ITV Loose Women fans rushed to praise Katie Piper as she made her last appearance on the show for 2023.

Earlier this month the star shared a health update with her fans as she made her return to the programme.

The TV presenter appeared on the daytime show for the first time since she had pioneering surgery last month to save her left eye, which involved essentially sewing it shut.

Back in 2008, she was the victim of an acid attack aged 24 and ended up suffering from life-changing burns, injuries and blindness in one eye.

Now aged 40, she has been opening up bravely about the tarsorrhaphy surgery she underwent last month, which joins parts or all of the upper and lower eyelids to completely close the eye.

Katie said at the time of the procedure, which is used to help or heal the cornea: “In my case I am trying to preserve the eye, avoid perforation and losing my eye completely.”

Katie added at the time: “Also, if this helps anyone else…. yes I do sometimes find it hard. I’m ok with looking different to everyone else but operations can sometimes take me back to memories of how this all started and that’s hard mentally.”

She appeared on today’s festive Loose Women and ahead of her appearance she said: “It’s my last @loosewomen of the year! it’s been such a great year with the ladies, so let’s go out with a bang!”

Fans rushed to send warm wishes to Katie ahead of her Christmas break.

@TonyBurn2: “ I saw you on “this morning” & noticed your eye. I did not know what had happened but my wife explained & I read up. I just wanted to say, from a complete stranger, what a wonderful person I think you are. I wish you & your family a Merry Christmas.”

@Geraint27038389 said: “Looking awesome.”

Cocxyco133793: “Looking great girl..

Corbishley 50002 added: “You look gorgeous, just love your dress. Have a lovely Christmas.”

When she made her reappearance earlier this month, she discussed the surgery that she had underwent, saying: “I had a planned procedure done called tarsorrhaphy, which is a semi-permanent closure of the eye. It’s an operation done in theatre and your eye is fully or partially stitched up.

“Some people might be familiar with it, you normally see it when somebody has disease of the cornea. Closing the eye gives it the optimum environment to heal so I’ve had quite a lot of problems with my eye over the last year and a half. I don’t like to go on about it because there’s always somebody worse off!”

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She also spoke of the difficulties that followed in the aftermath of the surgery, saying: “It was a bit like being pregnant because you feel a bit dizzy and nauseous. It’s difficult when the other eye is trying to operate. It does take a bit of taking used to but that does subside and then you get used to it. I had the operation a month ago now, so I’m actually okay, I’m still wearing six-inch high heels!”

The star then spoke about how she has had to be conscious of her health and protect it from such a young age. She said: “I suppose I did experience both of my eyes being damaged at quite a young age. So I always feel really grateful and happy that I’m here, seeing all these lovely people!”

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