PIX FROM THE OPRAH SHOW TODAY
Leah, a Hollywood makeup artist, weighed more than 300 pounds two years ago. Since then, she had gastric bypass surgery and lost 200 pounds. But what was left was an unsightly side effect—pounds and pounds of excess skin just hanging from body. After surgery to remove the skin and a breast lift, look at Leah now!
'I spent a lot of months this year recuperating from surgery, and when I finally reemerged, people got weird. They tend to be comfortable until I'm their weight or less. I was everyone's support person, and no longer. Now I'm looking for people to try and support me!'
Detective Peggy had let the strain of 20 years of gritty police work take a toll on her mentally and physically. When her marriage fell apart, her colleagues knew it was time to lift Peggy's spirits, and got her a spot on Extreme Makeover! Peggy decided on a brow lift, a face and neck lift, fat injections and chin and jaw implant. She also received porcelain veneers, and LASIK eye surgery. Along with a hot new haircut and makeup—the new Peggy emerged!
Paula, 43 years old and a mother of three, had never liked the way she looked. Even though she teaches aerobics, she never felt comfortable with her body. After saying goodbye to her friends and family, Paula was whisked off to Hollywood for her Extreme Makeover transformation. After a consultation, she decided on liposuction, a tummy tuck, breast implants, an eye lift and a new nose. After an intense fitness workout for five weeks, Paula's waist went from 31 inches to 26 inches! After the final touches—LASIK eye surgery, a brighter smile and new haircut and color, Paula said goodbye to 'Suburban Not' and hello to 'Hollywood Hot'!
Paula: I feel like a woman, I feel feminine. I feel more like you!
Oprah: That is so nice!
Dan always said he had a face for radio. A producer and reporter for a Seattle radio station, he never thought of himself as attractive. When his marriage failed eight years ago, Dan's self-esteem plunged. After years of shunning love, he fell for Ann, a new co-worker, and realized his heart wasn't dead after all. But for Ann, the feeling wasn't mutual. Dan thought Extreme Makeover might turn things around! Dan opted for a chin implant, facial re-shaping and liposuction on his face, chest, back and love handles. To complete his look, Dan received a hair weave, dental veneers, teeth whitening, LASIK surgery and a hot new wardrobe!
'Inside me, I'm going to be more confident, I'm going to be more comfortable in my own skin. There's no way that isn't going to make me a more attractive person to everyone
Two years ago, 44-year-old Sarah beat breast cancer but was left with a body ravaged by the disease and chemotherapy. Losing her left breast affected her psychologically and sexually. Ultimately, Sarah decided to go on Extreme Makeover, saying, 'I would really love to feel like a whole woman and not a half of one.'
Sarah's surgeries lasted 13 hours. In addition to breast reconstruction, she had a brow lift, lower eyelid lift, forehead lift, face lift, liposuction around her neck, laser and chemical skin treatments, teeth whitening and brow tinting.
The most important thing, Sarah says, is that she is cancer-free
Life in show business hasn't always been a barrel of laughs for comedienne Kathy Griffin. Feeling pressure to be thin in Hollywood, Kathy—already a slim size 4—opted for liposuction. In 1999, she had fat removed from her inner and outer thighs and above her knees. 'I thought if I had some lipo,' jokes Kathy, 'I'd turn into one of the Friends.'
The supposedly simple surgery had severe near-fatal complications. Six months later, Kathy went public saying the liposuction didn't work and that she was swearing off plastic surgery
Four years later, Kathy Griffin changed her mind about plastic surgery. This time around, she's had 10 different procedures: nose job, brow lift, Botox, LASIK eye surgery, veneers, chemical hair straightening, micro dermabrasion, chemical skin peel, facial resurfacing and liposuction again!
'At first they wanted to give me the J-Lo butt bags. You can get your butt now to look like Jennifer Lopez's. Yes, Oprah, yes! They're very hot in Beverly Hills.'
Although she doesn't 'mind a little Botox now and then,' Kathy says she's staying away from liposuction. 'I have new eyebrows, new eyes, new skin, new teeth... I'm working on the new personality.'
