Danniella Westbrook is said to be living in fear following her latest facial surgery, with sources claiming the actress is “terrified” of the procedures still to come.
The former EastEnders star, 52, recently returned from Dubai after undergoing an extensive face, neck and brow lift. While she shared a radiant post-operation selfie on social media, insiders say the reality behind closed doors has been far more difficult.
According to a source close to the star, the recovery has been extremely painful. The insider said she is struggling to breathe and sleep after the surgery, adding that the ordeal has left her emotionally drained. The source explained that she has been breaking down in tears and has even had to drink through a straw while recovering. Though there has been slight improvement each day, the process has been deeply uncomfortable and exhausting for her.
Despite presenting a positive outlook online, Danniella herself admitted that more procedures lie ahead. In a recent post she wrote that she still has three more nose operations to go, adding that she is now “over halfway there” and saying the facelift has already changed her and given her confidence back.
But insiders say the thought of undergoing further surgery has left her riddled with anxiety. One source explained that, unlike some celebrities who enjoy cosmetic procedures, Danniella dreads them. The insider compared her to Katie Price, noting that while some stars thrive on surgery and even look forward to it, Danniella fears every operation she faces.
Her fear is not new. Speaking in 2022, Danniella openly admitted that her attitude toward surgery has changed dramatically with age. She said that when she was younger she loved plastic surgery and had her breasts done six times, believing at the time that she was invincible. Now, however, every time she goes under anaesthetic she finds herself praying that she will wake up.
The actress has spent more than a decade trying to repair the damage done to her face following years of cocaine addiction. At one point, her nasal septum collapsed, leaving her with severe facial damage that required extensive reconstruction.
Last summer she underwent another major operation in which cartilage from her rib was used to rebuild her nose. The procedures are not purely cosmetic, she has insisted, but necessary for her health. She previously explained that she needed surgery to survive and that the work was not about vanity but about being able to breathe properly.
Her latest operations were performed in Dubai by facial surgeon Dr Parviz Sadigh, whom she has praised for achieving results she struggled to find in the UK. Following the procedure last month, Danniella was seen leaving the clinic in a wheelchair with visible swelling and bruising and wearing a compression garment around her head.
The physical recovery is only part of the challenge. The star has also endured relentless trolling about her appearance over the years. Addressing the abuse in a previous statement, Danniella acknowledged that she has made mistakes in her life but insisted that criticism would never force her to give up.
She said she had abused her body, taken drugs, and made bad choices in the past, admitting she had upset people she loved and could not undo those mistakes. However, she added that she chooses to tolerate the jokes and cruel comments because she refuses to let them bring her down.
Reflecting on her life today, she said she may not be the same “pretty little thing” who first appeared as Sam Mitchell in EastEnders in 1989, but she is grateful and happy with the direction her life is now taking.
Despite her fear of further surgery, those close to her say she believes it is the only path forward. According to one insider, she wants to rebuild her face and rebuild her career at the same time. Although the thought of more operations fills her with anxiety, she believes that achieving the results she hopes for will allow her to move forward and live a happier life.
