HAVING cosmetic surgery is a huge leap of faith and can be a costly mistake, quite apart from the health risks.
But for some, it can change their lives for the better – giving them confidence by dealing with body issues that have deeply impacted their mental health.
Steven is one of the first guests on the new E4 show Send Nudes: Body SOS[/caption]
Now a high-tech new show – Send Nudes: Body SOS – aims to give the ultimate “try before you buy” to a host of people considering going under the knife.
Hosted by Vogue Williams, the six-part series – which airs on E4 from Wednesday – sees brave souls stripping off in front of 129 cameras and uses cutting-edge technology to create a naked 3D avatar before modifying it with the potential procedure.
The before and after pictures are then sent to a panel of 50 strangers, who give their opinion on the proposed change and then vote on whether they should go through with the surgery or not.
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Steven – a 48-year-old carpenter from Essex – is first to put himself through the excruciating scrutiny of his naked body, telling Vogue he’s not happy with his manhood and wants a “porn star penis”.
The chiselled chippie, who has a sideline in adult entertainment, has an “average” four inches, but says his co-stars have made him feel inadequate, as many of them boast nine or ten inches.
“The porn industry is all blown up to extreme and bigger is best,” he says.
“Since I’ve dipped into it I started thinking I should be like those other people.
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“So when I heard about Send Nudes, I thought it would be an eye opener to know what the public think when it comes to whether or not I need surgery, or am I just like everyone else?”
Episode one also includes the emotional case of 31-year-old Steph, who reveals her 34G breasts have stopped her from finding love as she is terrified of getting naked in front of a partner.
The mum-of-three – who says her heavy boobs “hang down to my belly button” and wants a reduction and uplift – breaks down in tears as she tells Vogue: “I hate the skin I’m in.”
“This is the ultimate ‘try before you buy’ for anyone seriously considering cosmetic surgery,” says Vogue.
“It is the world’s first virtual surgery shop, where we help you make the biggest decision of your life.”
No more Mr ‘Average’
Steven says he has hit the gym hard to get the perfect body, after a painful break-up eight years ago, and his bulging biceps attest to his hard work.
But, despite the show’s panel drooling over him, with one declaring him a “Spartan” and another saying his body is “fantastic”, he says he is constantly comparing his size to others in the business.
“I’m told I’m average but I don’t want to be average, I want to be more than average,” he says.
He decided to take part in the show to get an unbiased opinion on the size of his appendage – so he could make an informed choice before opting for surgery.
“I’ve been thinking about different surgeries because in the climate at the moment that has become normal, and everyone is having work done,” he says.
“I’ve never had anything done but when I saw the show come up I thought I could get other people’s opinions, people that don’t know me.
“They’re not your friends, who could be swayed a little bit, so I trusted them to be honest.”
‘No holds barred’ avatar
In order to create the incredible avatar, which is then revealed on the show, Steven went to a London studio where 129 cameras snapped every part of his body.
“It was the most surreal experience I’ve ever gone through because it’s literally 380 degrees, there’s not an inch of you that is hidden,” he says.
“Then you’re confronted with this amazing avatar in your likeness but it’s not like looking in the mirror, when you look at the best bits. This is no holds barred and it is the experience of a lifetime.”
Steven was stunned to see his rather exposed avatar[/caption]
Although he was nervous about the nude shots – despite an earlier appearance on Naked Attraction – Steven says having the avatar’s before and after shots judged by the 50-strong panel was the most nerve-wracking part.
“That was scary as hell,” he says. “I’ve been naked in front of people but they’re judging you on your hang up.
“I didn’t know if they’re going to be body positive or they’re going to be cutthroat but they were all so positive and warm.
“Their comments actually lifted my mood and made me feel good about myself.”
Hard choices
The show sees Dr Sherif Wakil offering two options for surgery, as the avatar is adjusted to reflect the difference.
The first, suspensory ligament release, would mean cutting the ligament that attaches the penis to the pubic bone, meaning it hangs lower, adding an inch as it hangs lower, but Steven was told his erection would also hang lower than normal after the op.
The op – which comes in at between £2,500 and £5,000 – would also leave a scar and come with risks of complications.
Faced with the results many of the panel seem unimpressed, with actress Minnie saying: “You’d be left with a huge scar and that would be what my eye is drawn to, rather than the size of your penis.”
Entertainers LV and Ty, who compare his ripped body to a Spartan from the film 300, joke: “I think he’s taking the mick. He’s being greedy.”
The second suggested op involves the same cut but also injecting fat from his stomach into his member, to increase the girth by 20-30 per cent.
But Dr Wakil warns that sex too soon after the op could push the fat down to form a lump at the bottom.
Other risks included infection and a lumpy penis, which would mean a further corrective op.
Steph, who appears in episode one, with presenter Vogue Williams and Ryan, who will appear in a later show[/caption]
While Steven likes the look of the new appendage, the panel are mixed, with Minnie branding it “a deformed hot dog.”
We can’t reveal Steven’s ultimate decision but he insists he’s happy he took part and hopes the show will help others in his position.
“I’ve learned such a lot on the show and I’m now able to pass on a lot of information on to people with the same issue, because there’s so much out there that can be done to help, if you are really unhappy with something.
“It’s not unreachable, everyone can have tweaks if they really want to, and I think that’s what’s great about the show. It’s body positive but also educational, helping people to make informed choices.”
Send Nudes: Body SOS airs from Wednesday at E4 at 10.15pm
