Celebrity Health

Michael Costello, fashion designer to the stars, is slimming down to comply with what he calls the industry standard -- "skinny bitch" -- and he's using lasers to do it.

Michael finished 4th on Season 8 of "Project Runway" and told us about the moment at a friend's wedding when he knew it was time to fight the fat. One button can change a lot.

He went to Dr. Rollins at Elite Body Sculpture in Bev Hills on Friday to get Airsculpt Laser Liposculpture on his stomach and waist. The procedure uses lasers to soften up your fat, then they vacuum it out. Michael says he dropped 2 sizes instantly.

Michael recorded the good doc going to work on him. Check it out ... if you can stomach it.

Ray J has been fired from "Celebrity Big Brother" because the show was super concerned over his dental problems, sources connected with Ray tell TMZ ... but it just doesn't add up.

Our sources say producers contacted Ray's manager, David Weintraub, Wednesday and told him Ray couldn't continue because they felt he needed extensive dental work and significant recovery time.

That's the line they gave, we're told, but that makes no sense because the decision to give him the axe was made BEFORE he even saw a dentist.

Well, that was quick!

Just 8 weeks after breaking her humerus bone, Lindsey Vonn says she's ready to return to competitive racing ... starting THIS weekend!

The Olympic skier has been documenting her recovery ever since her crash during a practice run in Colorado ... and revealed she suffered nerve damage to her right arm. Vonn says she couldn't even move her hand at first.

Now, after 300 hours of physical therapy, Vonn says she's ready to compete at the World Cup circuit in Austria this weekend.

Break a leg ... (but not really!).

Michael Jordan is too old to compete in Ice Cube's new 3-on-3 league for retired NBA players ... so says Allen Iverson, who tells TMZ Sports MJ's teeth are a little too long to still get it in on the court.

We got Iverson out in NYC at the official news conference for the BIG3 summer league (AI's gonna be playing and coaching) and wanted to know if we could look forward to Michael Jordan showing up.

Why ask Iverson? Allen made his NBA bones against MJ back in '97 crossing over His Airness in a moment most saw as Iverson's arrival, and the beginning of Jordan's departure.

Iverson says Jordan won't get his shot at revenge ... because at 53 he thinks Father Time is playing lockdown defense on MJ.

Thank you, Iverson ... if Michael wasn't thinking about playing before ... we GUARANTEE he is now.

Charles Manson is back in Corcoran State Prison, and we're told he might not survive his health crisis.

TMZ broke the story ... Manson was taken to a Bakersfield hospital a week ago for significant intestinal bleeding. Doctors wanted to perform surgery, but Manson refused. Late last week he had a change of heart, but doctors determined he was so weak he might die on the operating table.

The surgeons went back and forth, planning the surgery again ... but ultimately cancelled it.

We're told there was nothing more the hospital could do, so Manson was taken back to Corcoran -- largely for security reasons.

As for the 82-year-old prisoner's condition, one source familiar with the situation said, "He's not good. His health is failing."

Charles Manson is finally strong enough to undergo a surgery that will repair a lesion in his intestines that has caused significant bleeding ... TMZ has learned.

TMZ broke the story ... Manson was rushed almost a week ago from Corcoran State Prison to a hospital in Bakersfield, CA for an operation. We're told Manson refused the surgery, but on Thursday had a change of heart.

Hours before the scheduled operation, doctors determined they couldn't put the 82-year-old under and operate because he was too weak ... so the surgery was scrubbed.

We're now told Manson's regained his strength and doctors have green lit the procedure, which will now go down later today.

Charles Manson's grandson wants a face-to-face with his infamous grandfather while he's hospitalized ... and is worried he may never get to tell the murderer he loves him.

Jason Freeman -- son of Charles Manson Jr. -- tells TMZ he's been working with lawyers to try and get access to his grandfather's bedside in Bakersfield ... but so far no luck.

Charles Manson was supposed to have surgery Thursday night for intestinal bleeding, but doctors determined he was too weak and the procedure too risky ... TMZ has learned.

Sources familiar with the situation tell us ... Manson was taken from Corcoran State Prison to a Bakersfield hospital a few days ago because of a lesion in his intestines that was causing significant bleeding.

We're told doctors wanted to perform surgery shortly after the 82-year-old arrived at the hospital but he refused.

Our sources say Thursday Manson had a change of heart and agreed to the surgery, but during pre-op late yesterday doctors determined he needed to go under the knife ... but felt it was life-threatening because his condition was too weak.

Manson remains at the hospital and doctors are trying to figure out their next move.

Members of the U.S. Army Honor Guard did NOT leave their fellow soldier hanging after he fainted and face-planted at President Obama's farewell ceremony ... they were just following procedure.

Maj. Russell Fox tells TMZ ... the Honor Guard soldiers are to maintain ceremonial composure at all times no matter what ... even if one of their own goes down, as occurred Wednesday. The Major says officers in the rear of the formation are trained to move forward to recover someone who collapses.

We're told that's what happened right after this photo was taken, and the soldier was checked out by medics and released. He's doing fine today. Fox won't say exactly what caused the collapse -- locking the knees, overheating, etc ... but says they're giving the young man additional training to prevent a repeat.

We're told the soldier who fell is new to the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment -- official escorts to the prez -- which represents all soldiers at ceremonies.

He ditched the drugs ... he ditched the lean ... and now Gucci Mane is 'bout a different kind of life -- CYCLING!

The 36-year-old rap superstar has picked up the sport as part of his new, healthy lifestyle -- and he's even got the Lance Armstrong-style outfit to match.

Gucci famously battled with weed and sizzurp before he went to prison -- and now that he's out, he's vowed to stay clean.

Today is day one with the bike ... and he doesn't look half bad.

Sharon Tate's sister, Debra, says more than a decade ago prison officials told her Charles Manson was on the verge of dying.

Tate says during a parole hearing while Gray Davis was Governor of California (1999 - 2003) an official from Corcoran State Prison made it clear ... the man who murdered her sister was suffering from some sort of fatal illness.

The official was either wrong or just severely premature, and Debra says whatever is ailing Manson now ... it's not the end.

TMZ broke the story ... Manson was rushed from the prison to a hospital in Bakersfield. One source told TMZ he has gastrointestinal issues.

President Obama's farewell ceremony was too much for a member of a U.S. Army Honor Guard ... who hit the floor hard.

The Virginia ceremony was supposed to celebrate the prez's 8 years in office, and all was going well until the guard lost consciousness.

Good news, bad news for Jimmy Snuka ... a judge has dismissed the murder charge against him -- but only because she thinks the ex-wrestler is too mentally gone to stand trial.

Snuka's legal team had argued that he had terminal cancer and only had months to live ... and also suffers from such a bad case of dementia that he doesn't realize he's been charged with murder.

Prosecutors had claimed Snuka was faking the dementia to get out of the case.

But Tuesday, the Lehigh County judge officially sided with Snuka's camp -- ruling the wrestler is still incompetent and she's convinced he will not regain competency and "that it would be unjust to resume the prosecution."

A brave teen fighting a rare form of cancer tells TMZ Sports Carmelo Anthony's gift to his family changed his life ... and gave him a new outlook forever.

We talked to Jarrell Lara ... a 17-year-old Knicks fan battling Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis ... a type of cancer that attacks the bone marrow.

'Melo suprised Jarrell and his whole family earlier this month, presenting them with a brand new car they desperately needed to get back and forth during some financially tough times.

Lara told us the gesture meant so much more to him than Anthony can even imagine ... and that now he has a goal to shoot for in life ... besides beating the disease.

"It just makes me think how if you really try, you could be that successful."

Rob Kardashian's hospital visit had a flash of Lamar Odom's near-death ER trip ... based on a revealing pattern.

Kris Jenner and Corey Gamble showed up at the West Hills Medical Center Wednesday night with a leopard print blanket in tow ... and it looked familiar.

You'll recall in October 2015, Lamar was wheeled in a gurney wrapped in the same patterned blanket ... which Khloe called a good luck charm that she believes helped save her ex-hubby's life.

We're told the blanket Kris brought to the ER wasn't Lamar's, but it was identical. Almost everyone in the family has one.

TMZ broke the story ... Rob checked himself into the ER after his rocky relationship with Chyna led to some pronounced weight gains and serious diabetes flare-ups.

Kanye West is making serious gains in the gym -- and not just for his body.

Sources close to the rapper tell us 'Ye's been hitting the gym 5 to 6 times a week recently ... and it's become a critical component in his mental recovery, for several reasons.

Intense workouts help everyone get clarity ... something Kanye was lacking for months. It also helps people sleep better, which was another big factor in his mental breakdown.

Kanye's workouts are with celeb trainer Don Brooks -- who's also worked with Kim, Kourtney and Khloe -- and they include resistance training with bands, jump rope and some one-on-one bball.

Each session can last up to 2 hours ... switching between 'Ye's home gym and local spots.

We're told Kanye's been "very present" with Kim and the kids and a big part of that is working out his frustrations in the weight room.

As for Harley Pasternak -- the trainer who was with Kanye when he was rushed to the hospital -- we're told he's still in the picture. When you're super rich you have multiple trainers.