Vladimir Putin has had extensive plastic surgery to help shed his geeky image, top cosmetic surgeon says

VLADIMIR Putin sells himself as the ultimate, no-nonsense Russian hard man – but is he a secret cosmetic surgery addict?

Speaking exclusively to Sun Online, leading UK cosmetic surgeon Gerard Lambe claims the 66-year-old Russian leader’s face displays the tell-tale signs of cosmetic work that helped him shed his geeky looks and transform into a bona fide tough guy.

Speculation is rife that the Russian President has had numerous procedures over the years in order to improve his image.

The Judo-playing, broad-shouldered macho man has won over millions of voters over the years with an image which says: “don’t mess with me.”

And at the G20 meetings today and tomorrow, world leaders will no doubt consider a meeting with Putin an intimidating experience

But it definitely hasn’t always been that way for the former KGB Lieutenant Colonel as these startling pictures reveal.

It turns out Vlad was once a bulgy-eyed Mr Bean lookalike with a chin as weak as your nan’s lemon squash. So what has changed?

So what transformed Russia’s Mr Wimpy into the tanned game-hunting statesmen-like leader who rules the roost today.

Well rumours of Putin’s use of Botox – and maybe even plastic surgery –  have long rang around his homeland.

One popular joke goes: “In response to the charge there are no new faces in Russian politics, Vladimir Putin got one.”

Speaking to Sun Online, Dr Lambe of the Reflect Clinic in Manchester said: “Putin’s facial contouring has clearly changed over the years and while our face shape can become thinner with age – his is noticeably wider and plumper.

“This would be largely down to cheek fillers. I’d say he’s clearly got a dedicated aesthetic surgeon on his team as these fillers were certainly quite subtle to start.

“In images from about seven years ago he certainly looks much more gaunt and craggy but some work has been done to create a youthful, fuller contour with fillers”

Well that explains the fuller face, but what about his now remarkably different eyes?

“I can also see a subtle upper eye lift and quite likely a chin lift – giving him a much more alert and fresher look,” Dr Lambe told Sun Online.

“Overall , I would say hold back on the fillers Mr Putin as there is too much and that’s why it looks much more obvious now.

“I find a lot men who discover how professionally administered fillers and Botox can turn back the clock can go a bit mad and have too much too soon.

“It has to be gradual and a way to enhance features to obtain a fresher, flattering effect,” he added.

The Botox claims first emerged in 2011, when Putin showed up to a meeting sporting a massive bruise around his eye.

His spokesman was even forced to issue denials saying: “It’s probably just how the light fell. The prime minister is tired.”

Russia’s liberal New Times magazine revived the debate a year later in an article titled “What has happened with Putin’s face?”

It spoke to four plastic surgeons who all agreed the Russian leader had probably had some kind of  cosmetic surgery.

They said it was likely that he’d undergone Botox in his forehead, an eye-lift on his lower lids, and an injection of cheek filler.

His macho man, outdoorsy look of modern times is certainly far removed from the pictures from the start of his political career.

Black and white pictures from 1970 show a sullen-faced 22-year-old Putin with a scowl and a choir boy side parting.

And pictures from 2002 show a geeky looking Putin shaking hands with then North Korean despot Kim Jong-il.

In the photos taken in Vladivostok, Vlad looked a shadow of his swaggering self.

He looks nervous and chinless – not the man who so readily faces down the might of the West today.

In a photo dated 2000, Putin’s hair still has tones of blonde but the signs of ageing are becoming more apparent on his features.

Fast-forward to 2010, and the “action man” looks tired and haggered after taking part in a judo session.

In December 2013, after around two years in office as President, he looked vastly different again, his face puffy but wrinkle-free.

The Kremlin was then forced to deny rumours that he was unwell – or had undergone surgery – when he disappeared for 10 days.

When he reappeared people noted he seemed to have changed once more – and looked even younger.

These days, Putin looks fresher than ever – more 45 than his real age of 66.

The wrinkles on his forehead, clearly visibly in previous pictures, have disappeared, while his skin look smooth, taut and tanned.