Lisa Riley Warns of Cosmetic Surgery Addiction

Best known for her role as Mandy Dingle in Emmerdale, Lisa Riley was famous for her large build. However, these days she’s virtually unrecognisable after undergoing gastric band surgery.

The star has lost a significant amount of weight; something which left her with a lot of excessive skin.  She’s since had cosmetic surgery to remove the skin, but she’s recently admitted this has led her to want more procedures performed. She’s also warning of the potential dangers of cosmetic surgery addiction.

Can you become addicted to cosmetic surgery?

There have been many cases reported where patients have become addicted to having cosmetic surgery procedures.

It’s not hard to see why some people do find it addictive. Seeing the positive results of a procedure can spur you on to see what else you can change. As there are so many different types of procedures available these days, it’s possible to change practically every part of the body. So, once you’ve fixed one problem, it can be tempting to fix something else.

While having more than one procedure isn’t a problem, the question is where do you stop? Many people who do get addicted to cosmetic surgery, do so because of a mental health issue.

It could be they are suffering from depression or Body Dysmorphic Disorder.  In these cases, having the procedure would provide a temporary improvement in the mood, but it won’t fix the underlying issues. If left untreated, these mental health conditions can lead the patient to opt for multiple further procedures and none of them will make them feel happier in the long-term.

It is important to realise that though stories of cosmetic surgery addiction make for great headlines, it is less of a problem than many media outlets make out. As Mr Paul Tulley comments: “I would stress the fact that although these cases are reported in the press the incidence is relatively low (around 2% of cosmetic surgery patients), although very important for surgeons to identify.”

So, before you undergo cosmetic surgery, it’s really important to ensure you’re doing it for the right reasons. It’s also worth being aware of the risk of addiction and knowing where to stop. During your consultation with Mr Tulley, part of his role is to ensure that your expectations are realistic and see whether cosmetic surgery is the right option for you.

Overall, Lisa Riley is a perfect example of how cosmetic surgery can help you to look and feel dramatically better. However, it is always worth being aware of the risks, including the fact that it could become addictive. You should always make sure you’re having the surgery for the right reasons and you have realistic expectations about what it can and cannot achieve.