When Cosmetic Surgery Becomes an Obsession

Leading UK consultant surgeon Gerard Lambe asks how much is too much

Following the recent reports regarding model Katie Price undergoing her sixth face-lift and further breast surgery, leading UK consultant surgeon Gerard Lambe, who specialises in safety in surgery and is a member of the Royal College of Surgeons and spokesperson for The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, discusses this growing issue. He leads the Reflect Clinic UK and is a trusted expert in safety in surgery.

Here, he talks about what surgeons look out for when presented with someone with body dysmorphia and/or surgery addiction. It is an issue he and other surgeons in the UK are seeing increasing.

“These latest images of Katie having had yet another cosmetic surgery procedure send out a dangerous message to vulnerable people who may think cosmetic surgery is a low-risk procedure. These latest pictures show she has undergone a further nasal procedure, on top of ‘tweaks’ to her sixth £10,000 facelift at a clinic in Turkey”, he says.

 “I am gravely concerned for Katie as she is clearly showing signs of severe body dysmorphia – something any surgeon can spot quickly upon a consultation. Body dysmorphia is a devastating condition, but constant images of surgery send a damaging message to fans on social media.

“No surgeon should be encouraging this and it is one of the most depressing aspects of surgery tourism we have in that the standards and protections we have in the UK are simply not respected at many overseas clinics. Money comes first and often at the expense of a patient’s mental and physical health.

“There is such a thing as surgery addiction – a compulsion to seek out cosmetic and surgical procedures. It is classified as a behavioural addiction that impacts a person’s health, mental well-being, and, of course, finances.

“Tragically, people with body dysmorphic disorders are more likely to become addicted to plastic surgery - but there are resources available to help anyone recover, and I urge anyone, including Katie, to please seek support.”

Insurance risks
“Furthermore, as reported in The Times, cosmetic surgery abroad in places like Turkey, where Katie Price is a regular, is NOT covered on standard travel insurance medical cover”, he adds.

“There are too many stories of botched procedures that have taken place overseas and which surgeons such as myself are called up to fix. Yet, surgery tourists are rarely aware or informed that they need specialist insurance cover should the worse happen.”