The mum-of-four was horrified when she returned from holiday last week to see photos in the papers of her topless on a Spanish beach in a silver bikini with her husband Mark Croft.
The snaps clearly showed the scars and lumpy tissue underneath her breasts, which are the result of her boob reduction and lift from 36GG to 36DD.
A source told Closer: “Kerry was in real shock when she saw the scars because she’d never seen them look so obvious in a photo before.
'I was warned there'd be marks, but not protuding lumps'
“She told pals: ‘I’m always looking at my boobs from the head down so I’ve never really noticed them. I was warned there’d be marks, but not protruding lumps!’”
But Kerry’s plastic surgeon Stephen Hamilton says the former Atomic Kitten has nothing to worry about. Stephen explains: “Breast surgery scars can take a long time to settle – six to 12 months. Kerry’s current scars are what I’d expect at this time. And it’s probably improving all the time. She looks amazing.
“I’d suggest massaging the scars – there are special creams for this. Occasionally when the scars settle, which takes a year, they may need minor readjustments.”
But 5ft 3 Kerry – who’s dropped from 12st to 8st 7lbs in just a few months – wants perfect breasts and is determined to get the problem sorted.
A pal revealed: “Kerry’s going to make an appointment to see a plastic surgeon as soon as possible. Mark’s told her that her scars are hardly noticeable, but she still wants to go ahead.”
And celebrity plastic surgeon Alex Karidis says Kerry may benefit from scar revision surgery. He says: “If the scars are still there six months after surgery, they will always be there and are referred to as ‘dog ears.’
“The only way to get rid of these is to have scar revision surgery, which can be done under local anaesthetic. It involves cutting and extending the scars to flatten the knobbly bits of skin back in.”
Kerry – who’s mum to Molly, seven, Lilly-Sue, five, Heidi, one, and Max, nine months – has made a huge effort to transform her body since having plastic surgery, which included having two litres of fat removed by liposuction.
Closer reported last week how Kerry now works out twice a week for an hour with her personal trainer Scott Wright and is trying to stick to a healthy-eating regime.
But pals now fear fragile Kerry – who was recently hit with a new £380,000 tax demand after being declared bankrupt last August – may have reverted to her bad habits while on holiday in Spain.
'She couldn't bear to eat more healthy food like chicken as she felt she was turning into one'
“Kerry’s been eating junk food again, and she said she couldn’t bear to eat any more healthy food like chicken as she felt she was turning into one. She was also drinking shots with Mark the other night,” added an insider.
According to sources, Mark is not giving Kerry – who suffers from bipolar disorder – the full support she needs to beat the high-profile drug and alcohol problems she’s had over the years. Last March she spent five days in London’s rehab centre The Priory. She’s also admitted to being an alcoholic.
A source said: “Mark doesn’t help his wife avoid her past weaknesses or demons and nobody wants to see her in rehab.
“She’s still determined to make their relationship work and is hoping Mark will do something special for their second wedding anniversary on Valentine’s Day. But he’s so broke at the moment, she’ll probably end up buying something for herself.”
But insiders hope Kerry will get her new healthy lifestyle back on track when she goes to film a new reality show in the US – like her former pal Jordan – next month.
A friend revealed: “Kerry’s looking forward to making a fresh start in the US and hopes she’ll make enough money to pay off her taxes.
“She’s got a lot riding on her trip and doesn’t want to slip up. She wants to be taken seriously career-wise and not
be continually seen as a joke.”
By Katie Banks