Changing faces: The harsh reality of Michael Jackson's fading looks

But unretouched photos show a face ravaged by serial cosmetic surgery procedures, a jowly jawline, and heavily veined hands.

Earlier this week a photoshoot for US magazine Ebony showed Jackson looking smooth-faced, and whiter than ever, with a creamy, flawless complexion.

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But pictures of the star, seen last night in Los Angeles at a dinner celebrating activist Jesse Jackson's 66th birthday show the reality is somewhat different.

Jackson revealed his youthful visage is nothing but a carefully created, digitally enhanced image as he looked pale, drawn, and far from youthful on the red carpet.

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The troubled singer unveiled a startlingly pale new look on the cover of Ebony magazine in a heavily airbrushed photograph.

And that paleness remains the only similarity between Jackson, and how he really looks without the artistry of the magazine retouchers.

Jacko, seen in a light-coloured suit on the cover of the magazine for black Americans, and his once curly afro hair is now bone straight, leaving no trace of the handsome youth who became a superstar along with his brothers in group The Jackson Five.

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Fading star: Michael Jackson on the latest cover of Ebony magazine

In another picture, he appears dressed in a top hat and tails, a nod to one of his dance idols, Fred Astaire.

Despite ongoing rumours that he has bleached his skin, Jackson has regularly insisted that his changing colour is not intentional.

He has maintained that his light skin was the result of vitiligo, a rare disease that discolours the face and body.

Jackson gave his first interview for ten years to the magazine to celebrate 25 years of his seminal Thriller album.