‘My physique wasn’t right’ – Tonto Dikeh explains why she did bum surgery

Tonto Dikeh, Nollywood actress, has explained that she had to undergo plastic surgery to have her bum fixed.

The controversial movie star had gone under the knife in 2018.

In an interview with BBC Pidgin, the divorced mother of one said she underwent the procedure to alter her physique, which “wasn’t always right”, for a more desirable “shape”.

“Almost everyone knows, before now, that my physique wasn’t always right. If I had denied undergoing plastic surgery, fans would come trolling me for not revealing the truth,” she said.

“There’s also the stereotype problem that makes African women who undergo the procedure feel they have to deny doing so and keep it a secret. But why would I be ashamed to say I altered my physique? That norm, I think I’ve broken away from it.

“Confidence! Since I had my bum done, it has bolstered my confidence. I liked myself more. I became happier such that I even doubted if this was truly my body. If you don’t like it, fix it. That’s me.

“You fix it through different numerous ways. But it doesn’t always have to be surgery. I’m an advocate for surgery but I won’t persuade anyone to do what they don’t intend doing. So, do you as I do me.”

View this post on Instagram

Nigerian celebrity Tonto Dike [@tontolet] and two oda women tok why dem decide to work on dia bum-bum bobi and face. One of pipo wey we follow tok say her bum-bum dey give her confidence. But even as di practice don dey popular as we hear from Dr. @ayodrlaser e also get complications wey fit happen. Video Producers: @helenaoyibo, @sarahtiamiyu, @jbongben and @cyrilo84 . . . . . #bbcpidgin #bbcnews #surgery #tontodike #tontolet #implants #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgeon #beauty #skincare #cosmetics

A post shared by BBC News Pidgin (@bbcnewspidgin) on Aug 5, 2019 at 8:47am PDT

Advertisement

While Dikeh stated that physique alterations don’t always have to come down to surgery, Oben Samuel, Cameroonian plastic surgeon, who offers such services, agreed that “plastic surgery is good” but warned that “the problems are plenty”.

“Plastic surgery is not for the poor. Only those who have had their fill and feel like they have to alter one thing or the other on their skin. It could also become addictive,” Samuel told the news outlet.

“The major complication is ‘thromboembolism’, where fat enters the blood. Another is fluid accumulating in the skin or the skin might begin to die. We try to minimize the chances of these complications by studying the patient properly and being reserved with the procedure.”

Samuel, however, reiterated the need for the government to see to it that such services are made available in the country and that regulatory measures are put in place to control the sort of surgical procedures that have begun to come to light.

“If Nigerians have started seeking the services of plastic surgeons, then it might be high time the government saw to it that the services are made available in the country and make laws to regulate the kind of procedures that are being undergone,” he said.