The nip and tuck shop: Inside the secret world of celebrity cosmetic surgery

The nip and tuck shop: Inside the secret world of celebrity cosmetic surgery

Asking a female celebrity if she’s had cosmetic surgery used to result in raised eyebrows (stitches permitting) or straight-faced denials.

Nose jobs, brow-lifts, Botox jabs and breast implants were never talked about openly in showbiz land... that sudden fresh-faced look or boosted bosom was always put down to “a healthy diet and exercise”.

So it’s refreshing to see some of Britain’s most famous TV faces queuing up to get their wrinkles smoothed, wobbly bits sucked and sweaty armpits injected with Botox in front of prying cameras.

Stars like Stephanie Beacham, Andrea McLean and Claire King agreed to be filmed having consultations and procedures for a revealing, funny and often shocking new documentary series.

Stitch Me, Lift Me, Tuck Me, which starts on the Sky Living channel tonight, goes inside the secret world of the cosmetic surgery industry.

It follows the stars and some of the other patients at Harley Street Skin, a clinic in t he exclusive medical district of London, run by husband and wife team Dr Aamer Khan and Lesley Reynolds.

Mr and Mrs Surgery: Dr Aamer Khan and Lesley Reynolds

Lesley told the Daily Mirror they decided to open their glossy front door to the film crew “to dispel the remaining myths and secrecy about ‘getting work done’”.

And the 10-part series certainly gives a fascinating insight into the nation’s growing obsession with going under the knife and the endless pursuit of physical perfection.

In tonight’s show viewers will see former Emmerdale actress Claire King, 50, undergo a “suspension facelift” after worrying that her sagging jowls were losing her acting roles.

In future episodes Loose Woman Andrea McLean gets treatments for a spotty face brought on by shingles and talks about reducing her Prince Charles ears.

She admits: “I can’t believe I actually got my spots zapped... on the telly!

"But I’d been really run-down and off work with shingles and my skin was terrible. I knew Lesley could help.

“It’s great that these treatments are available n ow and we don’t have to suffer in silence. So I’ve got no problem with people seeing my spots on screen.”

Acne treatment: Andrea McLean

During the series Steps star Claire Richards can be seen having Botox jabs in her armpits to stop sweating on stage.

Claire says: “Someone told me once that if you had Botox under your arms it just made the sweat come out somewhere else but Dr Khan allayed my fears.

“I have to admit, it really hurt and I was trying not to pull too many faces... what a glamorous life we celebs have.

“But now I’m going to be glowing â€" not sweating.”

Corrie star Bev Callard has the “bunny wrinkles” under her eyes eradicated and Linda Nolan gets smoker’s lines smoothed from her top lip.

Hannah Waterman has fillers injected and Gillian Taylforth and Sam Womack have facials.

Actress Stephanie Beacham consults Lesley about firming her jaw line and freshening up her hands while Patsy Palmer finds out about repairing her sun-damaged skin.

Tara Palmer-Tomkinson gets her nose fixed while Patsy Kensit pops in to d iscuss skin care.

But nips, tucks, lifts and peels are no longer the preserve of the wealthy and famous.

Millions of ordinary folk now see them as no different from a new hairdo or manicure.

Despite a triple-dip recession, the plastic surgery industry is booming in Britain.

Smokers' lines smoothed: Linda Nolan

In 2011 we spent £26billion on procedures â€" that’s a 5% rise in facelifts, 7% hike in nose jobs and a 15% expansion in tummy tucks for men.

Dr Khan, Lesley and their team admit that many of their patients become hooked.

The series shows the team persuading some addicts not to have more work done â€" or steering them towards more alternative, more gentle treatments.

Dr Khan says: “We have often said an outright ‘no’ to patients but the danger is they will go down the road to a less scrupulous practitioner and get unnecessary or damaging treatment.

“We counsel patients and steer them towards more sensible alternatives or, if necessary, persuade them to seek psychological support.

“Patients come in with photos of famous people, saying ‘I want to look like that’ and I tell them ‘I can make you look younger but not like someone else.’

"Others have brought in pictures from porn magazines of mas sive breasts...

"I hope the series will help educate and inform viewers about what we can’t do, as well as the many things we can.”

Viewers may be shocked by identical twins Kathryn and Bryony Frost, 28.

The girls are such regulars at the clinic that Lesley calls them “my little Frosties” and says “I do think they are a bit hooked on having treatment”.

Sweating: Clare Richards has botox in armpits

The stunning pair, once Olympic-hopeful athletes, want Dr Khan to give them powerful laser peels to remove non-existent flaws they see in their complexion.

Realising they are determined to get more work done he guides them towards the lightest treatment possible.

They arrive giggling with excitement for their next beauty “hit”, only to have the smiles wiped from their faces by the searing pain of the procedure.

Even so, only a few weeks later the girls are planning their next visit, saying: “Pain now, glory later.”

Kathryn giggles: “A friend of ours does say: ‘I think you guys need help!’”

And then there’s Jamie, a professional make-up artist who has had everything done from a “moob job” and laser treatments to Botox and fillers.

He’s back and begging Dr Khan for more filler in his swollen top lip, insisting: “I want it to look like Angelina Jolie’s!”

Lesley, who says Jamie “does like to go a bit trouty sometimes” finally talks him into having a tiny top-up.

He leaves happy, remarking that he trusts Dr Khan “because he won’t do anything that makes you look too fake”, before adding, “It costs a lot to look this cheap, you know.”

But for these few bizarre cases there are many more patients whose lives are transformed by treatment at the clinic.

Skin sun damage: Patsy Palmer

Obese Sharon had been advised by one clinic to have liposuction, to suck out her fat rather than to help her lose it healthily.

Gastrointestinal and bariatric surgeon Mr Andrew Jenkinson said: “Sharon weighed 21 stone when we first met.

"Like many people she’d tried a host of diets and managed to lose weight but always put it back on... and more.

“She was at high risk of developing diabetes and other obesity-related conditions, she was very down and felt trapped.

"But she decided to have a gastric bypass under keyhole surgery to reset her weight compass to a much healthier level.

“The surgery altered her appetite so that food did not seem to be an issue any more.

"She has already lost over seven stone and gone from a size 28 to 18.”

Lesley admits it’s impossible to look perfect but, for some, surgery is the only way to get the body confidence they crave.

My droopy jawline lost me role s, says Claire King

Chin up: Claire before treatment

Chin up: Claire after treatment

Emmerdale and Bad Girls star Claire King built a career playing bitchy beauties and had always retained her figure and looks naturally.

But as she turned 50, she noticed she was losing some roles to younger-looking actresses â€" and felt her “droopy jowls” were to blame.

She says: “I always believed in growing old disgracefully and had a pretty good run until 45 or so.

“But then I started noticing that my jowls were hanging and my jawline was losing definition. I looked tired.

“Sadly, looks can cost you work and I just wasn’t getting as many jobs as I had done and when I’d turn up to auditions there were lots of old faces there... with new faces.

"I was surprised at just how many.

“I knew they’d had work done and realised it was no longer a level playing field. To compete with them I needed to look fresher.

"I hated the idea of knives slicing my face, so this lift was the perfect choice . But I still had to think long and hard about it.

“Dr Khan made two tiny holes near the hairline on my brows and poked down under each cheek to insert a single stitch, which could then be pulled back to lift my jowls.

“I was numb, so didn’t feel a thing. An hour-and-a-half later I was back in my hotel a bit swollen but not in pain.

“After two weeks I could really see the difference and the effects will continue to get better as my muscles and tissues tighten naturally.

“I’m delighted. It has been nine months and the change has been really subtle and I’ve just filmed a BBC drama and done two plays.

"I am really feeling happy with what I see in the mirror again.

“People have asked, ‘Have you lost weight?’ or, ‘Have you had your hair done?’ because I look and feel great but it’s not obvious at all.”

Stitch Me, Lift Me, Tuck Me is on Sky Living tonight at 8pm.