A top plastic surgeon has reported a ‘staggering surge’ in patients seeking nose reconstructive surgery due to severe damage caused by cocaine use. Professor Ullas Raghavan, a plastic surgeon at Pall Mall, says he has been swamped with cases of collapsed septums and severe nasal deformities, as former users seek corrective surgery.
“The rise in cocaine-damaged noses is truly alarming,” said Prof Raghavan, who repaired Kerry Katona’s nose. Kerry underwent Septo-rhinoplasty surgery to repair her damaged nose, which had collapsed and caused breathing difficulties due to past cocaine abuse.
He used a piece of bone from her rib to reconstruct her nose, ensuring structural integrity and improved functionality. “I am seeing ten times more patients compared to five years ago with destroyed nasal structures, often leaving them unable to breathe properly and suffering from extreme facial disfigurement,” added the specialist. “The damage can be devastating, both physically and emotionally.”
Cocaine use can have severe health consequences for nasal health, as the drug restricts blood flow to the septum, the delicate cartilage that separates the nostrils. Over time, repeated use can erode the tissue, leading to perforations, infections, and, in extreme cases, a collapsed nose, reports Gloucestershire Live.
Prof Raghavan highlighted that patients seeking nose reconstruction are travelling ‘from all over the UK’. Explaining the situation, he said: “Many of them are deeply regretful about their past substance abuse, and their damaged noses serve as a permanent reminder of their addiction. Through reconstruction, we can restore both function and appearance, helping them move forward with confidence.”
As the demand for this type of surgery increases, Prof Raghavan is eager to educate the public about the harmful impact of cocaine use on the nasal structure. He said: “Many users don’t realise the extent of the damage until it’s too late. Prevention is always the best option, but for those already suffering the consequences, modern surgery can be life changing.”
He reassured: “Fortunately, most of the time, even the most severe cases can be repaired, offering former addicts not just a new nose, but a fresh start in life.” Celebrity Kerry Katona has shared her own battles with cocaine, once referring to the drug as her “best friend” during tough times, as she discussed her recent reconstructive nose surgery to fix damage from drug abuse. The ex-Atomic Kitten star, aged 43, candidly spoke about being introduced to drugs in her teenage years by her mother, who mistakenly told her speed was sherbet.
Katona, now 14 years sober, reflected on her journey without dwelling on regret or resentment. She recounted: “It started with my second marriage, my first marriage crumbled, I moved back over to England and if you lie down with dogs you get fleas. I think cocaine kind of became my crutch, it was my best friend, it gave me the support I needed when I needed it.”
The singer revealed that she could go months without using drugs, but once she started, it would turn into a binge. She recalled starting to use drugs at the age of 14, given to her by her mother who told her it was sherbet.
She said: “My mum wasn’t very well and it is what it is. It’s happened. I can’t sit with regret, I can’t sit with hatred. I have to accept people for who they are. For a very long time, I lived in a pity party. ‘Poor me, the world owes me a favour. It’s everyone else’s fault but mine’.”
She added: “But I have to hold my hands up, I have to take responsibility, let it go because otherwise, (its) like being in a rocking chair, going back and forth.” As a result of drug use, a hole developed in her septum, which she admitted to aggravating as a form of “self-harm”. Discussing her recent surgery to rectify the issue, Katona explained: “My nose was collapsing at the front and as you grow older, your ears and your nose get bigger.”
She continued: “So mine was changing shape because of the passings and the way I still used to blow my nose so they have taken cartilage from my rib to bring it back up and put my old nose how it used to be.” The mother-of-five also shared that she showed her 10-year-old daughter the hole before undergoing surgery, preferring to tell her about it herself rather than her finding out through the media.
She said: “Parents buy magazines and I’d rather my children hear it from me and know what I have been through. There’s no burying children’s heads in the sand and trying to protect them, the internet is everywhere. I’m there friend and hopefully I put them off for life.”