Dec 14 2004

STAR'S MYSTERY INJURIES

By Jane Ridley

WITH giant plasters on both knees, Nicole Kidman is far from her glamorous best after stripping off for an early morning swim.

The sticking tape makes her look more like an overgrown schoolgirl after a playground tumble than a gorgeous Hollywood superstar.

Not that the 37-year-old Australian seemed worried as she threw herself into a pool workout with her personal fitness trainer in Los Angeles.

Her appearance did raise questions, however, about what on earth the 5ft 11in actress has been doing.

She could, of course, have taken a fall playing with her children, Isabella, 11, and nine-year-old Conor.

Or the beauty - who usually brings men to their knees - may have just nicked herself shaving in the bath.

Or maybe she has been injured... erm... overdoing it with new boyfriend Steve Bing, Liz Hurley's ex.

There is another theory doing the rounds, though - that the bandages are the result of a "knee lift".

Fatty deposits around the area are notoriously difficult to shift and the only option for high-earning celebrities is often plastic surgery.

Dr Apostolos Gaitanis, a leading cosmetic surgeon in Harley Street in London, believes Nicole's matching plasters could be the tell-tale signs of liposculpture.

He said: "She is in her mid-thirties, an age when many women find that fat has started to collect on the inside and upper section of their knees.

"No matter how much they exercise or control their diet, these deposits stay put."

He said the procedure, costing around £2,500 for both knees, can be carried out under local or general anaesthetic.

"We usually make two 3mm incisions in the knee and use a fine hollow tube to gently suck out the fat

"It takes about 45 minutes and the patient can go home immediately."

For the next few days, patients wear plasters and support stockings to help the skin "re-drape correctly".

Another Hollywood star, Demi Moore, forgot to have her knees lifted after spending £200,000 on other surgery.

She was mortified when critics said her saggy knees ruined the new look.

Moore allegedly contacted her surgeon immediately to get them done.

Of course, there could be much a simpler explanation.

Filming on Moulin Rouge three years ago was held up after Nicole hurt her knee during a dance routine - and these may just be old injuries.

One thing is for sure, though.

Nicole didn't hurt herself out on a wild knees-up... the actress is far too clean-living to get plastered.