Latest news with #mummymakeover
The Sun
2 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
I got a mummy makeover in Mexico to save £19k & had a tummy tuck, lipo & butt lift in one trip to banish my saggy tum
A WOMAN had her 'mummy makeover' in Mexico in a desperate attempt to banish her saggy tum. Maleny Rapalo, who struggled with her body after having two children, has shared how she flew to another country for a bargain 'mummy makeover' despite warnings from loved ones. 8 8 8 The mum had spent years putting her family first and pushing her own insecurities to the side. After giving birth to her son Max, 11, and daughter Mila, six, she found herself battling low confidence due to loose skin, a 'mummy pouch' and a lack of shape – despite managing to lose over 20lbs through regular workouts. When gym sessions didn't give her the results she was hoping for, Maleny, who lives in Orange Country, California, began looking into surgical options in the US – only to be hit with shocking price tags of up to £25,000. Unable to justify the cost, the 32-year-old turned her attention abroad and explored medical tourism – eventually booking a consultation in Tijuana, Mexico. 'After having kids, I struggled with how my body looked, especially my tummy area,' Maleny told NeedToKnow. 'I had loose skin, a square shape and no matter how much I worked out, it just didn't bounce back. 'It made me feel really self-conscious. 'I would avoid taking photos from the front and always wear oversized shirts to hide everything. 'It affected how I showed up in everyday life. Woman left with 'turkey neck' after losing three stone on weight loss jabs gets £10,000 'mummy makeover' abroad 'I avoided tight clothes; bikinis were out of the question. 'I just didn't feel confident and I stopped feeling like 'me' – the woman I was before kids.' The transformation included an extended tummy tuck, Lipo 360, arm and inner thigh liposuction, a Brazilian bum lift and muscle repair – all for $7,800 (£6,200) with an additional $1,000 (£740) for a week-long recovery stay. Despite initial concerns from friends and family, Maleny was confident in her decision. She did thorough research and spoke to a friend who had also undergone surgery in Mexico. Maleny, who is a content creator and full-time corporate employee, said: 'I was definitely nervous. 'It's a big decision and I didn't take it lightly. 'The thought of going abroad added to that at first, but once I did my research and found a surgeon I trusted, I felt at peace. 'The clinic was professional, the staff was amazing, and I felt very cared for throughout the entire process. '[The reaction from people in my life] was mixed at first. 'Some were supportive right away, others had concerns – especially about travelling. 'But once they saw how well I was being taken care of and how happy I was with the results, their perspective shifted. 'Now, they're so proud of me for doing something for myself.' Maleny had the surgery in April 2025. 8 During recovery, she experienced some discomfort, particularly from the muscle repair when sneezing or coughing – but overall found the pain manageable. Now, three months post-op, she feels like a whole new person. She said, 'It was emotional when I first looked at myself in the mirror. 'Even though I was swollen, I could see curves, a waistline and the flat stomach I hadn't seen in years. 'I cried, not out of vanity, but because I finally saw myself again. 'It was like I got a piece of myself back.' The journey has not only changed her physically but emotionally too – giving her back the sense of self she lost after motherhood. Her family and online followers have been hugely supportive. Maleny has even shared her experience on TikTok, where she's been overwhelmed by the response – especially from other mums. She added: 'It's changed everything. 'I show up more confidently, whether it's getting dressed, being on camera, or just playing with my kids. 'I'm no longer hiding under baggy clothes or cropping myself out of photos. 'It's not just physical; it gave me a new sense of self-worth. 'I feel like the best version of myself, and that energy spills into everything I do, including motherhood. What are the risks of getting surgery abroad? IT'S important to do your research if you're thinking about having cosmetic surgery abroad. It can cost less than in the UK, but you need to weigh up potential savings against the potential risks. Safety standards in different countries may not be as high. No surgery is risk-free. Complications can happen after surgery in the UK or abroad. If you have complications after an operation in the UK, the surgeon is responsible for providing follow-up treatment. Overseas clinics may not provide follow-up treatment, or they may not provide it to the same standard as in the UK. Also, they may not have a healthcare professional in the UK you can visit if you have any problems. Source: NHS 8 8 8
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Mum, 40, spends £10,000 on 'mummy makeover' surgery after cruel trolls mocked her turkey neck and apron belly
A mother-of-two left with saggy boobs and a 'turkey neck' after losing 3 stone on Mounjaro claims she now feels 'complete' after having extensive cosmetic surgery, including a tummy tuck and boob lift. Victoria Vigors, 40, from Kent, had lost all confidence in her appearance after a c-section left her with a noticeable scar that her growing stomach would 'fall over'. 'I was very self conscious about my FUPA, [fat upper pubic area],' she said. 'It was really obvious—I would wear tight fitting clothes and you could just see I had a really unnatural-looking belly. I hated it.' After receiving numerous hate comments online, ridiculing her 'flabby belly', the content creator decided to start taking Mounjaro—the so-called king kong of weight loss jabs. But, despite feeling the healthiest she had ever been, she was left with over 40lbs of excess skin on her stomach, face, neck and chest area. She said: 'I'd been on Mounjaro for ages and eating really healthily, so I felt fantastic on the inside. 'But on the outside, my confidence was at an all time low. 'Where I had lost the weight on Mounjaro, the skin around my neck was like a turkey. It was all saggy and I hated my jowls. 'My side profile would show my sagging neck and people would point it out, saying I looked 50-years-old. Even my daughter would call me "jelly belly" and poke my stomach.' After finding the Revitalize clinic online, Ms Vigors took the plunge and underwent 'mummy makeover' surgery in Turkey—which included a skin tucking procedure to tighten her stomach muscles. She also underwent a breast lift with fat transfer to fix her 'misshapen' and uneven breasts as well as liposuction, detailing her journey on social media. 'Weirdly enough I didn't feel anxious about going in,' she recalled. 'I was already staying at the villa with loads of people who'd already had surgery and were recovering. 'They were all looking great already, so I wasn't nervous at all,' she added. She told her 116,000 Instagram followers that she was 'obsessed' with the results of the procedure, after her dramatic weight loss left her with 'one boob much bigger than the other'. After what would be her the first of many cosmetic tweaks, she took to Instagram with before-and-after videos flaunting her incredible transformation. She said: 'I woke up feeling very groggy and I had drains [in my stomach] to collect any blood that was still coming out. The pain was unreal. 'Then they showed me a bit of my stomach that they cut away. It looked like a slab of fatty pork—I asked them to bin it,' she said. 'But once I could take the compression garments off, I was over the moon. 'My stomach had gone down and was so flat, and my boobs looked great. I thought "wow, this is my body now". She added: 'There is a lot of pressure to be perfect. Of course, nobody can be, but this is my idea of perfect.' Then just five days later she underwent a lower face and neck lift. Despite having 'massive quilting stitches' all over her face that looked like 'tyre tracks', after the first 24 hours had passed she said the pain eased off. Speaking to NeedToKnow, the mother-of-two added that she is overjoyed with her new look, which has given her the confidence to wear everything from cropped tops to cocktail dresses. She added: 'My friends just can't believe how great I look. One of them walked straight passed me and didn't even realise it was me. Then she said: "Oh my god, look at you now—the glow-up is real". She has since returned to the clinic for laser eye surgery and porcelain crowns fitted on her teeth—a procedure commonly known as Turkey teeth. Ms Vigors now plans on returning again in September to have breast implants fitted and a labiaplasty, which is surgery to reduce the size of the labia minora. 'I'm super excited for my labiaplasty', she said. 'After having two children I want it to be more levelled out and neat. 'Now my face is done, my body looks great, it is just those final things.' Figures suggest that around of patients who are left with excess skin folds develop infections or other serious skin conditions, such as ulcers, following dramatic weight loss. Mounjaro, also known as tirzepatide, is a weekly jab that can help patients shed up to a fifth of their body weight in a year. The revolutionary jab will reportedly be offered to around 220,000 people over the next three years under new NHS prescribing rules. GPS can now prescribe the drug to patients with a BMI over 40—classed severely obese—and at least four obesity-related health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnoea. More than a million people in the UK are already using the jab via private clinics, where it costs an eye-watering £250 a month. However, until now, only a limited number of patients could access it on the NHS via specialist weight-management services.
The Sun
6 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Fat jabs gave me misshapen boobs & an apron belly – I looked 50 but mummy makeover gave me the body of a 20 year old
A WOMAN who was left with a 'turkey neck' after losing three stone on weight loss jabs is finally comfortable in her own skin after getting a £10,000 'mummy makeover' abroad. Victoria Vigors decided to have a tummy tuck, liposuction, breast lift, face lift and neck lift after using Mounjaro - a prescription injection used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity - to slim down. 15 15 The 40-year-old initially felt 'misshapen' after losing so much weight. But now she's never been happier - and says she looks better today than she did aged 20. 'I was very self-conscious about my fupa,' the mum, who is a content creator with 270,000 followers, revealed. 'My tummy overhung because I had a caesarean with my daughter, so it left a scar that my stomach would fall over. 'It was really obvious - I would wear tight-fitting clothing, and you could just see I had a really unnatural-looking belly. I hated it. 'My boobs felt misshapen, and one was much bigger than the other. 'And where I had lost weight on Mounjaro - the skin around my neck was like a turkey. 'It was all saggy, and I hated my jowls. 'I just felt old and unattractive.' Victoria, from Kent, said people used to stare at her stomach and even make comments. I spent £75k to turn myself into a 'yummy mummy' - not only am I now more confident in a bikini, but a better parent too She said: 'I've been called 'flabby belly' online. 'People would say I looked more like 50. 'My side profile would show my sagging neck, and people would point it out. 'As much as my daughter would joke, she would also call me 'jelly belly' and poke my stomach. 'I'd been on Mounjaro for ages and eating really healthily, so I felt fantastic on the inside. 'But on the outside, my confidence was at an all-time low.' 15 15 After speaking to friends and getting recommendations, Victoria found Revitalize in Turkey. She spoke to the clinic and was told about a £10,000 'mummy makeover'. The mum booked in for surgery and flew out just 10 days later. She said: 'Weirdly enough, I didn't feel anxious at all about going in. 'I was just so excited. 'I was already staying at the villa with loads of people who'd already had surgery and were recovering. 'They were all looking great already, so I wasn't nervous. 'I was a bit more stressed going into having my face done because obviously that's my face, and if that goes wrong, then I'm stuck with it. 'But I'd seen other people's results, which looked great.' 15 15 DAY OF THE SURGERY Victoria's first surgery was for her tummy tuck, liposuction and breast lift. She said: 'I woke up feeling very groggy, and the pain in my stomach was unreal. 'It'd hurt even more when I moved or coughed. 'I was in and out of sleep for a while, so I was a bit confused at times, but the next day they encouraged me to get up and see if I could start walking. 'I didn't feel any pain in my boobs whatsoever - it was all in my belly. 'I had drains in to collect any blood that was still coming out, and then they showed me a bit of my stomach that they cut away. "It looked like a slab of fatty pork - I asked them to bin it!' Five days later, she was taken in for the second surgery for her face and neck lift. 15 She said: 'Waking up, my face felt really painful and tight. 'I had massive quilting stitches all over my face and neck, which looked like bicycle tyre tracks. 'I was told they were to help direct the blood flow and drain any excess, but they were really uncomfortable and itchy. 'The first 24 hours were really painful, but then after that it eased off and just felt tight and numb.' SURGERY RECOVERY Victoria had a check-up two days later and was allowed to go home five days later. She said: 'I was really nervous to see the results of my facelift as I had to keep the support on for four weeks, as well as the compression garments on my abdomen. 'I also had to keep my boobs strapped for six weeks. 'But once I could take them off, I was over the moon. 'My tummy had gone down and was so flat. 'My boobs looked great, and my face even better. 'I was like, wow, this is my body now!' The mummy makeover would have cost £10,000 - but Tracy paid a discounted rate. 15 15 BOOSTED CONFIDENCE She is overjoyed with her new look, and her friends and family have been 'super supportive'. Victoria said: 'They just can't believe how great I look. 'I went to a baby shower a couple of weeks ago, where I hadn't seen some of the girls there for a long time. 'And one of them walked straight past me, didn't even realise it was me, and then she was like, 'Oh my god, look at you now - the glow-up is real.' 'Now I can wear little belly tops, cocktail dresses, tight clothing, and not feel self-conscious anymore. 'I'm super happy. 'There is a lot of pressure for you to be perfect. 'Of course, nobody can be, but this is my idea of perfect to me.' In May, Victoria re-visited the clinic to have laser eye surgery and turkey teeth fitted. 15 15 15 She said: 'I had 20 porcelain crowns and my eyes done. 'My vision is incredible, and my teeth are perfect. 'My face looks lovely.' TIMELINE OF SURGERY 10 March - First surgery on tummy tuck, liposuction and breast lift. 15 March - Second surgery on neck and face lift. 20 March - Flew home back to the UK. 7 May - Turkey teeth and laser eye surgery. 20 September - Labiaplasty and breast implants. MORE SURGERY Victoria plans on visiting for the final time in September to have breast implants and a labiaplasty. She said: 'I was supposed to have breast implants when I was there in March, but they said doing that, as well as a lift, was a no-go. 'My blood count was too low when I went for blood tests, so the surgeon said he couldn't do my implants at the same time. Now I can wear little belly tops, cocktail dresses, tight clothing, and not feel self-conscious anymore Victoria Vigors 'Now I've given my boobs some time to rest - then I'll be going back. 'I'm super excited for my labiaplasty. 'After having two children, one of my labia appears bigger than the other one. 'I want it to be more levelled out and neat. 'Now, my face is done, my body looks great, it is just those final things.' What are the risks of getting surgery abroad? IT'S important to do your research if you're thinking about having cosmetic surgery abroad. It can cost less than in the UK, but you need to weigh up potential savings against the potential risks. Safety standards in different countries may not be as high. No surgery is risk-free. Complications can happen after surgery in the UK or abroad. If you have complications after an operation in the UK, the surgeon is responsible for providing follow-up treatment. Overseas clinics may not provide follow-up treatment, or they may not provide it to the same standard as in the UK. Also, they may not have a healthcare professional in the UK you can visit if you have any problems. Source: NHS
The Sun
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I was ashamed to admit I jetted to Turkey for a mummy makeover, trolls called me selfish but I couldn't care less
A WOMAN has hit back at trolls who call her selfish for jetting abroad for a mummy makeover. Liv, from the UK, decided to undergo a string of surgeries in one go by jetting off to Turkey. 2 2 Taking to social media, she documented her journey from arriving in the surgery hotspot to coming back home with her bandages off. She said: "I just made the biggest mistake of my life going to Turkey for a mummy makeover. "If you've been living under a rock, my name is Liv and I went to Turkey for an uplift, implants and a nose job." The mum revealed she worked fulltime along with looking after her toddler so decided to get the surgeries done all in one go to save time on resting. "I don't have time to mess around," she explained. But she said she made a big mistake with her mummy makeover. Liv added: "Where I made a massive mistake was being ashamed of getting all this done. "I was ashamed to share my story. I was ashamed in case every mum judged me on this app. In case everybody seen me as a terrible mum." But now, she says she's proud of going through with the surgery for herself, saying she already gave up her body for her children. "I gave every ounce of my being to make sure that baby was okay. I gave my whole body. I made sacrifices for her," she said. I spent £75k to turn myself into a 'yummy mummy' - not only am I now more confident in a bikini, but a better parent too "But we also make our whole identity about being a mum. I don't want to do that. I want to be me." Liv said she wasn't promoting surgery or having to 'fix' anything, but wanted to provide information to those who are considering jetting abroad. "Love yourself. Do what makes you happy. And don't give a s**t about what other people think," she said. "Yes this is to the lovely lady to labelled me as a selfish mum," Liv captioned the post. The clip soon went viral with over 74k views and 4.3k likes on her TikTok account @ mums_hour. Many mums were quick to take to the comments supporting Liv on her mummy makeover. One person wrote: "Hun let's face it, if the rest of us had the money we would be doing it too." Another commented: "Mum-of-three, I'd be jumping on the plane tomorrow if I could afford. As mums go through hell for our babies, you deserve to put yourself first for once." "They would never say this to fathers," penned a third. IT'S important to do your research if you're thinking about having cosmetic surgery abroad. It can cost less than in the UK, but you need to weigh up potential savings against the potential risks. Safety standards in different countries may not be as high. No surgery is risk-free. Complications can happen after surgery in the UK or abroad. If you have complications after an operation in the UK, the surgeon is responsible for providing follow-up treatment. Overseas clinics may not provide follow-up treatment, or they may not provide it to the same standard as in the UK. Also, they may not have a healthcare professional in the UK you can visit if you have any problems. Source: NHS Meanwhile a fourth said: "I don't see how getting surgery makes you a bad mum?!" "Wow that's a lot of work in one go,' claimed a fifth
The Sun
21-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
NHS docs saved me after I nearly died from £6k mummy makeover in Poland… but here's why I'll never regret it
LYING in an NHS hospital bed, hooked up to a drip, Lois Crossley was fighting for her life after contracting sepsis from a surgery complication. But the mum-of-four's initial operation had not been carried out in the UK - she had flown to one of Europe 's cut-price hotspots for a cosmetic mummy makeover. 11 11 Lois insists that despite taxpayers effectively having to save her after her decision to spend £6,000 on a tummy tuck, liposuction and a breast lift - the NHS is now better off. Lois, 29, from Salford, Greater Manchester had lost 7st before these procedures which she paid for using a surprising windfall - and says that the NHS doctors told her she could have died if they had not stepped in. She says: 'The doctors said I could have died if I hadn't got help when I did. It was frightening but I always knew that surgery could be a risk. I don't regret it, despite getting sick. 'I'm so much happier with my body now. I feel like a model and have more energy to keep up with my kids. 'I did feel bad turning up for help after having an elective operation abroad, but the nurses were kind and said that they had a duty of care. Scans showed the operation had been done properly and the infection was just one of those things. 'People might criticise me for using NHS resources to sort out a complication. But I'd argue that I paid privately for my initial gastric sleeve to lose the weight, as well as the tummy tuck, and now I'm healthier overall. 'That's better for the NHS in the long run.' Lois had always been a skinny size 8 until she fell pregnant for the first time in July 2016, going on to have four babies in six years – Theo, eight, Koen, seven, Rion, four, and Indi-Blu, two. 'I needed an emergency c-section with my first and second births, so the doctors recommended I have planned ones with the next two,' she says. 'I was glad my babies arrived safely but it left me with messy scarring on my tummy and an overhang. 'Looking after small children was so tiring and busy. I'd barely eat all day, just graze on snacks and their leftovers. It meant I was starving by the time they were in bed and ended up eating ready meals or takeaways. 'The weight crept up and up with each pregnancy. I tried Slimming World but it was difficult to stick to it.' I lost 100lbs doing the Keto diet and did a mummy makeover to get rid of the loose skin but it was worth it - people are stunned by my transformation By the time she had her youngest child in October 2022, Lois weighed 16st 5lbs and was a size 22, despite being 5ft 4ins tall. 'The idea of going shopping horrified me and I lived in leggings because jeans cut into my tummy,' she says. 'I lost all my confidence and never wanted to leave the house. All my friends were still slim - I felt like the odd one out. My fiancé Kieron loved me as I was but I knew I needed to take action for my own wellbeing, mentally and physically.' I lost all my confidence and never wanted to leave the house. All my friends were still slim - I felt like the odd one out In September 2023, full time mum Lois travelled to Turkey after saving up £2,150 for a gastric sleeve operation, with her dad Darren accompanying her while Kieron, 30, cared for their children at home. 11 11 11 'I'd been to see my GP for help but all they could offer was a long waiting list for a weight management programme,' she says. 'I needed something more drastic. I knew a couple of people who'd had a gastric sleeve and been very successful. I worried it was the 'easy' way out but I couldn't see how I'd manage to lose all this weight otherwise. 'Melting away' 'I'll admit that, at first, I found the recovery mentally challenging and wondered if I'd done the right thing. 'I hate soup but that was all I could eat to start, slowly moving onto purees and mashed up meals. The protein shakes were disgusting too. I'd watch Kieron and the kids eating a nice dinner and feel like I was missing out.' But while she hated being unable to eat proper food, Lois was thrilled with the impact on her size. 'I lost a stone in the month and it just kept melting away. It was quite dramatic,' she says. 'Within a year, I'd lost nearly 7st and was a size 8, just as I'd hoped.' But the extreme weight loss came with side effects – a 'saggy' tummy pouch and boobs. 'I wanted to wear nice fitted clothes but it was impossible to hide the loose skin around my middle,' Lois says. 'My breasts had gone from a 47F to a 34DD but had lost their shape. I knew from doing my research that this was likely to happen but I still felt really conscious of it. 11 'I was also frustrated that I'd lost all that weight but was still hiding my body away in leggings and baggy tops. Shapewear could only do so much.' After doing her research, Lois started saving again for a tummy tuck, abroad, this time in Poland. After squirrelling away pennies, Lois had a surprising windfall. 'I'd had to quit my job in a nursery after the kids so I knew it was going to take a while to get the money,' she says. I worried it was the 'easy' way out but I couldn't see how I'd manage to lose all this weight otherwise 'I was putting every spare penny away, once the bills were paid and the kids catered for. I'd treat myself to a go on the online slots a couple of times a week. I couldn't believe it when I hit the jackpot and won £5,000. 'I was screaming and knew immediately that it was my chance to do something for myself and have the surgery.' Losing her dad to a sudden brain bleed in September 2024, at the age of only 56, made her more determined to take action. 'He'd promised he would come with me once I had saved enough for the tummy tuck,' she says. 'My dad was really proud of how I'd lost the weight and was taking control of my life.' In November 2024, Lois travelled to Wroclaw, Poland, with her mum, booking into an apartment near the hospital for a week. 'So scary' The trip and surgery cost £6,100 in total, with Lois topping up her winnings with savings. 'I didn't hesitate to use the money for my surgery – it was my dream,' she says. 'When I left my kids to go for the gastric sleeve, I couldn't stop crying. This time around I was so excited.' Lois had booked a tummy tuck, liposuction on her hips and upper abdomen, and breast implants. I just couldn't stop looking at my new body – I was delighted But after meeting her surgeon, he advised her to have a breast uplift instead. 'I was disappointed but it made me trust him more because he could have just taken my money and done what I'd asked for,' she says. During the five-hour operation, Lois had 1.2kg of loose tummy skin removed and her three c-section scars were aligned into one neat line. 'The recovery was fine, I was up walking after a couple of hours,' she says. Pain wise, I would say my c-sections were worse. I just couldn't stop looking at my new body – I was delighted.' With everything in order, she returned home and was healing well until she came down with flu-like symptoms two weeks after the operation. 'I was dripping with sweat but felt freezing, I felt dizzy and my heart was racing,' she recalls. 'I tried to push through it but when I met some mum friends at the playground, they told me I looked shocking and I should contact the doctor immediately.' After calling 111 and explaining about her recent op, Lois was sent to Salford Royal Hospital, where she needed emergency surgery to treat an infection in a wound. 'It was so scary,' she says. 'They had to put me back to sleep and unstitch my belly button to drain fluid off. The doctors said I was lucky I caught it when I did or I might have died.' The mum spent the next ten days recovering in hospital on IV antibiotics. 'The doctors were really understanding and it wasn't the surgeon's fault – it was one of those things,' she says. 'My immune system was very weak for a few months afterwards and I have a scar on my hip, but I feel fine now.' The doctors said I was lucky I caught it when I did or I might have died Today, Lois is 9st 2lbs and feels like she has her old self back. 'All surgery comes with risks and I knew there might be complications, so I'll never regret it,' she says. 'It gives you a better life for your kids, to be able to run about with them and stuff. I'm also more confident, I've always got my legs out and can wear belly tops. I'm finally able to think about planning my wedding too. 'Everyone says how good I look – I even got stopped by one of the shop assistants in my local Lidl the other day. Being able to look at normal sized clothing instead of plus size and 4XL makes everything worth it. I'm a trendy mum now.' 11
