EXCLUSIVE: Kerry Katona’s nose surgeon has revealed that ‘cocaine-noses’ are at a high in his clinic – where patients are coming in droves with collapsed snouts. We look into why this might be
The top surgeon who reconstructed Kerry Katona’s ‘cocaine-ravaged’ nose claimed that drug-related snout surgery is sky-rocketing in his clinic, amid a 30-year coke death high.
Professor Ullas Raghavan, renowned Facial Plastic Surgeon and Ear, Nose and Throat specialist with Pall Mall, has spent much of his career tending, poking and prodding at the faces of the rich and famous.
He famously was behind the reconstruction surgery of Kerry Katona’s nose, where she had part of her rib removed, after it had collapsed and had ‘three holes in it’ due to her rampant cocaine addiction, something she is now thankfully recovered from.
And while the thought and the look of a collapsed nose is nightmare-fuelled, such as in the case of Katona and actress Danniella Westbrook, the top surgeon has revealed that it’s becoming more of a “truly alarming” reality.
In an exclusive chat with Daily Star, Professor Ullas Raghavan explained: “We are seeing more patients with collapsed noses due to increasing recreational drug use, particularly cocaine.
“More people are also becoming aware that surgery can help, whereas in the past, they were often told to either do nothing or use a silicone button.
“If left untreated, nasal perforations can lead to the nose collapsing, along with persistent issues like crusting, nasal blockages, and frequent nosebleeds.
“While it’s not always possible to completely close the perforation, we can often repair the front part, providing lasting support and improving both function and appearance.”
This comes at a time where drug-poisoning deaths in England and Wales have reached a 30-year high, with 30% of these being cocaine related.
According to ONS (Official National Statistics), Gen X, those aged between 40-49, had the highest rate of drug-related deaths, primarily from cocaine abuse.
However, the official data has revealed that there has been no “statistically significant change in the prevalence of powder cocaine use” in 2024, for those between 16 to 59 (2.1%/ 2.9 million people) and 16 to 24 years (3.8%), in comparison to 2023.
So if cocaine usage has had no real increase, but deaths and collapsing noses are on the rise – what is happening?
It could be down to the ‘blizzard of cheap cocaine’, as The Guardian penned it. And Niamh Eastwood, executive director of drugs charity Release, believes that ‘cheaper and purer’ cocaine are factors increasing deaths.
There’s also the rising popularity of much stronger variations of coke, like ‘pink cocaine’, containing methamphetamine, ketamine, MDMA and crack cocaine.
This was what was found in Liam Payne’s system in the toxicology report after he plummeted to his death from his Buenos Aires hotel balcony in October of last year.
And that means, if cocaine is both purer, cheaper and put into a ‘cocktail’, it’s going to cause more damage – even if you don’t die from an overdose.
Hence, most likely, why Professor Ullas Raghavan is seeing a rise is ‘cocaine-damaged’ noses. The surgeon continued: “The rise in cocaine-damaged noses is truly alarming.
“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.
“The damage can be devastating, both physically and emotionally.”
In the case of Kerry Katona, the surgeon performed a septo-rhinoplasty surgery to repair her damaged nose.
TV personality and Atomic Kitten star Katona suffered from breathing difficulties from her cocaine-use, which she looked to fix in last year’s surgery.
The surgeon had to use a piece of bone from her rib in order to reconstruct her nose, making sure it would again have structural integrity and improved functionality.
Alike Kerry, many people who have suffered the pro-longed symptoms of cocaine abuse are visiting Professor Raghavan to get their nose function back. The star admitted to ‘bursting’ into tears once the procedure had been complete, overjoyed at getting her nose function back.
Currently, the rhinoplasty, or related nose surgeries, are not usually available on the NHS for cosmetic reasons, hence why people seek private care, like at Pall Mall.
However, it may be provided by the NHS on a case by case basis if the patient has severe breathing difficulties.
After grabbing their future back from the tight grasp of addiction, Professor Raghavan is one of the surgeons providing ex-addicts a life-line to their noses.
He concluded: “I have patients flying in from all corners of the world and from all over the UK.
“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.”
“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.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
