A sharp increase in the popularity of cosmetic procedures is damaging women's health. Closer speaks to Natalee Harris about the horrifying side effects of her bottom surgery
Mental health worker and Ex On The Beach reality TV star Natalee, 30, from Cwmbran, south Wales, went abroad for surgery to boost her behind.
She says, “Last summer, I flew to Turkey, full of excitement about having a Brazilian butt lift. I hated the fact that I was so straight up and down, and wanted a smaller waist and bigger booty. I compared myself to other Instagram and reality stars and felt self-conscious that my body wasn’t as good as theirs.
“So, when I was offered free treatment if I promoted the procedure, I jumped at it. I’d seen the clinic promoted by another influencer, and thought it would be fine – now I wish I’d done more research.
“When I got there, the doctor rushed through the preliminary ‘mark up’, and I felt uneasy. I wish I’d stopped the process there and then, but I didn’t.
CHECK OUT The Valleys - where are they now?
The Valleys: what are they up to now
Lateysha Grace THEN
As a fresh-faced 19 year old with a moderately sized bum, Lateysha was partial to a strop, and wasn't averse to dropping her housemates in the shit if it meant she got brownie points.
Lateysha Grace NOW
When Lateysha landed her own show on MTV, Million Dollar Baby, she said it was because she wanted to afford to give daughter Wynter all the things she didn't have growing up. Awh.
Chidgey THEN
Like Lateysha, Chidgey was – well – let's just say, pretty full of himself. He rated himself as "the best thing to come out the Valleys" and was a gym obsessive from day one.
Chidgey NOW
Chidge was a bricklayer by trade, and after filming wrapped, he went right back to the hi vis jackets and cement. But he's also heavily involved with fitness and has a personal training business on the side.
Natalee Harris THEN
Natalee came in like a wrecking ball when she joined the show a couple of weeks late – as Chidgey's recent ex, who he had called 'tapped'. Her various love (and sex) exploits dominated her time on the show.
Natalee Harris THEN
Needless to say, it wasn't long before Nat was snapped up by MTV's other most debauched offering, Ex on The Beach, and has since earned a living from her X Rated profiles on Only Fans and Admire ME profiles.
The Suminski twins THEN
The Suminski twins showed up in season 2 to replace boring Aron Williams, and were truly outrageous. One time, Jason (or maybe Anthony?) peed in a bottle of Apple juice for his brother and Liam to drink. True story.
The Suminski twins NOW
They must have calmed down a bit because both of them returned to college, to study Mental Health Nursing and Psychology. This is a picture of one of them, but we can't tell which one.
Liam Powell THEN
Liam Powell was the cheeky chappy, who's biggest storyline was his vicious bust up with Carley early on in series one. A lot of his time on the show was spent with Chidgey trying to wingman him a nice welsh fella.
Liam Powell NOW
Can we just say, Liam has not aged a day since 2014. It's unclear what, exactly, he's up to from his social media, but he seems to be living a glamorous life with lots of travelling and family time. You go Liam.
Carley Belmonte THEN
Carley Belmonte was an aspiring DJ and thought of herself as a seriously cool cat, but lost her edge when she drunkenly proclaimed her love for 'best friend' Chidgey. They made up, though, and it was never spoken of again.
Carley Belmonte NOW
Carley's now dropped out of the limelight completely, and though she's not a mum herself, is loved up with a hunky boyf. She's still likes glamming up for a night on the town with the girls, though.
Leeroy Reed THEN
Aspiring rapper Leeroy Reed was in trouble with the law a few times back then, specifically for domestic violence charges when he was accused of slamming a car door on his then girlfriend's head.
Leeroy Reed NOW
Though he wasn't arrested at the time, and went on to become a dad, Leeroy is currently serving a 22 month prison sentence for his role in supplying drugs in his native south Wales.
Jenna Jonathon THEN
Jenna Jonathon had a personality which didn't quite match up to the lary-est of the Valleys lot, but she quickly became a lad mag star and fan favourite thanks to her classic good looks.
Jenna Jonathon NOW
During filming, Jenna already had one law degree, but since the series wrapped she went on to get another, earning distinctions in EVERY module. Brains and beauty, although she'd never have told you that...
Nicole Morris THEN
Stylist and hair dresser Nicole Morris was known for ditzy antics and absolutely MENTAL hair. She was also the best of buds with Lateysha Grace, and the pair of them regularly ended up snogging at the end of a night if they hadn't pulled other people.
Nicole Morris NOW
It's unclear whether Nicole and Leteysha are still close (we like to believe so), but Nicole is certainly still enjoying a night out, and styling herself as a drunk neon barbie. She worked briefly as a shot girl in Magaluf after filming.
“I woke up after the operation lying in a pool of blood. They hadn’t stitched me up properly where they’d performed liposuction on my legs and back to transfer the fat into my bottom. I wasn’t given the correct compression suit, cushion to sit on or waist trainer afterwards and had no aftercare, either.
“I flew back home and, a few days later, I had a raging fever. I phoned the clinic and they told me it was normal, but my bum continued to swell.
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“I went to my doctor, who examined me. I had an abscess and an infection. He prescribed me antibiotics but, even though they cured the infection, I was left with a huge dent in my bottom where the fat cells around the abscess had died.
“The procedure isn’t really done in the UK so, a few months later, I went to a different clinic in Turkey after speaking to several girls who’d had it done there, and gave good reviews. This time, the experience was a lot better. I wish I’d done my research properly in the first place."
Read more celebrity stories in this week's Closer - out now.