Inside Towie stars’ surgery journeys – from surprise BBLs to celeb’s boob job ‘meltdown’
NO British reality TV show has seen as many dramatic body transformations as The Only Way Is Essex.
Over the years its stars have tweaked and, in some cases, overhauled their looks in the pursuit of glamorous perfection or to deal with body confidence issues.
Whether its nose jobs, boobs jobs or bum lifts, members of the Towie family have the T-shirt and proudly wear the results.
We take a look at some of the cast members’ most dramatic surgery journeys:
Dani Imbert’s surprise BBL surgery
Dani’s first foray into cosmetic surgery wasn’t for the faint hearted.
After considerable thought, she jetted to Turkey for a controversial Brazilian Bum Lift to over come her family’s genetically flat derrieres.
Dani was left swollen and sore after her surgery, but was relieved to finally get the bum of her dreams.
When asked by a fan why she wanted to have a bum lift, she explained: “I just wanted more volume in my hips and bum.
“I’ve tried the whole gym scene and wish it worked for me but I just wasn’t gaining in the areas that I wanted.
“But now I’ve got the shape I wanted I ‘m happy to maintain it in the gym too.
“My whole family are naturally slim, I eat loads just could never gain the weight.”
Charlie King’s nose job ‘gone wrong;
Former cast member Charlie King was left in the depths of despair after his nose surgery didn’t go to plan.
The 37-year-old had struggled with his body image for years before joining the show, but the pressure he felt to be perfect while on the programme pushed him over the edge.
During the first lockdown Charlie grew fixated with his nose, which he had broken in his early 20s, and decided to have surgery.
Last year he appeared before the government’s Health and Social Care Committee to talk about body dysmorphia.
He said: “I got thrust on to The Only Way Is Essex, which was a reality TV show which is very primarily focused on the fabulous lives of us Essex folk, and all the glitz and the glamour that goes with it.
“Image was everything, popularity was everything and I was just gonna go with it.”
“In that period of my life, there was a lot of focus on my image and I was being very critical. I noticed that I wanted to be like the cool guys, I wanted to fit in with them and I was trying my best to do whatever I could to do that.
“During lockdown and being isolated and being on my own, my obsession turned to my nose because it had been broken 15/20 years ago. I just became obsessed with (thoughts of), ‘it needs to change, I need to fix it, I need to go and see a plastic surgeon’.”
However, it did not go to plan and Charlie was plunged into a pit of depression. He moved back in with his mum and saw his earnings fall away as he felt unable to work.
Chloe Sims’ implant regrets
Towie queen Chloe was typically candid when it came to her assessment of her boobs in a past interview.
The reality favourite, who left the show last year to focus on her new project House of Sims, said she regretted her boob implants.
She said: “I don’t want to ever go under the knife again. My boobs are a bit of a regret. They’re like 1990s perky ones, instead of the more natural-looking boobs you see now.”
Chloe is no stranger to less invasive cosmetic procedures though, regularly receiving top ups of facial filler and Botox.
James Argent’s 14st weight loss and skin removal surgery
James, 35, shed a huge 14 stone of weight following his gastric band operation in 2021.
The popular Towie man, who was 27 stone at his heaviest, has put his drink, drug and fast food demons behind him and is incredible shape.
The results have had a profound impact on his confidence in all aspects of life.
He previously told the Mail: “I am confident in the bedroom now… regardless of whether it’s romantically or by a beach or in clothes, across the board I am more confident now in all of those areas.
“Whether you’re a man or woman or have a dream body from the outside, everyone has certain parts of their body they wish they could improve, or they don’t like no matter who you are.
“I am body confident now. Don’t get me wrong I still want to improve and get into the gym and tone up more, but I’ll absolutely be confident when summer rolls around.”
Chloe Brockett’s boob job meltdown
Pocket rocket Chloe was a nervous wreck in the moments before she had her boob job.
The procedure was the first time she’d been put to sleep, and the unknown terrified her.
She said ahead of the surgery: “I’m really nervous. I never get nervous. Even when I was younger and I used to go to job interviews, I would never get nervous. Now, I know what it’s like to be nervous, I am so nervous!
“I think it’s just about the fact that I don’t know what it’s like to go under anaesthetic. I’ve never done it before, I’m scared of it, I am quite scared! But I will keep you all updated.”
Everything went to plan though, and Chloe was left very happy with her enhanced DD chest.