Plastic surgery claims leave star Stone faced

Published on 16/12/2004 02:05

THE film star Sharon Stone is suing a top Hollywood plastic surgeon, accusing him of falsely claiming he had performed a facelift on her.

The actress, known for her quick temper, is taking the Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr Renato Calabria to court for libel and slander over allegations that he told two celebrity magazines in the United States that she had gone under the knife at his clinic in order to beat the ageing process.

Stone - who came to prominence with her role in the erotic thriller Basic Instinct - has lodged papers with Los Angeles courts claiming that Dr Calabria told the celebrity magazine Us Weekly that he had performed a facelift.

Another showbusiness magazine, In Touch, printed a story repeating the claim.

Stone alleges that the doctor or his associates were the source for both stories.

The star has insisted, however, that she had never had surgery to maintain her looks.

"Sharon Stone prides herself not only on her acting ability and other talents, but also on her natural physical appearance," said the lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.

"Moreover, Sharon Stone has a reputation for her natural beauty and glamour, as do many other successful film actresses," it went on.

"While she certainly respects others’ choice to do so, Sharon Stone has never undergone a facelift in order to improve her physical appearance. Sharon Stone and/or her representatives have made repeated public statements that Sharon Stone has never had a facelift."

The lawsuit also says claims of the sort made by the surgeon were inherently damaging.

"False statements that Sharon Stone has sought to artificially preserve her beauty by undergoing a facelift procedure are damaging to her professional reputation as a talented and beautiful actress who prides herself on her natural beauty," the suit says.

However, Us Weekly printed a gossip piece in August this year entitled "Did Sharon Have Surgery?", in which it stated: "Sharon Stone raised some eyebrows at the Hollywood premiere of Catwoman on 19 July. The star’s skin looked amazingly smooth for a 46-year-old. Hot Stuff hears that the actress - who plays an evil, aging model in the flick - had a facelift several weeks ago. We’re told her work was done by famed Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Renato Calabria."

The doctor is accused of making "false statements", but on his website he features a media section of the site containing front covers of the magazines named in the lawsuit.

Referring to the procedure, the surgeon explains that he has mastered his own "vertical facelift" technique.

"His vertical facelift, along with the volume restoration concept, has brought him the attention of the public and the media," the website notes.

No-one was available at Dr Calabria’s office to comment.

Stone is asking for general, special, actual and punitive damages and any profits Dr Calabria received from the allegedly unauthorised use of her name, image and likeness.

The star’s commitment to maintaining her physical fitness and shape is renowned. In 2001 she suffering a life-threatening stroke brought on by over-exercising.

Few Hollywood actresses will admit to being "freshened up" by the surgeon’s blade.

Only those celebrities whose reputation relies as much on their attitude as their looks admit to plastic surgery.

Roseanne Barr has owned up to having extensive work on her body and face, as have fellow comediennes Sharon Osbourne and Joan Rivers.