or “fake.” That being said, depending on the specifics of your rhinoplasty, it is indeed probable that your peers may notice that some work has been done. In any case, a nose job is primarily designed to make the patient feel more comfortable in his or her own skin so you shouldn’t devote too much attention to others’ reactions to your decision.

There is no way someone would know if you got rhinoplasty if the results achieve a proportionate improvement and there is overall harmony. You don't have to tell anyone that you had surgery unless you want to. However, if the change is very noticeable, then some people might wonder. Of course it's totally up to you if you want to tell them.   

You should not need to share your personal medical history with anyone. A rhinoplasty should result in a natural, harmonious result that matches a person's face. Careful planning and communication between the doctor and patient is important in this regard.
Having said this, a natural result may still be dramatically different than how you look now. If this is the case for you, then your peers may or may not notice it on their own. The degree of change that you seek will determine this. Computer simulations may help you visualize what the changes you seek will look like.
Hope this helps.

When rhinoplasty has good aesthetic balance, others will think you look better for other reasons, a new haircut, losing weight, etc. It is only when rhinoplasty is overdone with a skin slope bridge, pinched tip, and pig like upturned nose that people will be clued in.