Susanna Reid issued an apology to Good Morning Britain viewers on Wednesday after a disturbing image of a failed cosmetic surgery was broadcast without prior warning. The presenter, alongside co-host Ed Balls, was visibly taken aback when the photograph appeared on screen during an interview with reality star Lauren Simon.
Graphic Image Shocks Presenters
The image, from Lauren Simon's breast reduction procedure in Turkey, showed one of her breasts bandaged with darkened skin, a black nipple, and an inflamed, infected wound. Upon seeing it, Susanna remarked: "I'm not sure if we can show that photograph, can we? That is absolutely gruesome." She quickly apologised to viewers, saying: "Apologies if you found that very shocking, because I did! I didn't know that was coming."
Lauren Simon's Ordeal
Lauren Simon, known for her role on The Real Housewives of Cheshire, travelled overseas for a breast reduction and nose job. She told Susanna and Ed that a friend, who owned the clinic, invited her along, leading her to believe everything would proceed smoothly. However, on the second day after surgery, she noticed her left breast turning black. Despite reassurances from staff, the situation worsened.
Lauren described how the surgery team spent 24 hours pricking her breast to keep it alive, and she was left with two holes under her breast oozing green liquid. She said: "They wanted to send you home with a black nipple. You had two holes under your breast, pressing green liquid out. You were tired all the time, and you were very poorly."
Life-Saving UK Surgery
Upon returning to the UK, a doctor in Manchester found her left breast full of blood. Lauren revealed: "Your body was fighting surgery like a cancer, and when the doctor in England opened you up, he said he was shocked you were still alive." The reality star said her breast required a year to recover and praised the UK surgeon who saved her life.
Warning Against Cosmetic Tourism
The interview coincides with research from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, which found that £1.8 million annually is spent by the NHS correcting failed procedures from cosmetic tourism. Lauren urged viewers to have surgery performed in the UK, saying: "Get surgery in the UK after my experience." Susanna later warned viewers before the image reappeared, telling them: "Brace yourselves as the picture you're about to see is a bit of a shocker." Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV.
