An Adelaide woman has opened up about the shocking truth behind her amazing face and body transformation.
Nina Scarogna has always felt a little self-conscious about certain parts of her appearance, such as her breasts and lips.
But the 29-year-old from Adelaide decided to take matters into her own hands and considered undergoing cosmetic surgery to improve her appearance.
The miner first started getting lip fillers when he was 20 years old, and a few years later he started getting regular Botox injections.
She also had cosmetic fillers injected into her cheeks and chin, which she says were meant to help balance and improve her profile.
“I started researching lip fillers when I was about 19,” Nina told news.com.au.
Since Nina underwent cosmetic surgery, she has become more confident than ever. Photo: Instagram / @lifeofnina___
She spent about $16,000 on various cosmetic surgeries. Photo: Instagram / @lifeofnina___
“My lips were quite small and I didn’t have much of an upper lip. I worked as a make-up artist and I used to apply lipstick, and you couldn’t even tell I was wearing lipstick.
“My profile needed some work, but I feel much better now. My plump lips complement my face well.”
But Nina’s most life-changing surgery involved a 14,000km jump to Istanbul, Turkey, in July 2022.
She had breast implants and chin liposuction.
In total, she spent about $16,000 changing her look and says she couldn’t be happier with her new face and body.
A photo of Nina before her breast augmentation surgery. Photo: Attached
After the procedure, she feels more confident. Photo: Instagram / @lifeofnina___
“I started thinking about breast augmentation when I was about 21,” she said.
“I originally had big breasts, but they were starting to sag, so I wanted to lift them.
“I decided to fly to Istanbul mainly because it was cheap. I was quoted $23,000 by a clinic in Sydney for a breast lift with implants.
“They also wanted to do two separate surgeries six months apart, but unfortunately due to my work commitments that was not possible.
“I wasn’t going to spend that amount either. It was only $7,000 in Istanbul.
“Turkey is one of the most plastic surgery-prone countries in the world, and I took a nine-week vacation there. It was a win-win.”
The 29-year-old has been very open and honest about the work she’s done. Photo: Instagram / @lifeofnina___
For Nina, flying to Turkey to have the surgery was a much cheaper option and she says her experience has been an extremely positive one.
“I had a great experience, and I wouldn’t change it for the world,” she said.
“My post-surgery recovery was very quick. About two days after surgery, I was out exploring.
“I’m planning to go back in November to get liposuction on my stomach.
The surgery changed her jaw. Photo: Instagram / @lifeofnina___
“Good. I was only in Turkey for a week and then I was allowed to get on a plane. So I started traveling through Croatia, France and Italy.”
Nina says there are many misconceptions surrounding people seeking plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures.
“I think the most common misconception is that people who want these things done are trying to get plastic surgery,” she says.
“Or maybe you just want to look like a certain celebrity or influencer. But surgery is more popular than ever and is no longer taboo.
“They’re much more affordable, and many people are insecure about their body shape, and these enhancements can help.”
She said prices in Turkey were much lower than what she was quoted in Australia. Photo: Attached
Nina said she would recommend Turkey to anyone looking to undergo cosmetic surgery. Photo: Instagram / @lifeofnina___
She has been very open and honest about her body and facial transformation journey on social media, hoping to educate others who may be in a similar situation.
While the majority of people’s comments have been positive, some have questioned her decision to change her appearance.
“There were a lot of comments on TikTok about breast implants,” she said.
“They said, ‘Just go to the gym.’ I don’t know what kind of workout will make my breasts firmer and fuller.”
“The same goes for my chin; I’d lost a lot of weight but still had a double chin. How could I target that area specifically? It’s impossible.
“Several people had made direct comments to me before the surgery. They had told me I didn’t need it or really asked about it.
Nina loves her body more than ever. Photo: Instagram / @lifeofnina___
“They said my breasts were fake and were worried the implants would pop out.
“But these are mainly due to worry. Once the surgery was over, everyone agreed it was a great decision.”
According to information available on the Smart Traveler website, more than 15,000 Australians travel overseas for “medical tourism” each year.
Some of the most common countries people visit for this reason include Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, India, South Korea, Malaysia, and Turkey.
Appearance-oriented surgeries such as dentistry and procedures are very popular overseas because they are affordable.
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Senior specialist plastic surgeon Dr Naveen Soumya warned Australians seeking to travel abroad to undergo plastic surgery were at risk.
“If you are traveling on a long flight to undergo cosmetic surgery overseas and then flying back to Australia, you need to be aware of the risks of air travel after surgery,” Dr Soumya told news.com. told au.
“While flying, there is a risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in the legs) or pulmonary embolism (blood clots traveling to the lungs) as a result of air travel.
“Cosmetic surgery procedures, such as abdominoplasty, body lifts, or high-volume liposuction, further increase the risk of blood clots because postoperative mobility is restricted or limited.
“Combining air travel with surgery can significantly increase the risk of blood clot formation.
“While deep vein thrombosis is usually not fatal if treated in a timely manner, pulmonary embolism can be a medical emergency with potentially fatal risks.
She plans to return to Türkiye later this year for further work. Photo: Instagram / @lifeofnina___
“Furthermore, overseas facilities may not have the same stringent controls as in Australia, which can impact the overall quality of care and outcomes following cosmetic surgery.
“In some countries, the training, accreditation and registration requirements to become a surgeon may differ between overseas and Australia.
“This could mean that the recommended standards and standards that surgeons must meet to maintain their registration and license to practice abroad may be different.
“Language barriers can also lead to misunderstandings and miscommunication.
“In a cosmetic surgery setting, this can cause problems. Most places will have English-speaking staff available, but this may not be what you would expect in Australia.”
Nina loved the experience so much that she traveled to Europe for the next nine weeks. Photo: Instagram / @lifeofnina___
Dr Soumya added there was a risk of complications occurring after the patient returned to Australia.
“Complications may appear weeks after a patient returns to Australia, making finding specialist treatment more complicated,” he explained.
“Treatment for complications is expensive. If you require hospitalization or intensive care after surgery, you risk increased costs.
“Patients should ensure before traveling that all travel insurance policies cover emergency medical care and medical recovery to Australia.
“If you are traveling for surgery, be sure to check the terms and conditions of your travel insurance in detail.”
