Kerry Katona warned: Give up cigarettes or your boobs could fall off

Nov 9 2008 By Lesley Roberts

THE surgeon who built troubled Kerry Katona's boobs has warned they could be ruined if she does not quit smoking.

Stephen Hamilton claims the bad habit could make her nipples turn black and fall off.

The Scot also defended having her breast reduction op filmed by MTV.

Millions of viewers saw the former Atomic Kitten singer in theatre as she had her 34GG boobs cut to a 34DD.

The 28-year-old also had liposuction on her stomach and hips and flaunted her new figure in a glossy magazine shoot.

But Stephen, 39, was worried when Kerry admitted she was still smoking during her notorious interview on ITV's This Morning.

Her slurred speech and confused state sparked claims she was drunk or on drugs.

Stephen said: "I was surprised to hear she was still smoking.

"She did tell me she was going to stop.

"The risk of wound or healing problems with the skin or nipple is a risk for everyone but in smokers the problem can be worse because there is less oxygen reaching the tissue.

"I've never actually seen a nipple turn black and drop off but it has happened. It's usually a pretty good scare tactic to persuade clients to give up. I told Kerry about this."

Glasgow University graduate Stephen was seen on Kerry's MTV show Whole Again performing £15,000 worth of surgery on the bankrupt star.

The bill for the work was reportedly picked up by the music channel as part of her ongoing reality shows, which also filmed her giving birth to her fourth child, son Max, now eight months old.

Stephen said: "I don't knowabout all that stuff. I never had any issue or problem with her.

"If you have any concerns about whether patients are ready for treatment or whether their attitude is right then you back off.

"I didn't have any particular concerns with Kerry. I never saw anything unusual or strange about her behaviour."

Stephen, who grew up in Royston, Glasgow, did private cosmetic surgery at the prestigious St John and St Elizabeth hospital in London.

He was filmed there examining a topless Kerry, watched by her ex-taxi driver husband Mark Croft.

Cameras then followed him into theatre as he reshaped her boobs and used liposuction to remove around 8lb of fat from her tummy and hips.

Stephen said: "This has been my most public work. People in the public eye don't generally want it known that they have had work done.

"It's quite gratifying to hear people say how good she looks, especially if they don't realise that I've carried out the work."

Stephen has now returned to his main work, reconstruction surgery for NHS cancer patients, a job he trained for at Glasgow's Royal Infirmary and Victoria and Canniesburn hospitals.

He said: "It is a strange contrast. Three quarters of my work is cancer reconstruction and the rest is private cosmetic stuff.

"I've seen quite a few celebrities for that and the most popular procedure for them is liposuction.

"It would surprise you how many have had it. Kerry is not alone."

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