Celebrity hairdresser Carole Haddad breaks wrists, tears ligaments in salon accident

Celebrity hairdresser and reality TV star Carole Haddad has revealed her “utter terror” after a shocking accident shattered both her wrists and threatened to end her career. SEE VIDEO

Celebrity hairdresser Carole Haddad has revealed her “utter terror” after a shocking accident shattered both her wrists and threatened to end her career.

“My hands are everything to me, they’re my life – I have never cried so much,” said Ms Haddad, who slipped and fell down the stairs of her West End salon Corcorz on January 21.

“I went to protect my face and landed on my hands; the pain was like nothing I’ve felt and I was petrified I would never be the same.”

Ms Haddad’s high-profile clientele includes Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman, newsreader Sandra Sully, Brisbane’s fashion elite and previously, US star Pamela Anderson, former UK first lady Cherie Blaire and Big Brother cast members and host, Gretel Killeen.

After the fall, Ms Haddad – who herself appeared on reality TV in last year’s My Mum Your Dad – was rushed to hospital where her wrists were bandaged.

Hairdresser Carole Haddad pictured at her hair salon in Brisbane’s West End. Picture: Josh Woning

Due to the rare severity of her injuries, the 57-year-old was referred to specialist Mark Ross at the Brisbane Hand and Upper Limb Clinic.

“I’ll be honest with you, I was in utter terror, and I’ve had some very dark days,” she said.

“I’d look at my fingers and they were blue and I’d think, am I ever going to use them again?”

Ms Haddad’s wrists were operated on separately, on February 9 and 13, and both required full reconstruction.

More surgery awaits to remove temporary metal pins in the bones but the plates and screws will be permanent.

Dr Ross said he had never encountered a patient with so many injuries.

“The significant challenge with Carole is that she had two of each – a fracture and acute ligament injury – in both wrists, which is really rare; I can’t remember ever seeing that,” he said.

Dr Ross used “minimally invasive techniques” honed by the clinic – whose research arm works with the world’s best in Europe and the US.

“We’re constantly tossing ideas back and forth, and the techniques we’ve developed are cutting edge.

“Here in Brisbane we are punching above our weight,” he said.

Carole Haddad’s bandaged wrists and hands after the accident.

Carole Haddad recovering in hospital.

Since her fall, Ms Haddad has received around-the-clock care from family and friends, including clients, but said it was “a million-dollar question” when she might return to work.

“I miss it so much but Dr Ross gifted me my life back, and I know I’m going to get there, I’m a fighter.”

She said she had never broken a bone before – “that’s how careful I am, so when this happened my life went into chaos”.

“I couldn’t feed or shower myself and the most exciting thing I’ve done since surgery is hold a straw.”

Ms Haddad has been overwhelmed by the support she’s received.

“There has been a phenomenal amount of love and care – it made me sad in a way as I really never thought I was so loved,” she said.