The ex-glamour girl opens up about her most recent surgery, and why she struggles with her appearance on a daily basis
She’s been plagued by insecurities throughout her life, strugggling with body dysmorphia, eating disorders and severe anxiety. Now, Nicola McLean reveals she’s undergone £18,000 worth of cosmetic surgery in a final bid to boost her body confidence.
At our exclusive photo shoot, the star is visibly healing from her boob reduction and uplift - taking her from a GG-cup to an FF – as well as liposuction on her stomach last month. But the former glamour model and mum-of-two is in a buoyant mood.
She says, “I’ve had a mummy makeover! I had to have my boobs re-done as they were 13 years old and had dropped a hell of a lot, plus I had the PIP implants, which were dangerous and needed replacing."
She adds, "I’ve always been conscious of my belly since having my boys. I haven’t worn a bikini for years because it’s the one part of my body I’ve never been comfortable with. I’ve had five litres of fat taken from my stomach, sides and back and now my waist has gone in and my tummy is flatter.”
Check out these shocking celebrity surgery transformations:
From Katie Price to Kim Kardashian, it's the most drastic plastic surgery faces - SLIDER
Sam Faiers
Since joining TOWIE back in 2010 it's safe to say Sam Faiers' look has changed over the years however the reality star has denied having any work done.Back in 2015, she spoke out about cosmetic surgery claims and wrote on Instagram: "A couple of weekly magazines have said I have had surgery, fillers & an EYE lift.. Yes apparently at 24 I have had an eye lift. "At fashion week I tried new looks with my makeup & now according to them I have had a face lift. "It's hurtful & not true!"So we've decided to leave these photos here; on the left she was 19 and on the right she's 27...
Meg Ryan
Back in 1989 the fresh faced Meg Ryan appeared gorgeous however 20 years later and the actress almost looks unrecognisable. The When Harry Met Sally actress has never confirmed or denied having plastic surgery but she's previously said: "I love my age. I love my life right now. "I love the person I've become, the one I've evolved into."
Kim Kardashian
She's arguably the biggest reality TV star in the world but over the years there's been a lot of speculation about plastic surgery she may have had done. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star has previously confirmed she's had botox and her baby hairs lasered off. Although she's since revealed she regrets the laser, she wrote on her website: "My forehead had all these little baby hairs, and I would always break out because of them."Every photographer would Photoshop them out anyway, and I thought I looked better without the baby hairs, but now I miss them."
Alicia Douvall
Her career kick started as a glamour model and she's since gone on to star in Celebrity Big Brother, alongside Katie Price and Katie Hopkins. However, Alicia Douvall's mainly known for having over 300 surgeries and spending an estimated £1million on it all.In an exclusive interview with Closer magazine, the reality star opened up about her toxic bum implants and has previously admitted she's had cheek and chin fillers and nose jobs.
Lindsay Lohan
It's safe to say Lindsay Lohan looks VERY different nowadays compared to her fresh face back in 2003. The Mean Girls star revealed on Instagram that she's tried a non-surgical facial treatment however she hasn't spoken out about having any other plastic surgery.
Amanda Bynes
She's The Man actress Amanda Bynes has had a rollercoaster of a ride in the spotlight. Before she was hospitalised for mental health evaluation and confirmed she was diagnosed with bi-polar and manic depressive disorder, she confirmed she had a nose job on Twitter.She wrote: "...I had a nose job to remove skin that was like a webbing in between my eyes. I wasn't going to tell anyone, but I look so much prettier in my new photos that I don't want old photos used anymore!"
Lauren Goodger
Original TOWIE member Lauren Goodger has had a complete transformation over the years. Back in 2016, the reality star infamously removed her lip fillersafter having them for five years however she's since done a U-turn and got her lip fillers back. Lauren has also admitted to having a rhinoplasty to repair her broken nose, a boob job and liposuction. She has also slammed face fillers and pleaded with girls to stop having them.
Tulisa Contostavlos
After shocking fans with her transformation, N-Dubz star Tulisa Contostavlos has admitted she's altered her face. On the Jonathan Ross show, she explained: "To clarify, I haven't had surgery. Surgery is 'going under the knife,' breaking bones, adding stuff in."I simply just had cosmetic enhancement, it's just a little bit of filler which I put a little bit in my cheeks and in my lips."
Heidi Montag
The Hills star Heidi Montag has been very open and honest about plastic surgery and admitted she's had a nose job, lip injections, neck liposuction, a mini brow lift, chin reduction, botox, fillers, a boob job and bum injections.Wowza!
Donatella Versace
She's a fashion designer for one of the biggest brands in the world and over the years Donatella Versace's look has changed. Back in 2013, she admitted at the Vogue Festival that she has previously had work done."I'm not like this genetically. I use tonnes of cream and take care of my hair and skin."She added she has had Botox but "only on my face".
Sharon Osbourne
X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne is another star who has admitted to having surgery, so much so that she even joked she's on her third face.Sharon has admitted she's had face lifts, Botox and nose jobs and in her autobiography Unbreakable, she said: "There's not much I haven't had tweaked, stretched, peeled, lasered, veneered, enhanced or removed altogether. "I don't think I'm as bad as some women - like Jocelyn 'Bride of' Wildenstein. But I won't be having any more cosmetic procedures."
Katie Price
Katie Price is one celeb who has been VERY open and honest about having surgery done; people accused her of being on drugs after she posted a bizarre video about her facelift, she then said she needs to "sort out" her plastic surgery before her agent admitted her facelift "knocked her confidence". Over the years the former glamour model has had boob jobs, a nose job, veneers, a facelift, botox, liposuction, dermal fillers and non-surgical procedures that include dermal roller micro-needling treatment and a Geneo+ facial.Wowza!
Kylie Jenner
One of the most dramatic celeb transformations is definitely Kylie Jenner. After months of speculation the KUWTK star finally admitted that she did get lip fillers when she was 17 because it was an "insecurity" of hers. However, surgeon Mark Ho-Asjoe told Closer that Kylie's face is out of proportion. He explained: "Kylie looks as though she's had too much filler in her cheeks, lips and above her eyebrows."As a result, her cheeks are now alarmingly wife and her eyes appear sunken. Her whole face appears out of proportion. She looks way beyond her years, maybe even a decade older."
Khloe Kardashian
Another member of the Kardashian/Jenner clan who looks VERY different from when she first found fame is Khloe Kardashian. Khloe has never admitted to having lip fillers however they do appear much fuller compared to when she first graced our TV screens. The KUWTK star has admitted she's had face fillers; on the TV show Botched she explained: "It did not work for me. "I looked crazy, and I still think the effects are in there - I went to have it all dissolved like three times."She added: "My face was so f--ked I had to go and get this whole thing dissolved."It was a bummer and now I'm afraid to do it again. And I'm almost like, I swear things are still in my face."
Kris Jenner
Kris Jenner - aka Momager - has always been open and honest about any surgery she's had done; so much so that she's documented it on Keeping Up With The Kardashians. Over the years she's had a boob job, neck lift, a facelift earlobes cut and there's been a lot of speculation that she may have had a nose job and cheek fillers.
Chloe Ferry
Geordie Shore star Chloe Ferry has openly admitted to having veneers, a nose job, teeth whitening, botox, eyebrow tattoos, chin fillers, lip fillers, cheek filler and a boob uplift. It hasn't all been easy though and in 2017 she admitted she 'couldn't breathe' after having an extreme nose job.
Charlotte Crosby
Back in 2016, original Geordie Shore cast member Charlotte Crosby got a nose job and at the time she described it as "perfect".She's also had lip fillers, admitted she wouldn't rule out "more botox" in the future and had a boob job.
Holly Hagan
Following in the footsteps of her former co-star Charlotte Crosby is Holly Hagan.Not only has she changed her hair colour but Holly has dropped from a size 16 to a size 10, got lip fillers, a boob job, botox, filler in her nose, filler in her chin anda 3-D bum lift.
Sophie Kasaei
Another Geordie star who has admitted to having surgery is Sophie Kasaei. She revealed in an interview with The Sun that she's had, "a breast lift, implants and lip fillers". She's also had dermal fillers injected into her chin to define her jawline and remove the loose skin.
Renée Zellweger
After a five-year break from movies no one could quite believe how different Renée Zellweger looked. However, the Bridget Jones star denied having any surgery in a letter written for Huffington Post.She wrote: "Not that it's anyone's business, but I did not make a decision to alter my face and have surgery on my eyes. "This fact is of no true import to anyone at all, but that the possibility alone was discussed among respected journalists and became a public conversation is a disconcerting illustration of news/entertainment confusion and society's fixation on physicality."
Amy Childs
TOWIE's Amy Childs had admitted to having a boob job, botox, lip fillers and veneers. However in an interview with Closer magazine she admitted: "I'm not planning on getting anything else done and don't think I ever will because surgery has left me with so many problems."My boobs have drooped so much now and they're so heavy. I need to wear as push-up bra - nobody told me this before I had my boobs done."
Lauren Pope
TOWIE star Lauren Pope looks VERY different from when she first graced our screens in 2010. The reality tv star has admitted she's had a boob job, botox and a 'his and hers' nose job she got alongside her then boyfriend Kirk Norcross.
Chloe Sims
As well as having two boob jobs and a Brazilian bum lift, TOWIE's Chloe Sims has admitted to having veneers, Botox and filler. She told Now Magazine: "I've had Botox in my forehead. I've also had fillers around my mouth and in my lips and I've got a set of veneers."
Bobby Norris
Last year TOWIE fans were shocked at Bobby Norris' face and while there was lots of speculation that he had plastic surgery, the reality star quickly shut down all the rumours. Sharing a video on Twitter, he explained that he's only had a nose job: "I can assure you, categorically that I've only had one septo-rhinoplasty on my nose."I've had no other surgeries - I'm just a little bit swollen. Sorry to disappoint guys but just the one surgery and I love it."
Courteney Cox
Friends star Courteney Cox surprised everyone in 2016 with her new err, look. The actress looked miles different and has since admitted to removing the filler in her face. She told New Beauty: "I've had all my fillers dissolved. I'm as natural as I can be. I feel better because I look like myself. I think that I now look more like the person I was."I've had to learn to embrace movement and realise that fillers are not my friend."
Georgia Kousoulou
TOWIE's Georgia Kousoulou is another reality star whose face looks very different from when she first graced our screens. The TV star has admitted to having a nose job, lip fillers and a boob job.
Chloe Khan
X Factor turned Celebrity Big Brother star Chloe Khan has definitely changed over the years.The reality star has had chin filler to get rid of her dimple, two boob jobs, veneers, a Brazilian bum lift, a nose job and we can't forget the time she got her lips done but the surgery went terribly wrong.Eek!Speaking about the cosmetic surgery she has had, Chloe told Closer magazine: "I understand surgery's not for everyone, but I look a million times better after this [bum lift] procedure."I really don't care what people think."
Ferne McCann
After being bullied at school for her nose, former TOWIE star Ferne McCann got a nose job in 2016 and showed it off on TV.Despite fans thinking she had lip fillers while she was pregnant, Ferne's previously told Closer magazine she won't have Botox or face fillers."Everyone thinks surgery is a slippery slope and that you get addicted but, for me, my nose job was the only thing I wanted to get done."I don't know what else I would have done, even if I wanted it," she told the magazine.She added: "I'm 26 and I think Botox and fillers actually make you look older. I like expression on a face."
The star – who is mum to Rocky, 13, and Striker, eight, with ex-footballer husband Tom Williams - had her first breast op aged 24, going from a C-cup to an E-cup, followed by GG implants a few years later, which she admits left her in agony.
“I’ve always loved big boobs, and when I was younger, I was inspired by Jordan and Pamela Anderson - but my double GGs were too big for my body,” she says.
“They were really heavy and I was hunching over, which put too much pressure on my back. They also made me look fat and frumpy.”
It’s astonishing that at 5ft 4 and a petite size 8, Nicola could refer to herself as ‘fat’, but after suffering with anorexia and bulimia since she was 11, her eating issues have continued to dominate her life.
The star has made no secret of her unhealthy relationship with food, which saw her weight plummet to a tiny 6st just six months after giving birth to Striker. She even had veneers fitted to her teeth after they eroded away as she battled with bulimia.
She explains, “After my scars have healed, I know my waist and tummy will look even better, but my body still torments me daily. I was diagnosed with body dysmorphia, so I’ll always have hang-ups. I never like having any fat on my stomach because it makes me feel vulnerable...and food is a still huge issue for me.”
Shockingly, Nicola admits she felt so insecure about her appearance in recent months, she even resorted to using controversial weight-loss injections, which are claimed to melt away fat.
She admits, “I bought them online and started injecting myself. Tom was shocked and told me this was an all-time low. I’d open the fridge in the morning and stab myself in my stomach with the pre-filled pen. Tom told me, ‘this is dire, Nicola’ and, I told him 'it's either this - or lipo.”
But Nicola – who split from Tom in 2014 after he got close to a mystery woman in a Las Vegas nightclub, before reconciling their romance in 2015 - is keen to point out that surgery wasn’t an easy decision and she spent a year researching her options.
She explains, “It isn’t something I decided on a whim, I met with my surgeon multiple times. I’m not ashamed to admit I’ve had surgery because I'm not dishonest. Girls need to know that filters aren’t reality.
READ MORE celeb news
Celebs Go Dating: official line up revealed including show's oldest ever star
James Corden reveals Gavin and Stacey is BACK for Christmas Day special
Strictly Come Dancing 2019: Amber Davies tipped to join the show
Check out Paul Knops give his verdict on the new Love Island cast
A few weeks ago, Nicola caught up with her glamour model pal Jordan, 41, who’s recently boasted about the results of lipo and a face and bum lift. And Nicola candidly admits she tried to talk the mum-of-five out of going under the knife.
She says, “I saw Katie just before she went to Turkey and I told her she didn’t need any more surgery. In my opinion, she didn’t need what she had done, but we don’t know the issues she’s facing, because there’s obviously something there. She told me she felt the fattest she’d ever been. I think she should stop, but I don’t think she will”
Meanwhile, Nicola insists her recent nip/tuck will be her last. She adds, “People will think I’m vain for having work done, but everyone has their insecurities. Surgery has made me feel a bit better about myself, but I will never, ever go under the knife again! I don’t have any regrets, but surgery requires too much downtime.
For even more exclusive celebrity news, read this week's issue of Closer magazine - out now