Blogger undergoes weight-loss surgery despite being only 53kg

Venus Palermo, 21, grew up in London but now lives in Japan as a 'living doll'. Photo / Caters

A young woman had a near-death experience after she had weight-loss surgery at just 53kg, as she believed she was obese.

Venus Palermo, 21, who grew up in London but now lives in Japan, claims to have contacted more than 50 doctors from around the world, but found only one willing to do the surgery.

The YouTube star and "living doll" better known by her channel name of "Venus Angelic", made the trip to South Korea so she could have the dramatic procedure, which involved sewing shut a portion of her stomach and removing 120cm of her intestines.

The YouTube star and 'living doll' is better known by her channel name of 'Venus Angelic'. Photo / Caters

At first, she claims, the surgery was a success and she managed to maintain a weight of 53kg reports the Daily Mail.

Wanting to appear "naturally skinny" she kept the surgery a secret, but about a year later she began to get sick and could no longer eat food or drink water.

Constantly throwing up, her weight plummeted to just over 38kg and she had to be admitted to hospital, where doctors fears for her life and had to drip feed her.

The stitches had collapsed so food was going into the closed-off part of her stomach, and she needed emergency surgery to repair her stomach.

Venus, 21, said: "It was devastating when the doctor came into my room and said we would need to do surgery.

"I felt so dumb I cared so much about something unnecessary and hurt myself and my husband.

"When I started to puke out just water I realised something was really wrong.

"It was really scary and it was very painful - I honestly thought I was going to die."

Venus Palermo who grew up in London but now lives in Japan saw her weight plummet after surgery. Photo / Caters

Venus suffered body issues from a young age and says she saw herself as morbidly obese, despite her slim frame.

"At the time I got the surgery what I really needed was psychological help and not weight-loss surgery.

"I used to try and avoid looking at myself, but when out in the city walking around I would see myself in the window's reflection as this really huge obese person in the way of everyone.

"I felt like this huge elephant bumping around - I tried to hide myself because I thought I was so big."

She now feels angry at the doctor that was willing to do the surgery. "He might have all the qualifications, but a 'real' doctor should have prioritised health over personal gain.

"I looked for surgeons all over the world and asked who would be willing to do it - I must've messaged about 50, and just one agreed.

"When it came to the surgery and he put my mask on, I knew I could die but I wasn't scared, I just felt numb."

Wanting people to believe that she was simply 'naturally skinny' Venus kept her surgery a secret for almost two years.

Venus couldn't keep any food or water down after surgery. Photo / Caters

She even managed to keep the surgery a secret from her boyfriend - until she had to reveal why she was sick.

"I kept it a secret for so long - I just felt so so bad that I didn't want to tell anyone.

"I told a few friends because I kept getting pain and when I spoke to my girlfriends about it and they were really understanding."

She's now sharing her story in a bid to help other girls going through the same thing.

Venus says she hopes her story will stop others from taking such extreme action if they feel bad about their bodies.

"I had to be hospitalised at 90 pounds [40kg] and my face was white and my fingernails were blue.

"I got stomach medication and I got nutrients and hydration through an IV so they could keep me alive.

Venus before surgery: Although she was naturally slim, the YouTube star suffered from body dysmorphia. Photo / Caters

"The sutures had dropped and liquid and food couldn't pass through the small intestine, and dropped into the part of the stomach that was closed off.

"I want to tell others - please don't take extreme measures no matter how much you hate yourself - I feel like I was kind of suicidal when I was younger.

"I made a mistake in my life - I don't always do things right I started to learn from my mistakes.

"I think dwelling on things doesn't help - I don't want to live with regret - I want something productive to come from it and to help people.

"I still have my bad days, but I used to think being skinny was more important than health and now, after this experience, I realise that without health you have nothing."