Liam Halewood always wanted to be on TV. He had looked up to celebrities on the big screen for years, admiring their glamorous looks and affluent lifestyles.
Bullied for looking like comedian Alan Carr, Liam believed he needed a new face in order to make the big time. Sadly, his quest for perfection saw him spiral into serious debt – racking up a £16k bill in the space of just one year.
Now filler-free, the 36-year-old says he massively regrets changing his appearance, making calls for tighter regulation in the aesthetics industry.
"I got one thing done and realised I could get more done and the nurse just did it because I said I wanted it," Liam, who lives in Blackpool, said. "There was nothing about mental wellbeing. You sit in the chair, get it done and go. That's as easy as it is."
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Liam was 28 when he began having cosmetic surgery. While his desire to change his looks came from wanting to make it in TV, deep down, there were bigger problems. In just one year, he underwent botox, fillers in his face and lips, non-surgical jaw alignment and hair transplants.
His comments come following a report published by MPs on the House of Commons’ Health and Social Care Committee that demanded action to reduce the "conveyor belt" approach to non-surgical cosmetic procedures by bringing forward a licensing regime for providers.
This should also include minimum training standards for people providing these services and a "cooling off" period between consent and providing the procedure, MPs said.
Liam agrees with the committee that there should be more steps involved - which would allow people to think twice about why they're going ahead with it.
He also argues the law that prohibits anyone under the age of 18 from having cosmetic procedures should be toughened, The Mirror reports.
Liam, who in the past had 18-year-olds message him on Instagram asking for advice on procedures, adds: "You need to be questioning people, especially teenagers today who want to look like a celebrity on Instagram - why are they actually getting it done?
"I think if you're changing your face fully, you need that cooling-off period, you need to know you're doing it for the right reasons. Young kids all look the same because they feel like they have to look like a Love Island star to get on in life.
"I know Botox can be used medically, but I do think there needs to be a bigger cap on age and a lot more care involved - they're putting needles into your face and changing your appearance. I understand wanting a fresher look at 50 but at 18-25, you shouldn't be thinking about it."
Liam has previously made appearances on shows including BodyFixers, Four in a Bed, Judge Rinder, the Xtra Factor, and Extreme Diet Hotel.
"I just thought there is no room for real people on TV anymore," Liam, who was concerned about getting older and missing out on opportunities, said. "I thought 'how can I get this quick fix and how can I present myself to the world in a different way?'
"It was at a time when I didn’t think I was getting anywhere with my career and I thought it would catapult me into the limelight. But I actually lost bookings and it didn't do anything for my confidence really. I understand now there is no such thing as perfection.
"I actually feel that it doesn't matter how much work you've had done, you have obviously got a problem inside that needs sorting."
Liam paid for his procedures on his credit card, which he struggled to pay off when he found himself living alone after splitting with his ex-partner. He had convinced himself it was worth the investment and that once he would hit the big time, he would have the money to pay the bills off quicker.
"Using credit cards and payment plans for it - it has massive implications," Liam, who performs in Blackpool six nights a week, continues. People need to think - does it really make you feel more confident when you've got it? Are you getting it done by a real nurse who knows what they are doing with the needles? Is the right aftercare there? And no, I don't think there is any aftercare in the current system."
Liam says the extent of his aftercare following treatments was a phone call, warning him not to use sunbeds. The new committee report also calls for the government to introduce a law so "commercial images" which feature bodies that have been doctored in any way – including changing body proportions or skin tone – are legally required to carry a logo to let viewers know they have been digitally altered.
MPs said the impact of body image on mental and physical health is "wide-reaching" and that the government is "not doing enough to understand the scale of the risks" linked to body image dissatisfaction.
Liam also argues 'Influencers' on social media should have to notify their followers when they have used a filter. "They're doing a job - if they fake it with a filter, it’s false advertising," he added. "There needs to be more regulation on Instagram to stop selling the fake dream."
The turning point for Liam came after his mum pleaded with him to stop altering his appearance and instead, believe in his talent. And around three years ago, a friend encouraged him to shave his head and embrace his natural look.
Now describing himself as "hairy, bald, with a 38-inch waist," Liam, who let his filler naturally dissolve, is happier than ever. "I looked at myself in the mirror and thought, 'why am I bothering with all this crap?'" he said. "It doesn’t matter how much you change on the outside...I actually just got a lot happier within myself."
Chairman of the committee, former health secretary Jeremy Hunt, said: "The government must act urgently to end the situation where anyone can carry out non-surgical cosmetic procedures, regardless of training or qualifications.
"We heard of some distressing experiences – a conveyor belt approach with procedures carried out with no questions asked, procedures that have gone wrong, the use of filthy premises.
"It was clear throughout our inquiry that some groups are particularly vulnerable to exploitation in this growing market that has gone largely unregulated. We need a timetable now for a licensing regime with patient safety at its centre to reduce those risks.
"We hope that ministers will listen to our recommendations and set about creating the safety standards that anyone seeking treatment has a right to expect."
Victoria Brownlie, chief policy officer for the British Beauty Council, urged the government to take the committee's recommendations forward, adding: "We want a beauty industry that stands as a beacon for body positivity with world-leading standards of care.
"Regulation for non-surgical cosmetic procedures can’t come soon enough and, while the government has committed to addressing this, current party politics means that such policy changes are in limbo. Timelines are unclear."
A government spokesman said: "We know the devastating impact issues around body image can have on a person’s mental and physical health, and we are continuing to take steps to support those affected.
"As part of our ongoing effort, we will be introducing a national licensing scheme to help prevent exploitation, improve safety and ensure individuals are making informed and safe choices about non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
"This will build on the existing support we have put in place, from expanding mental health services – including for those with body dysmorphic disorder – with an additional £2.3 billion a year by 2024, to changing the law preventing under-18s accessing Botox and filler treatments for cosmetic purposes."
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