Trinny Woodall has undergone neck surgery after a painful condition she first experienced more than a decade ago returned in recent weeks.
The 62-year-old businesswoman shared a video from hospital on Thursday, explaining that she chose to have the procedure privately rather than wait for NHS treatment.
Woodall said the problem resurfaced while she was in Australia promoting her Trinny London skincare and makeup brand. Keen to resolve the issue quickly, she arranged to have the operation carried out as soon as possible.
In the Instagram video, she explained that around 10 or 12 years ago she had needed a disc replacement between the C4 and C5 vertebrae in her neck, a procedure that followed a year of considerable pain.
A C4-C5 disc problem affects the cushioning structure between the fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae in the neck.
Such an issue can lead to localised neck pain, restricted movement and, in some cases, cervicogenic headaches.
Woodall said the symptoms had returned around six weeks ago and became particularly uncomfortable during her trip to Australia.
Trinny Woodall has had neck surgery after a painful condition she first battled more than 10 years ago returned
The 62-year-old shared a hospital video on Thursday and said she opted for private treatment rather than wait for the NHS
She said she had undergone a “little procedure” to correct the problem and felt fortunate to be able to identify the cause and receive treatment within a short time. Woodall also made clear that the operation was not carried out through the NHS.
The Trinny London founder was treated at the London Spine Hospital in Harley Street by Dr Akmal, the same surgeon who performed her previous operation 12 years ago. She praised him as “brilliant” and said he had taken the time to show her the MRI scans and explain how the affected nerve was causing her symptoms.
Woodall added that she valued doctors who clearly explain what is happening inside the body. She said she planned to return home shortly after the procedure because she does not enjoy staying in hospital.
Her health update comes after reports last month suggested that Woodall and Susannah Constantine could return to television with a reboot of their “extreme” fashion makeover programme, What Not To Wear.
The BBC series began in 2001 and ran for five series until 2005. Contestants were given a £2,000 budget to overhaul their wardrobes with help from the famously outspoken presenters.
During an interview in October, Woodall confirmed that she and Constantine had been speaking with producers about the possibility of reviving the popular fashion show.
Speaking to Lorraine Kelly on Saga’s Experience is Everything podcast, Woodall said the pair had recently been approached and that discussions about a possible return were still continuing.
Woodall said the old neck problem returned while she was in Australia promoting her Trinny London beauty brand
She previously needed a C4-C5 disc replacement after experiencing severe pain more than a decade ago, pictured in June this year
The health news follows reports that Woodall and Susannah Constantine may revive their hit makeover series What Not To Wear
Woodall said she had initially been reluctant to consider the idea because Constantine was writing her third book while she was running Trinny London, where she employs 300 people as chief executive.
However, the presenters later met with the production team, who had asked their younger staff to watch the original What Not To Wear episodes. Woodall said she was surprised by how much they enjoyed the series.
She reflected that the programme had been deliberately provocative, including moments when husbands agreed to let cameras film inside their wives’ dressing rooms to reveal how they dressed.
According to Woodall, that kind of directness has become less common because people are now more cautious about causing offence. She said the producers had been persuasive and that she had recently decided to remain more open to new opportunities.
Woodall explained that she no longer wanted to dismiss possibilities immediately, believing that one opportunity can lead to another and that certain offers appear for a reason.
She said people should consider why an opportunity had arisen and what it might ultimately bring.
The presenters became known for asking participants to strip down to their underwear in front of a 360-degree mirror before delivering blunt assessments of their bodies, clothes and self-image.
Woodall and Constantine also regularly poked fun at each other’s perceived physical flaws, including Constantine’s “chicken arms” and Woodall’s “flat chest”, while offering similarly frank advice to the people seeking a new wardrobe.
At the height of its popularity, What Not To Wear attracted audiences of up to seven million viewers, many of whom enjoyed the duo’s unfiltered approach.
After the BBC cancelled the show, the presenters moved to ITV for Trinny & Susannah… Undress.
Woodall launched her makeup and skincare company, Trinny London, in 2017.
The business has since expanded from a kitchen-table startup into an international beauty brand valued at £180million.
Constantine, meanwhile, has focused on her career as a novelist.
