Unretouched Lady Gaga photo shows she was Photoshopped to look slimmer and given protruding ribs and perkier breasts for racy nude shoot

She has spoken out on the importance of a positive body image.

However, unretouched photographs of Lady Gaga posing for a 2009 magazine shoot have surfaced, revealing she was airbrushed to appear slimmer.

Not only were centimeters shaved off the 29-year-old's already enviable figure, but - most shockingly - she was given a dangerously protruding rib cage.

Unhealthy: Lady Gaga looked fabulous in the unretouched photos taken during a 2009 shoot (L), however she was slimmed down and her protruding rib cage was emphasized (R)  

Wearing a pink lion's mane and tail to preserve her modesty on the nude shoot, which was shot by Mario Testino, it also appears Gaga's breasts have been airbrushed to appear smaller and higher.

In addition, her skin tone was evened out as bruises were removed and her tattoo was highlighted in the image released by a popular blog.

Adjustments in color and light were the finishing touches in creating the final look, which was almost unrecognizable as the popular entertainer.

Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, has spoken out in the past about her 10-year battle with anorexia and bulimia.

Before: A series of pictures revealed Lady Gaga prior to being photoshopped for her Versace campaign

'I always have been [conflicted about my body],' she told Glamour magazine in 2012.
'And some days are better than others, you know? Some days I feel fantastic. Today's good. [But] at the end of the day, I'm a tortured soul.'
The Paparazzi singer admitted she was bullied at school for being 'fat, ugly and weird.'
'I'm not a supermodel,' she said. 'That's not what I do. What I do is music. I want my fans to feel the way I do, to know what they have to offer is just as important, more important, than what's happening on the outside.'

After: Gaga looked incredible in the shot chosen as the final frame for the Versace campaign

This isn't the first time noticeable retouching has been noticed with the star's photo shoot.
Earlier this month, photographs that had yet to be airbrushed from a Versace modeling campaign had come to light, showing the performer looking washed out with dark circles around her eyes.
The frames were in stark contrast to the sleek, alabaster beauty of the released advertisement.
The pop princess is currently wowing fans on her ARTPOP Ball tour, which kicked off last week in Florida.

Exhibitionist: The performer isn't shy and is known for her racy stage outfits, such as this mermaid-shell number, which she wore for the ARTPOP Ball Tour opener in Fort Lauderdale, FL on Sunday