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Pop singer sues for £1m over botched lip implant surgery
Last updated at 16:40pm on 25.01.07
Pete Burns: said he could not leave his house for months
Disfigured: the damage shows on Burns' lips
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Pop star Pete Burns revealed today he is suing his plastic surgeon for "wrecking his career and life".
Burns, singer with 1980s pop band Dead or Alive, has had several cosmetic procedures on his face and is suing a Harley Street surgeon for an estimated £1million over a botched attempt to remove lip implants.
In an exclusive interview he told the Standard he looked like he had been "mutilated with a Stanley knife" after surgery to correct the original problems left his top lip hanging off.
The singer, who re-surfaced in last year's Celebrity Big Brother, has had more than 100 operations by specialists in Italy to try to correct the damage but fears he will always be disfigured.
Speaking from Italy, where surgeon Giovanni Ferrando is due to operate again on his lips, Burns said: "It has taken away my life and my career. I saw doctors in London who said the only option was to amputate my lips. I was suicidal.
"Eventually I found a doctor in Italy who knew the product and said he could remove it. I had 17 months of procedures and now I am back again having more."
Meanwhile Burns has lost his Notting Hill home and his singing career is in tatters, he said.
In 2000 Burns went to Dr Maurizio Viel at the London Centre for Aesthetic Surgery to have a lip implant removed.
But instead of having the original implant taken out, he was injected with a filler called Evolution and then later with another called Outline.
Despite complications, Dr Viel persisted and injected more of the substance - only for the problems to escalate, causing swelling, blisters, discharge and lumps.
Eventually the singer was left so disfigured he could not eat normally, could only drink through a straw and did not leave his house for months. He said his career would have been at its peak if it were not for the botched surgery, as he was about to record with the Pet Shop Boys and pursue a number of solo projects as well as launch a greatest hits album.
Any settlement could top £1 million and forensic accountants are calculating how much he has missed out on in lost earnings.
His lawyers are claiming the Outline product was administered despite possible reactions.
Burns' solicitor, Auriana Griffiths, said: "Pete has endured considerable pain and suffering following injection of Outline Original. This product should never have been administered to him.
"As a result of the damage caused by the treatment, Pete has been unable to fully pursue his career in music and in the media.
"Today we have issued court proceedings against Dr Viel."
Allegations of negligence against Dr Viel are that he failed to warn adequately of the possible side effects, failed to observe warning signs on the product relating to its use in conjunction with other products and administered an excessive number of follow-up injections, which was contrary to the guidance given on the use of Outline Original.
Burns said: "What happened to me after a series of injections was far worse than any nightmare I could have envisaged. Not only was it agonisingly painful but it was physically repulsive in the extreme. It was impossible to lead any life whatsoever. I was unable to leave my house as I was so distorted with swelling.
"At times it leaves me seriously suicidal and depressed and I could have problems for the rest of my life."
Lawyers for Dr Viel failed to respond.
Reader views (6)
Pete Burns is a vile, nasty poser who appears to do anything for publicity.
Ever heard the saying 'what goes around comes around'?? He's just a laughing stock now. I'd top myself if I ended up looking like that!!
- Andyd, London
It seems to me that this guy is at fault. First, he sought to change his body...and ended up looking like a woman. Maybe that was his goal, don't know. But, if you pay to have someone change you....and they do, you can't sue them if you don't like what you see.
However, like Lady Diablo says (sort of), if a surgeon botches a surgery, he is also at fault.
Eve, there's a magic pill out there.....it's called exercise. No more fish and chips. Get on your sneakers and run....or ride your bike....or swim a couple thousand meters.....or do all three, it's called Triathlon.
- Djk, San Diego, CA, USA
I feel great sympathy for anyone who has had a problem with cosmetic surgery. Most UK surgeons are very eager to take your money, but when things go wrong or don't live up to their claims they don't want to know! i
was promised fantastic results from Smartlipo, by Nottinghill surgeon, but, no results. The surgeon refused to repeat treatment, stating in some people it works in others it does not. I wish he had told me this at the consultation. As i would of saved £2,000. It's about time, women stopped being embarrassed and started taking action!
- Eve, central London
Unnecessary surgery for vanity's sake. Surgery always comes with risks and I'm sure he was given several forms which detailed these risks and possible complications/problems. What was wrong with the lips he was born with, anyway? Had he not sought unnecessary surgery he wouldn't be having these problems now.
- Greg, San Diego, CA, USA
Anyone who hands money over to a medical professional is entitled to the highest standard of care, both morally and contractually. When a surgeon says he can fix something, a patient is entitled to believe that. I hope Pete Burns wins his case, and gets his medical problems resolved. There are far too many greedy surgeons out there who put profit over patient safety.
- Lady Diablo, Wales, UK
I feel for him and the bad reaction he has had but really he shouldn't have taken the risk to mess with his lips in the first place - with any surgery comes risk - including cosmetic surgery.
- Isabel, Woking, England
