Michael Jackson's autopsy revealed secret surgery, tattoos

Michael Jackson [Photo: Courtesy]

Michael Jackson’s tragic history of cosmetic surgery and secret health problems were laid bare in his autopsy after his death in 2009.

The King of Pop passed away at the age of 50 after an overdose of surgical anaesthetic Propofol at his mansion in Los Angeles.

His autopsy report was later published in full, and it confirmed the Thriller star's body was covered in scars.

Jackson had puncture wounds all over his arms, believed to have been caused by the drugs he was injecting in a desperate bid to overcome chronic insomnia.

There were also visible traces of the numerous cosmetic surgeries he'd undergone over the years.

He had two surgical scars behind his ears and two more on either side of his nostrils.

There were also scars at the base of his neck and on his arms and wrist.

Doctors later concluded that many of these were from his various operations.

Michael Jackson [Photo: Courtesy]

As well as undergoing surgery to change his appearance, Jackson also had a number of cosmetic tattoos including permanent pink liner inked around his lips.

The pop star also had a bald patch on his scalp which had been darkened with a tattoo.

Jackson was almost bald and it's believed the hairless patch on his head was due to burns he suffered in an accident on the set of a Pepsi commercial in 1984.

He had been filming a performance using pyrotechnics when his hair was set on fire and he was treated for horrific second and third-degree burns.

The singer spent years covering up the bald patch with wigs and hair pieces.

He was said to have also been going bald at the front of his head and the rest of his hair was described as being short and curly.

The autopsy also confirmed the truth behind years of speculation about Jackson's changing skin colour.

Michael Jackson [Photo: Courtesy]

He had always insisted the change in his appearance over the years was due to skin condition vitilago, which causes patches of lost pigmentation.

Dr. Christopher Rogers, the medic who oversaw the autopsy, noted that Jackson did indeed suffer from vitilago, adding: "So, some areas of the skin appear light and others appear dark."

The autopsy also showed there had been a depserate struggle to save Jackson after he was found unconscious at his home on June 25 2009.

Chest bruising and cracked ribs were put down to CPR attempts by paramedics trying to resuscitate him

Their efforts to save the King of Pop failed and Jackson was later pronounced dead.

His death was attributed to an overdose of Propofol, a surgical anaesthetic used in operating rooms.

It had been administered by Jackson's personal doctor Conrad Murray, who was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter over the star's death.

Michael Jackson [Photo: Courtesy]

He was sentenced to four years behind bars, but was released from prison in 2013 after a two-year stretch.

Jackson was thrust back into the headlines last month after the screening of controversial documentary Leaving Neverland at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah.

The documentary contains explosive claims of sexual abuse against children.

Jackson's family condemned the movie in a scathing statement, comparing it to a "public lynching".

The Thriller hit maker was tried on child molestations charges in 2004-2005 - but he was acquitted on every charge.