Miss Cosmetic Surgery Transformations 2011
The Sun 26th January 2011

THE UK'S first cosmetic surgery beauty pageant takes place in April.

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.

Organiser ... Linda Briggs

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.

"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.

Amie Dumbarton

Procedure: breast uplift

My boobs collapsed' ... Amie before her operation>>>

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.

"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.

"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 pick 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."

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.

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www.britneylookalike.com

"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.

"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."

Jeanette Knight

Procedures: face and neck lift plus eye surgery

JEANETTE says cosmetic surgery gave a real boost to her marriage.

Skin was 'much less taut' ... Jeanette before operation >>>

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.

"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.

"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.

"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."