‘I’ve waited so long for this:’ Danniella Westbrook, 47, reveals she’s had the first of four reconstructive surgeries to repair her face after drug abuse left her jaw ‘rotting away’

Danniella Westbrook has revealed she’s undergone the first of four reconstructive surgeries to repair her face after two decades of drug addiction left her features ‘rotting away’. 

The former EastEnders star, 47, took to Instagram earlier this week as she shared a selfie to show off the results as well as a snap in her bandages just before the surgery.

Danniella has been forced to have her jaw rebuilt after the bone began to wear away three years ago. 

Changes: Danniella Westbrook has revealed she’s undergone the first of four reconstructive surgeries to repair her face after two decades of drug addiction

Her cheekbones and gums began decaying due to her previous addiction to cocaine and a botched surgery in 2015 – which left her with osteoporosis. 

Danniella has suffered a public battle with substance abuse and was sacked from EastEnders several times, including in 2000, when she admitted she blew £100k on cocaine at the time. 

Taking to her Instagram this week she shared a picture after her first surgery. 

She penned in the caption: ‘Stage one of the four part journey of reconstructive surgery to rebuild my face and finally stop all the hate.

Procedure: The former EastEnders star, 47, took to Instagram earlier this week as she shared a selfie to show off the results as well as a snap in her bandages just before the surgery

On her way: She also took to her Instagram Story as she made her way to the clinic, writing: ‘Today’s the day for the first of my reconstructive surgeries’

‘I’m really happy with what @beverlyhillsaestheticsindeal has done today to prepare me for stage two #grateful #noninvasive #stageone #surgery #sohappy.’

She also took to her Instagram Story as she made her way to the clinic, writing: ‘Today’s the day for the first of my reconstructive surgery minor procedure first but big changes coming waiting so long for this to start.’  

A friend of Danniella’s told The Sun: ‘This is an incredibly important process for Danniella. It is more than just an operation.

Difficult: Danniella has been forced to have her jaw rebuilt after the bone began to wear away three years ago (pictured in 2018) 

‘It is the start of a major new chapter in her life. She receives a lot of her hate on social media and is hoping this operation will correct many of the problems.’ 

Back in 2018 the star explained her cheekbones and gums were decaying due to her previous addiction to cocaine and a botched surgery in 2015 – which left her with osteoporosis.  

At the time she was forced to drink twelve pints of milk a day in order to strengthen up her bones ahead of an extreme reconstructive surgery to fix her ‘sunken’ appearance. 

Tough: Danniella has suffered a public battle with substance abuse and was sacked from EastEnders several times, including in 2000, when she admitted she blew £100k on cocaine at the time (pictured on the show) 

Detailing her horrific condition, the actress revealed that her new ‘screw-like’ teeth cut into her cheekbones and that she has almost no gums left at all.   

Her issues stemmed from the botched procedures in 2015, which were so damaging she was eventually hospitalised during her stint on Celebrity Big Brother the following year.

However, her condition worsened so much that she also developed septicemia, and fought to survive in hospital for seven weeks.

Discussing the terrifying time, she said: ‘I did nearly die, I had two lots of IV drips in each side and then they took all my teeth out again and gave me this denture, which has broken my heart because I didn’t need all of my teeth out in the first place.’ 

Recovery: Back in 2018 the star explained her cheekbones and gums were decaying due to her previous addiction to cocaine and a botched surgery in 2015

The actress’ battle with drugs has been well-publicised, and she famously had her nose reconstructed after her septum collapsed from excessive cocaine use in 2002. 

At the height of her use it was reported she would take up to five grams of cocaine a day, blowing close to £250,000 on the drug.

The star has since embarked on multiple rehab stints in order to battle her demons – and revealed she was finally clean in June last year, after attending a clinic in Mijas, Spain.  

Danniella first appeared in EastEnders in 1990 at the age of 16 and acted on the soap for three years.

Challenges: At the height of her use it was reported Danniella would take up to five grams of cocaine a day, blowing close to £250,000 on the drug

She returned in 1996 but her time was cut short when her off-screen behaviour got her sacked.  

She returned again shortly after, but was axed again in 2000 after further disruptive behaviour, admitting she blew £100k on cocaine at the time. 

The part was recast between 2002 and 2005, and played by Kim Medcalf, but Danniella returned to the role once more in 2009 until 2010. 

She was back once more in 2016 for the storyline surrounding on-screen mother Peggy Mitchell’s death, which is to date her final appearance.

In the past: Danniella first appeared in EastEnders in 1990 at the age of 16 and acted on the soap for three years (pictured in 2005)

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