Kristen Snider, a 28-year-old IT support specialist from Virginia, has spent more than £150,000 transforming her body, and plans to spend at least £25,000 more.
She describes herself as a plastic surgery addict, using cosmetic changes to deal with the extreme self-esteem issues she experienced when looking in the mirror.
Since Kristen was a teenager she hated the way she looked. She was often teased for her appearance, which worsened her self-confidence.
In March 2010, at the age of 18, Kristen underwent her first surgery: a breast augmentation with 550cc implants. She cried with joy when she saw the results, which spurred her to undergo further procedures.
Since then Kristen has had more than 20 cosmetic procedures, including a second breast augmentation, rib removal, two bum lifts, butt implants, three rhinoplasties (nose jobs), cheek implants, forehead implants, fat removal, and lip fillers.
Kristen receives criticism for her new appearance from family and friends, but she’s happy with the way she looks.
She argues that as no one is getting hurt by her surgeries, her choices should be respected.
‘I was frequently made fun of in school and that forced me to learn to not care what other people think of myself and my choices,’ said Kristen.
‘Being a perfectionist, ambitious and creative is a quick way to become a plastic surgery addict.
‘I never used to like what I saw in the mirror as I wasn’t happy with my body. I saw a lot that I didn’t like which I wanted to improve.
‘When I was 18, I was fairly small chested with a 32B bra size. I wanted to have a fuller chest, so I had my first breast implants which were 550cc, costing £5,800.
‘After surgery, I was so happy that I actually cried. It made me realise that if you’re smart about how you do it, you really can have almost anything done and achieve whatever look you want.
‘My first breast augmentation was the gateway which helped me catch the bug for more plastic surgery. The recovery wasn’t bad, and it proved that what I wanted was possible. The image of the ideal body that I had in my head could be achieved.
‘Two years after, I had a few procedures done to re-sculpt my face in June 2012. I had jaw contouring, chin contouring, a lip lift, rhinoplasty, cheek implants, forehead reshaping and a brow lift.
‘My first Brazilian butt lift was in December 2015 and I had another butt lift in December 2018 and I then had 500cc bum implants put in too.
‘I had a second rhinoplasty in January 2016, a second chin reshaping, jaw reshaping and a fat graft to my forehead in December 2017.
‘I have also had three lip augmentations in 2018, the three ribs removed in October 2018 and my current 1500cc breast implants done in January 2019 and I am now a 28L.’
Kristen acknowledges that she has an addiction to plastic surgery.
Her happiness with the results of her procedures has made her see her body as a blank canvas, open to whatever image she wants to create.
She’s spent more than £150,000 on her surgeries so far, and doesn’t plan to stop.
‘I view surgery as the tool to achieve the image I have of myself in my head,’ says Kristen. ‘I’ve always wanted extreme curves.
‘In the last nine years, surgery has opened the door for me to express myself through my image.
‘My family doesn’t like it as they’ve always been more conventional in what they consider attractive. They worry that one day this could kill me.
‘I get lots of stares from men checking me out and sometimes from women as well. However, living in Virginia, where people are very conservative, I occasionally get nasty glances and side eyes. I’m used to it though as I have a very thick skin – you have to when you do this to your body.
‘There are many procedures I’d still like to have in the future though. I’d like to have a rib narrowing procedure, implants in my hips and thighs, another breast augmentation to take me to 2500cc and more facial reshaping.
‘I’m constantly learning about new procedures and adding them to my list, so I’m sure the list will continue to grow.
‘We all have our own opinions on what is beautiful. We can’t try to push our ideals on others. I also believe that if you’re unhappy with something you should never settle, you should fight for a solution to make it work instead.
‘Surgical techniques are always improving so there’s a way to change almost anything. I think we should all focus on growing and evolving. Most importantly, be accepting of other peoples’ choices.
‘Be kind, all that matters is happiness.’
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