A YouTube star is suing a Harley Street plastic surgeon for £1.7 million over claims that "overly large" breast implants ruined her career.
Danielle Mansutti, 30, says she was left with "disfigured" breasts and a "very poor cosmetic appearance" after undergoing three operations between December 2020 and May 2021.
The influencer, who had 1.6 million subscribers to her makeup tutorials, fashion and lifestyle videos, says she opted for surgery in December 2020 and went under the knife twice more when her left breast began to droop and her nipple would "point outwards".
After seeing a third surgeon, she says she was finally advised that the implants had been too big for her size eight frame and had caused her chest muscles on her left side to tear away from the bone, leaving her in agony and with asymmetrical breasts.
Ms Mansutti, who had the implants removed in May 2021, is now suing Harley Street plastic surgeon Dr Domenico Mileto who carried out the original surgery, accusing him of recommending oversized implants.
She says the physical and mental impact of her ordeal led to her quitting the UK and "stopping work as an influencer," losing her "successful social media career."
Her claim for damages includes alleged lost social media earnings of around £1.4 million.
Dr Mileto denies blame, insisting there was nothing wrong with the surgery, that the implants were not too big and that she had asked for breasts that size.
Ms Mansutti was born in the UK and moved to Australia with her family aged 12, but then returned, creating a self-titled YouTube channel in January 2011.
She was living in Brighton when her popularity soared, as she posted online challenges, travel features, motivational videos and vlogs.
The High Court heard she quit working as an influencer around a month after having surgery in December 2020.
Her barrister Caroline Hallissey says she went to Dr Mileto at the MYA Clinic in Wimpole Street, central London, and consultation notes recorded: "Now size bra is 34B, wants C/D."
She says she asked for a “natural breast appearance”, and she initially tried implants in a sports bra.
“When she expressed a preference for the smaller implant, Dr Mileto advised her to go for the larger implant as he said the implant would 'drop' and 'shrink' in time”, said Ms Hallissey.
"She did not appreciate that different options for implants were available. She believed that Dr Mileto was the expert and that if he considered a 400cc implant was required to achieve the C/D cup and the natural look she wanted, then he must be right.
"She was not advised of any specific risks pertaining to the size of the implant that Dr Mileto had selected for her. She was not advised that 400cc implants, in the context of her small frame, had potential adverse implications for the soft tissue and skin of the breasts or her pectoral muscles (or that) corrective surgery might be required if such large implants were used."
By January 2021, she was concerned about her dropping left breast, and she underwent revision surgery by a different doctor, achieving "short term relief of the pain" which did not stop the dropping, the court has been told.
Ms Mansutti went on to have the implants removed by a third surgeon in May 2021, but says she has been left with "a visual deformity" caused by muscle damage and stretch marks.
The third surgeon's note "records that the pectoral muscle on the left side had become detached from the sternal bone," the barrister said.
"The appearance of her breasts is disfigured and pain and muscle damage have had a significant effect on her quality of life and ability to work.
"As a result, she decided to return to Australia where her family live so she could access their support and care."
Ms Mansutti argues the implants she was given would have achieved a 34DD/E cup size.
"She has been left with a very poor cosmetic appearance”, her barrister set out, in written submissions.
"She is left with pain and disability caused by pectoral muscle damage. She has extensive scarring to her breasts. The cosmetic appearance of her breasts is poor.
"She has sustained a significant adjustment reaction to the failed surgery."
Matthew Barnes, for Dr Mileto, said he denies putting in "overly large" implants that were bigger than requested.
"The claimant showed...a photograph of how she wanted to look, and whilst he did not keep a copy, it was consistent with 400cc implants," he said.
"He gave the claimant the opportunity to try several implant sizes and take photographs so that she could consider her options after the appointment.
"He advised the claimant that she could have a second appointment if she was uncertain about the size.
"It is admitted that Dr Mileto did not advise the claimant that 'in the context of her small frame [the implants] had potential adverse implications for…her pectoral muscles'. It is denied that he ought to have advised in those terms.
"It is averred that the extent of the dissection was appropriate for the 400cc implant."
Preliminary hearings in the case have taken place, and the dispute is due to return for a five-day trial at a later date.
