Miss
Cosmetic Surgery Transformations 2011
The
Sun 26th January 2011
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ladies featured are clients of Linda Briggs and their stories were
published in the Sun, who gave permission for the article to be reproduced
on Linda Briggs web site.
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THE UK'S first cosmetic
surgery beauty pageant takes place in April.
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Open
only to women who have gone under the knife, hopefuls must have had at
least one cosmetic procedure that involved general or local anaesthesia.
Judges
will look at before and after pictures and rate entrants on the overall
transformation and quality of surgery.
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First prize is a trip abroad,
including flights, accommodation in a
five-star hotel and MORE cosmetic
surgery, worth a total of £3,000.
The pageant is organised by Linda
Briggs, who runs a cosmetic surgery advice and booking service (www.lindabriggs.co.uk).
She
says: "Thousands of women have cosmetic surgery every year.
"It's time to recognise that and celebrate the difference
it can make to a woman's life. Natural beauty is great, but so is
artificial beauty and it's a big part of today's society.
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"
This competition is a first for the UK, but in my opinion it's long
overdue. We want to find the woman whose life and looks have been
most dramatically changed thanks to surgery.
"They need to
look good and demonstrate what a difference it has made."
Here, KELLY
STRANGE speaks to three women who all hope to walk away
with the title at the contest's grand final in London on April 9.
Meanwhile
Adam Searle, former president of the British Association Of Aesthetic
Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), says why he believes it is wrong to offer
cosmetic surgery as a prize.
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Amie
Dumbarton
Procedure:
breast uplift
MUM-OF-TWO
Amie has never entered a beauty pageant before. She says: "I heard about the competition through my surgeon at a follow-up consultation.
"My life
has changed so much thanks to surgery that I knew I had to take part.
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My
boobs collapsed' ... Amie before her operation
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"
It's something I'd never have dreamed of doing before but I'm so confident
now."
The 27-year-old nanny from Hemel Hempstead, Herts, had a
£3,000 breast uplift operation last year.
Amie, who is married to
glazier Richard, 36, says: "After I had my daughter my boobs
collapsed down to my knees. I felt ashamed
and miserable.
"I hid them from my partner for two years and
our relationship reached breaking point.
"I've always had
big boobs, but they grew even bigger and after she was born they started
to sag. I kept thinking as my body got back to normal then so would my boobs, but they seemed to get worse.
"I was in my twenties
but I felt I had the body of a pensioner."
With two kids aged nine and two, Amie could not justify taking out a loan to pay for surgery. She
says: "I kept thinking that kind of money would pay for a family holiday and felt too guilty."
Finally her dad offered to pay.
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I was so grateful. It changed my life and saved my relationship,"
she says.
Amie went from a 36FF to a 34DD and says: "I'm happy, bubbly and confident. I'm a new person so I think I'm in with a
good chance of winning the pageant.
"If I won the prize I'd pi
ck a tummy tuck to complete my new look.
"I hope
I at least get through to the finals. It would be fun but also a way of publicly thanking my dad for what he's done for me. Ever since I
had my operation I've dreamed of having a tummy tuck but could never
afford it.
"This is a fantastic opportunity."
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Kimberley
Dayle
Procedures: liposuction and botox
After
the procedure ... surgeon in Tunisia took out 6 litres.
BRITNEY SPEARS impersonator Kimberley reckons cosmetic surgery has been vital in keeping her at the top of her game.
The 25-year-old tribute act says: "I'd been working successfully
as a Britney impersonator for years.
www.ladygagatributeshow.com
www.britneylookalike.com
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"But when Britney went
into meltdown, so did my career.
"Bookings tumbled as she shaved her head. I even had to cancel the gym membership and without
performing
every night I started to put on weight.
"Treats such as pasta and ice cream were things I'd denied myself in the past but now
I didn't have to wear my skimpy stage costumes I started to indulge.
"
Then when Britney announced a comeback tour in December 2008, the phone
started
ringing. I was totally unprepared.
"Britney looked amazing
and I was delighted she was back. But I was now a size 12 while she looked
better than ever.
"In January 2009 I decided I had to do something quick to save my career. I started researching liposuction and when I
read I could drop four dress sizes in two hours I didn't have to think for
long.
"I decided to go to a surgeon in Tunisia because it
was cheaper - £3,000 including flights and accommodation.
"I told the surgeon to take as much as he could - more than six litres in total
from my tummy, bottom, stomach, hips, back, inner and outer thighs and
knees.
I showed him a picture of Britney to get the contours just right.
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I cried with pain when I came round but when I saw the difference I knew
it
had been worth it."
Aside from the post-op pain and the discomfort
of the medical girdle she had to wear, single Kimberley, who splits her
time between homes in Cheltenham and Notting Hill, West London, was able
to get straight back to rehearsals.
"For the
next two weeks I wore the girdle to help my skin settle into place,"
she says. "I'd gone from 10st 2lb and size 12 to 8st 10lb and size eight.
"
Six weeks later I was back performing and since then I've done several
tours
and I know my success has been down to the surgery.
"As well as the
liposuction I have regular Botox injections and teeth whitening. Cosmetic
surgery is a way of life for me now and will continue to be.
"If I win Miss Cosmetic Surgery UK, I'd be able
to have a bum lift or maybe a boob lift."
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Jeanette
Knight
Procedures:
face and neck lift plus eye surgery
JEANETTE says cosmetic
surgery
gave a real boost to her marriage.
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Skin was 'much less taut' ... Jeanette before operation
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The 50-year-old community
support worker splashed out on a facelift, neck lift and eye rejuvenation
after losing 4st.
Jeanette, married to Pete, 55, an engineer, says:
"Surgery was the last thing on my mind as I approached my 50th.
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I was more concerned I'd put on weight and didn't want to be fat at 50 so
I cut out all the junk and ate healthy meals. The pounds fell off. I took
up aerobics and lost even more weight.
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My skin, hair and nails looked wonderful and shiny but my skin had become
much less taut."
Jeanette,
from Basingstoke, Hants, explains: "My eyelids got floppy then by the
time I lost 4st I was getting jowls. I knew I would have to do something about my face.
"The cost of surgery put me off. I could never have afforded it until I found a cheaper option in Budapest.
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The total cost would be less than half the UK price. My facelift
cost £3,000, my eyes £1,200 and I got a 50 per cent reduction on the neck
- I was charged £800 because I was having so much done.
"Flights
and accommodation cost £500. I was apprehensive about going abroad but I
did my homework and felt sure I was in good hands.
"I went in September last year. When I came round I had very little pain. When
my husband saw me at the airport a week later he was lost for words. Since
then it's like we've fallen in love again and that's all down to my
new-found self-confidence.
"My son Ryan is 27 now and thinks
it's great his mum is entering a beauty pageant." |
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