This “Human Ken Doll” Can’t Breathe Out of His Nose After 8 Rhinoplasties

Update 2/7/17: According to the DailyMail, Rodrigo Alves has developed another medical issue in addition to his current breathing problems following his 50th surgical procedure. A giant cyst—which he didn't notice until fans pointed it out in the above Instagram photo—has recently formed behind his left ear. "I went to the doctor and he told me that it [the cyst] would have always been there but my facelift has made it much bigger," he explained to the DailyMail. "It doesn't hurt and I went to the doctor and he confirmed it was not dangerous, but I need to get it removed." Alves hopes to have the cyst taken off before attending Elton John's Oscars Party on February 26th. 

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Rodrigo Alves, aka the “human Ken doll,” is well-known for his affinity for plastic surgery. His long list of completed procedures range from a simple Botox Cosmetic injection to a full facelift, clocking in at a total of 50 cosmetic operations to date. While this may seem excessive to the rest of us, Alves certainly doesn’t see it that way, even after a botched nose job.

In a recent interview on the British TV show, This Morning, 33-year-old Alves claims his surgeries are a “constant maintenance” and that “you can’t get addicted to plastic surgery." However, as Cosmopolitan points out, Rodrigo has had to undergo eight rhinoplasties, one of which resulted in an infection that could have potentially ate away at his face, leaving him with permanent damage. Luckily, the infection was able to be controlled, however, now he’s left unable to breathe properly through his nose.

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“July last year I had my nose reconstructed with a piece of cartilage from my ribs," Alves said in the interview. "That helped, but I still can't breathe 100%." 

When asked about the risks associated with plastic surgery, Alves dismissed the comment: "It's [plastic surgery] an elective procedure, so it's only done on healthy individuals. If you have a heart condition, diabetes or smoke, you can have problems." However, there's a risk with every surgery, even for those who are considered in good health. "Because facial plastic surgery is elective, most patients think nothing bad can happen," explains Beverly Hills, CA, facial plastic surgeon, Kimberly Lee, MD. "It's important not to cut corners with preoperative medical clearance including blood tests or an EKG to ensure the patient will be safe in surgery."

Additionally, partaking in repetitive and excessive cosmetic surgeries like this is oftentimes a sign of plastic surgery addiction, which can stem from body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Alves hasn’t been diagnosed with BDD, but studies have shown that the condition is often overlooked by plastic surgeons before their patients go under the knife. "I think the most important thing as a specialist in facial plastic surgery is knowing when to counsel the patient to stop," says Dr. Lee. "There's a fine line between looking great and starting to looking unnatural." 

Even after all of these surgeries, Alves is still on the quest for physical perfection. “It’s a constant maintenance,” he repeated. “I’m a totally different person, I’d say that today, my soul matches to my body.”  Watch Alves’ entire interview below: