Danniella Westbrook has revealed the results of the latest stage of her extensive facial reconstruction journey as she prepares to undergo another six procedures over the next 18 months.
The former EastEnders actress, 52, shared close-up photographs showing the stitches and swelling around her upper lip following her most recent operation.
Danniella underwent an upper vascular flap procedure and lip augmentation as surgeons continued working to restore the structure and symmetry of her face.
The television personality described the latest treatment as a reversal procedure intended to correct the position of her upper lip, which she said had been pulled too far upwards.
Despite the visible sutures and expected post-operative swelling, Danniella appeared optimistic as she showed fans the early results.
The procedure marks another significant step in a long and physically demanding medical process for the actress, who has spoken openly about the damage caused by her former cocaine addiction.
Years of drug use contributed to the collapse of her nasal septum and left her requiring a series of complicated reconstructive operations.
Danniella has regularly documented her progress, sharing both the painful reality of surgery and the moments when treatment has helped restore her confidence.
Her latest update followed an appearance on Vanessa Feltz’s Channel 5 programme, where she revealed the full scale of the treatment still ahead.
Danniella said she expects to undergo approximately six additional procedures before surgeons consider the reconstruction complete.
The operations are expected to take place gradually over the next year and a half, allowing her body time to heal between each stage.
She explained that she currently returns for surgery approximately every two and a half to three months.
“I’ve been for umpteen surgeries,” she said.
“I’m coming up to surgery number six at the moment, so it’s quite scary.”
Danniella also revealed that osteoporosis has complicated her condition by weakening the bones in one side of her face.
According to the actress, there is now very little natural bone remaining in part of her cheek.
“Since I got older, the osteoporosis has set in on my bone,” she explained.
“So on this side of my face, I don’t have any bone at all.”
She said surgeons would eventually need to create a metal cheekbone and connect it to a stronger area higher in her face.
At present, filler is being used to temporarily support the area, but Danniella said a permanent implant will be required.
“They’ve got to rebuild all my bones,” she said.
“At the moment it’s filler, but they’ve really got to do a metal bone. It’s got to be put in there.”
The prospect of such a significant operation has understandably left her frightened.
However, Danniella remains determined to complete the reconstruction after years of medical setbacks and dissatisfaction with her appearance.
During her interview with Vanessa, she spoke candidly about the psychological impact of looking in the mirror and seeing the effects of her past addiction.
“I hate looking in the mirror,” she admitted.
She recently underwent a facelift to help realign both sides of her face before surgeons could continue reconstructing her nose and upper lip.
Danniella explained that her facial structure had become noticeably uneven and that correcting the alignment was necessary before later procedures could begin.
Earlier this year, she travelled to Dubai for a full face, neck and brow lift, alongside further lip and nasal reconstruction.
The operations were performed at Gargash Hospital in the United Arab Emirates by surgeon Dr Parviz Sadigh, who has treated Danniella previously.
Following that stage of surgery, the actress said the facelift had made an enormous difference to her confidence.
“I have three more nose operations to go,” she said at the time.
“So we’re over halfway there now. The facelift has really changed me and given me my confidence back.”
Although the cosmetic changes are visible, Danniella has repeatedly emphasised that the procedures are part of a medical reconstruction rather than simply a search for a different appearance.
The collapsed septum and loss of bone have created structural problems requiring specialist intervention.
Each operation must also be carefully planned around healing from the previous procedure.
Her latest photographs offered fans an unfiltered view of that process, showing that progress often involves swelling, stitches and discomfort before the final result becomes visible.
Danniella nevertheless appeared upbeat, treating the operation as another milestone in a recovery that has already lasted years.
Her openness has attracted messages of encouragement from supporters who have followed her career and personal struggles.
However, she has also been targeted by deeply abusive online comments about her appearance.
Speaking to Vanessa, Danniella revealed that some trolls had told her to die or take her own life.
She described the messages as terrible but stressed that she had also received considerable kindness.
“I’ve had terrible trolling, but I’ve also had a hell of a lot of nice people,” she said.
“I’ve had a lot of people that support me and a lot of lovely people online.”
To protect her wellbeing, Danniella said she sometimes avoids reading comments and does not always personally manage her social-media accounts.
“I think sometimes it’s best just not to look at it,” she explained.
The former soap star has lived much of her adult life in the public eye after joining EastEnders as a teenager.
She found fame at the age of 16 playing Sam Mitchell, the younger sister of Albert Square hard men Phil and Grant Mitchell.
Her role quickly made her one of the most recognisable young actresses on British television.
However, her rapid rise to fame coincided with the beginning of a destructive relationship with cocaine.
Danniella has said she became immersed in a nightclub culture where drug-taking appeared glamorous and normalised.
“I was always in clubs and everyone was doing coke and it was glamorous — except obviously, it wasn’t at all,” she previously explained.
“I was just very young, very stupid and very easily led.”
Her addiction repeatedly disrupted her work and personal life.
EastEnders producers eventually terminated her contract, and she was written out of the soap in 1996.
Danniella has estimated that she spent approximately £250,000 on cocaine during the height of her addiction.
The damage was not only financial.
Long-term drug use severely affected her nasal structure and contributed to the facial problems she is now attempting to repair.
She has spoken publicly about her past in the hope that younger performers might receive better protection than she did.
Danniella has argued that television companies should prepare young actors for the sudden attention, invitations and temptations that can accompany fame.
She believes new stars should have access to somebody who can warn them about predatory people, media scrutiny and the availability of drugs.
“Someone should tell them how quickly what you’ve worked for all those years can be gone,” she said.
Her own experience provides a stark illustration of that warning.
Danniella achieved national fame while still a teenager, only to see her career overshadowed by addiction, health complications and years of negative headlines.
Yet her latest surgical update also reflects her refusal to allow that history to define the rest of her life.
The reconstruction process is expensive, exhausting and far from finished.
She still faces repeated operations on her nose, lip and cheek, including the planned insertion of a metal implant.
There will also be lengthy periods of healing and uncertainty before doctors can assess the final outcome.
Danniella has admitted that the prospect scares her, particularly as she prepares for increasingly complex procedures.
But she continues to share her journey without hiding the difficult stages from view.
Rather than presenting an instantly perfected transformation, she has shown followers the bruising, sutures and emotional vulnerability involved.
The latest operation may represent only one stage of an 18-month treatment plan, but for Danniella it is another step towards rebuilding both her face and her confidence.
After years of living with the physical consequences of addiction, she is now concentrating on recovery, one procedure at a time.
Six more operations remain, and the most challenging treatment may still lie ahead.
Nevertheless, Danniella’s latest photographs show a woman determined to keep moving forward — despite the pain, the public scrutiny and the cruel voices attempting to pull her back.
