David Gest 'regrets "stupid" surgery'

David Gest has revealed that he blames Michael Jackson for making him agree to "stupid" plastic surgery operations.

The 56-year-old - who has had two facelifts and a nose realignment operation - admitted that he now regrets his decision to go under the knife after persistent persuasion from the late popstar, who was himself famed for radically altering his appearance with cosmetic surgery.

He told The Sun: "I had surgery when I was very young and it was the stupidest thing I've ever done. Michael Jackson kept saying, 'You should have plastic surgery'. I got my nose done and he said, 'Do more, do more'. It was stupid.

"If I had my way I'd go back to my original big nose with a bit of a hook in it. It looked great."

The concert promoter - who was previously married to Liza Minnelli - has spoken before about how he rapidly became addicted to altering his appearance after his initial visit to Jackson's surgeon.

He explained: "When I went under the knife in 1981 I was really heavy. I'm 5ft 9in and weighed 14-and-a-half stone. One day I thought, 'Ugh! I look older than the people I represent'. Michael had had a little nose thinning done so I knew I could do something about my face.

"I went to his plastic surgeon Dr Steven Hoefflin to do something with my nose. All of a sudden I decided to have a nose job and facelift in one operation, and have cheek implants and a cleft chin in another a week later."