Latest news with #weightlossjourney
The Sun
28-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
I was left with ‘bulldog face' for tummy & 7 TEETH fell out after using fat jabs…but it was all worth it for 1 reason
FOR Hope Lancaster Colquhoun, her perfect smile had always been a source of pride - so it was a moment of pure horror when she looked in the mirror to see two rows of broken teeth. The mum was forced to have at least seven teeth yanked out by dentists after a weight loss jab allegedly caused them to snap in half - and that wasn't her only shocking side effect. 7 7 7 Hope, 42, who had dreamed of losing weight not teeth, also saw her stomach sag into a 'bulldog's face' after taking Mounjaro, dubbed the King Kong of weight loss injections. Yet despite her excess skin and cracked teeth - which have left her needing dentures for life - she insists the prescription-only so-called 'fat jab' has saved her life. She has shed an incredible nine stone, and dropped seven dress sizes. 'The weight just slipped off me, but sadly, so did my teeth,' Hope told Sun Health, recalling her most terrifying side effect of Mounjaro, which is increasingly popular across the nation. "My gnashers before were perfect and I was really proud of my natural smile. I never had any dental work and kept up with my oral hygiene more than most people I knew. "But one day, I noticed they felt different. 'As I ran my tongue against the top of my mouth, I noticed a sharp, jagged edge. 'I looked in the mirror and was left horrified as not one, but multiple, of my teeth had completely snapped in half.' Hope's stomach dropped at her reflection. 'I wondered what on Earth was happening to me,' said the content creator, who lives in Hebburn, Tyne and Wear. "In a panic, I called my husband, who rushed me to the doctor's.' Weight Loss Jabs - Pros vs Cons There, Hope - once cruelly called a 'whale' by a stranger because of her size - says she was told the damage was likely down to having lost so much weight in such a short timeframe. "I tried to cry, but the pain in my mouth was too much to take,' she added. 'While I had lost weight, I had also lost such an important part of me.' Hope's dentist later told her at least seven of her teeth had to be immediately pulled out. "I sat in the chair, feeling sick to my stomach, as they yanked my natural teeth away,' she said. "I knew they weren't going to hold on for much longer, but it didn't make the situation any less unbearable. "I came back home that day, unable to speak, and sat staring at my calendar filling up with more dental appointments.' 'ISOLATING' Hope had turned to Mounjaro - used for weight management and to treat diabetes in adults - after a years-long battle with her weight had rendered her 'a complete shell' of herself. At her heaviest, she weighed more than 18 stone. Wearing size 22 clothes, Hope lived in fear of being stared at and judged by others - including at her own sister's wedding. 'On my sister's wedding day, I felt defeated,' admitted Hope, originally from Texas, US. 'While everyone was getting their glam done, I was helping set up because, at that point, my looks didn't matter. I was just the 'bigger one' in the background. I dreaded walking down the aisle, as I knew people would look at me and judge how heavy I was. 'I've always been made fun of. Once, I got a call from my niece saying someone took a photo of me at our local grocery store and captioned it, 'Whales shouldn't be put in clothes.' 'Even to this day, I struggle with wearing shorts in public out of fear my photo might get taken again. People have nicknamed me 'marshmallow'. It's been isolating.' Everything you need to know about fat jabs Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases. Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK. Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market. Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year. How do they work? The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight. They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high. Can I get them? NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics. Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss. Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk. Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health. Are there any risks? Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild. Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea. Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.' Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia. Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health. Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines. Feeling 'deeply self-conscious', Hope eventually confined herself to home. 'I didn't leave the house except for groceries or to pick up my kids from school,' she told us. 'Scrolling on social media or watching TV became quite tough. 'There was a constant reminder that I should be thin. 'If I wanted to be accepted, or partake in certain trends, I had to lose weight. 'I was a complete shell of myself, with no social life, happiness or motivation. 'Not only that, my health was suffering, too.' Back then, Hope would eat McDonald's for breakfast, followed by leftovers from the previous night for lunch. For dinner, she'd have a carbohydrate-heavy meal, such as pasta and chips. Though she tried to lose weight naturally - including going to the gym, having consultations with a dietitian and using other weight loss medications - she had little-to-no success. 7 As well as the devastating impact on her mental health and social life, Hope says she suffered from months of unexplained illness and frequent fainting episodes. She ended up being raced to hospital with 'dangerously high' blood sugar levels. It was after Hope was diagnosed with diabetes that her doctor suggested Mounjaro - which studies have indicated could, if prescribed widely, slash heart attack and cancer rates. Hope was prescribed the jab by Oushk Pharmacy for £189 a month to help her manage her condition. And the effects, she says, were 'life-changing'. 'I found myself craving healthier foods, drinking more water and just overall more active,' said Hope, who now wears size eight clothes and feels like a 'new person'. 'Within a month, I noticed I wasn't feeling so depressed either. I reversed any health issues and was able to come off my medication as I didn't need it anymore. 'My diabetes is now excellently controlled – and considering I was on the brink of death with it, I'm pretty proud of myself.' Mounjaro, the brand name for tirzepatide, works by suppressing your appetite, making you feel fuller for longer. This week, The Sun revealed that Health Secretary Wes Streeting wants the NHS to 'get with the times' and speed up its roll-out of 'game-changing' weight loss jabs. What to do if you lose too much weight too quickly whilst on Mounjaro IF you're losing too much weight too quickly while on Mounjaro, it's important to take action to avoid potential health risks like muscle loss, malnutrition, dehydration, and fatigue. Here's what you can do: Evaluate Your Caloric Intake Mounjaro reduces appetite, which can make it easy to eat too little. If you're losing weight too fast (more than two to three lbs per week after the initial adjustment period), try: Tracking your food intake to ensure you're eating enough calories (apps like MyFitnessPal can help). Increasing protein intake to preserve muscle mass (aim for 0.6–1g per pound of body weight). Adding healthy fats and complex carbs (e.g., avocados, nuts, whole grains) for balanced energy. Adjust Your Dosage (With Doctor's Approval) If your weight loss is too rapid or causing side effects, your doctor may: Pause dose increases or lower your dosage. Adjust your treatment plan to stabilise your weight loss. Strength Training & Exercise To prevent muscle loss: Incorporate resistance training at least two to three times per week. Stay active with low-impact exercises like walking or yoga. Hydrate & Manage Electrolytes Drink enough water (Mounjaro can reduce thirst). Electrolytes matter - Consider adding magnesium, sodium, and potassium if you feel weak or fatigued. Monitor for Malnutrition & Deficiencies Rapid weight loss can cause vitamin/mineral deficiencies (especially B12, iron, and electrolytes). If you experience: Fatigue, hair loss, or dizziness, ask your doctor about supplements. Consider Further Medical Guidance If your weight loss is excessive or causing health concerns, speak with your healthcare provider. They might adjust your dosage, diet, or exercise plan to help stabilise your weight loss. Tirzepatide - which can be prescribed privately in the UK - has been approved for NHS use by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. NHS England is rolling out the medication, starting with the highest-priority patients — 220,000 over three years. But Mr Streeting said: 'I want to see us put our foot down on the accelerator. 'We need to get with the times and make sure those who might not be able to afford these drugs are able to access them.' Some 1.5million Brits used weight loss injections in March. But Hope's experience of shedding the pounds wasn't all positive. 'During the weight loss, at one point, I compared my stomach to a bulldog's face [due to the excess skin],' she told us. 'But over time, my skin has shrunk.' She is also facing a lifetime of dentures after her teeth snapped. Following the removal of her broken gnashers, Hope had a partial denture fitted. '[This] made me feel like a granny, though at least I could smile through the pain again,' she said. LIFETIME OF DENTURES She has since had four fillings and spent over £3,700 on fixing her teeth. And more work is needed in the future. But despite her turmoil, Hope doesn't regret her decision to inject Mounjaro one bit. 'I'd encourage people to consider the jab because of how life-changing it's been for me,' said Hope, who, as well as taking Mounjaro, switched up her diet to include lots of fruit and vegetables, healthy protein such as lean chicken, and at least five litres of water. She also joined a gym, and stayed active by chasing her sister's spider monkeys around the house. 'Even my sister and mum both take it now. 'Weight loss journeys are hard and all of our stories are different. 'This isn't the easy way out, as some might say, as we still have to make healthy food choices, stay active and prioritise our health. 'For those of us with multiple conditions, such as myself, it's been a lifeline. 'I credit Mounjaro for giving me another chance at life.' 7 7 On April 17, 2024, Hope tied the knot - and the mum had 'never felt more beautiful'. 'I've completely got my life and confidence back,' said Hope, who has suffered from other - minor - side effects including regular burping, diarrhoea and headaches. 'My family are completely overjoyed by my transformation. They've watched me struggle for years, but now they're so proud of the person I've become. 'People have said I'm cheating or [are] commenting that I've lost too much weight. But none of them told me to stop eating when I was slowly killing myself being obese.' She added: 'I feel like a totally new person. I can't believe it. 'It's like I've found the answer I've been searching for my whole life.' The Sun has contacted Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Mounjaro, for a comment. It said: "Patient safety is Lilly's top priority, and we take any reports regarding patient safety extremely seriously. "Regulatory agencies conduct extensive independent assessments of the benefits and risks of every new medicine and Lilly is committed to continually monitoring, evaluating, and reporting safety data to ensure the latest information is available for regulators and prescribers. "We encourage patients to consult their doctor or other healthcare professional regarding any possible side effects they may be experiencing and to ensure that they are getting genuine Lilly medicine."
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
At 21 stone, I promoted body positivity. I should have been honest about how I felt
Sophie Goodman was always known as 'the bigger girl' among her group of friends at school in Manchester. It never stopped her from living a full and exciting life; she always appeared outwardly happy, and made friends easily. 'While I was heavier, I still did everything I wanted to do – I went travelling, I dated gorgeous guys, saw all my favourite bands in concert,' says Goodman. 'I was determined to never let anything stop me. I always shared pictures of myself living my life and encouraged everyone to love themselves and their bodies, regardless of what they looked like. I should have been more honest about how I was feeling about myself.' It was Goodman's penchant for binge eating that saw her weight consistently creep up, and at 23, she weighed nearly 21 stone. Under the glossy veneer of happiness and her promotion of self-confidence, Goodman's life was marred with moments where she would feel shame: the time she had to get off a roller coaster as she was too large for the safety bar to close, or how she would hide her seat belt extenders under her stomach on flights. 'It wasn't every night, but there were times where it would all just hit me and I would cry and cry and cry about my body,' Goodman, now 29, explains. 'I didn't like the way I looked, and I didn't like the way I felt about myself. 'I felt as if I was a thinner girl trapped in a larger girl's body. I desperately wanted to lose weight, but didn't know what to do, which is when I started to look into surgical intervention. 'I'm not going to lie and pretend I don't feel so much better about myself now I've lost weight. I want to encourage others to love their bodies enough to make a healthy change.' There are certainly plenty of people who need that encouragement: according to a study by Imperial College London, two thirds of UK adults are overweight, with obesity costing the NHS more than £6 billion a year. But it's not always the case that weight loss is welcomed, particularly in some digital spheres. Some factions of the body positivity movement, which looks to celebrate curves and body shapes previously derided as merely being 'overweight', are now critical towards influencers who have chosen to shed the pounds. For body-positive activist and journalist Gina Tonic, a plus-size model or influencer losing weight can almost seem like a personal slight to their followers who may also be bigger. 'There are unspoken feelings of treachery between people who are fat and those who used to be fat,' she writes in her memoir, Greedy Guts. 'Watching those conceding to societal pressure can feel like a slap to the face.' Lizzo, once at the forefront of the body positivity movement for celebrating her bigger frame, has faced backlash from some former fans after she chose to start losing weight. While her approach was slow burn (in an interview with The New York Times, the singer asserted that she was dropping the pounds in a gradual manner, and claims to have lost weight through Pilates and being in a calorie deficit), there is now an increasing number of weight loss drugs readily available for those able to afford them. Ozempic has gained popularity in the United States, and Wegovy is available in the UK for weight management. Similarly, not everyone was pleased for Goodman as she went through her weight loss journey, which she has posted about candidly on Instagram. Her content has sometimes received a string of negative commentary from some of her 34,000 followers. 'I would get remarks that would become quite nasty,' she explains. 'People would say I've 'cheated', or that I've 'taken the easy way out'. But I am totally unapologetic for having surgery, and wish I'd done it years ago. Though she had previously tried dieting and weight loss regimens such as Slimming World, nothing seemed to lead to long-term weight loss for Goodman. It was a family friend who recommended she try gastric sleeve surgery – a procedure in which a large part of the stomach is removed in order to create a tube-like structure with a smaller capacity. With the procedure being funded by her parents, Goodman went under the knife, and five years later she has lost more than eight stone. She has also earned the money to pay her parents back. 'It blows my mind that people can't just be happy for people. If you see someone go from 300lb to 170lb and they're living a healthier life, why would you not just be happy for that person?' Canadian influencer Olivia Messina, who has more than 400,000 followers on Instagram, is another who has faced criticism for weight loss. Messina weighed more than 23 stone when at her heaviest, and always encouraged her followers to love their curves and embrace the bodies they were in – but she then started facing a number of health issues that were detrimental to her work as a plus-size model for a fashion brand. 'I found myself getting so tired so quickly,' she explains over Zoom from Toronto. 'I have the skin condition hidradenitis suppurativa, which causes lumps and scarring all over my skin, and it just kept getting worse.' Beforehand, Messina would 'impulse-eat', loading up on carb-heavy food her body fancied rather than what it really needed. She also found herself relying on takeaways, frequently ordering dinner and snacks on Deliveroo and Uber Eats and eating large portions quickly. 'I was fed up of constantly feeling exhausted, and having to deal with the scars all across my body,' she continues. 'I was also struggling with poor mental health, with symptoms of depression and anxiety. 'My doctor recommended I tried eating a little healthier and work out more to see if that would help, and as I lost weight, my skin condition completely cleared up. Exercise became an outlet that helped me, and I decided to encourage others into starting their own fitness journey. I regret not doing it sooner.' After more than a year of starting a gym routine, deleting takeaway apps and batch-cooking high-protein meals from scratch, Messina has lost more than 5 stone. To start with, she admits she did feel a little 'hypocritical' at losing weight after building such a following for her fuller figure – and she received some comments from followers urging her not to get 'too thin'. 'I think where body positivity goes wrong is how it tells you to love yourself no matter what,' Messina continues. 'I support body autonomy. I'm an advocate for individuals choosing what's right for them, and having the freedom to do what you want with your appearance. 'I'm very open about how weight loss has improved how I feel about myself and want my followers to understand the benefits of exercise that I've seen.' Messina now feels healthier and happier with her body having lost weight: 'I used to be quite round, and now I have a more defined waist. I feel more feminine now.' Goodman feels the same. While she always enjoyed team sports, she now has a regular gym routine and has discovered her love for running – she regularly completes 5km runs and now has her sights set on training for a marathon. 'I regret not being more clued up on nutrition and not knowing how to look after my body properly when I was younger,' she says. 'I understand there may be contention between being body-positive and then going on to lose weight, but it was so important for me to be honest about how I felt in myself.' Goodman's weight loss has now opened further opportunities for her, seeing her working with clothing brand Gymshark, as well as moderating Gastric Gossip, a digital community for people who have undergone weight loss surgery. Her substantial weight loss has now seen her undergo a tummy tuck, where she had one stone of loose skin removed from her stomach. 'The first time I looked in the mirror after the surgery, I cried,' she says. 'It was the first time I recognised myself as the girl I wanted to be. I've got the body I always dreamt of. 'I am so unapologetic about my journey. This is what has worked for me. There's always the fear that people would call me out about not being faithful towards being body-positive. And I always respond: I loved myself enough to do something that would make me love myself even more.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
25-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
At 21 stone, I promoted body positivity. I should have been honest about how I felt
Sophie Goodman was always known as 'the bigger girl' among her group of friends at school in Manchester. It never stopped her from living a full and exciting life; she always appeared outwardly happy, and made friends easily. 'While I was heavier, I still did everything I wanted to do – I went travelling, I dated gorgeous guys, saw all my favourite bands in concert,' says Goodman. 'I was determined to never let anything stop me. I always shared pictures of myself living my life and encouraged everyone to love themselves and their bodies, regardless of what they looked like. I should have been more honest about how I was feeling about myself.' It was Goodman's penchant for binge eating that saw her weight consistently creep up, and at 23, she weighed nearly 21 stone. Under the glossy veneer of happiness and her promotion of self-confidence, Goodman's life was marred with moments where she would feel shame: the time she had to get off a roller coaster as she was too large for the safety bar to close, or how she would hide her seat belt extenders under her stomach on flights. 'I would cry and cry about my body' 'It wasn't every night, but there were times where it would all just hit me and I would cry and cry and cry about my body,' Goodman, now 29, explains. 'I didn't like the way I looked, and I didn't like the way I felt about myself. 'I felt as if I was a thinner girl trapped in a larger girl's body. I desperately wanted to lose weight, but didn't know what to do, which is when I started to look into surgical intervention. 'I'm not going to lie and pretend I don't feel so much better about myself now I've lost weight. I want to encourage others to love their bodies enough to make a healthy change.' There are certainly plenty of people who need that encouragement: according to a study by Imperial College London, two thirds of UK adults are overweight, with obesity costing the NHS more than £6 billion a year. But it's not always the case that weight loss is welcomed, particularly in some digital spheres. Some factions of the body positivity movement, which looks to celebrate curves and body shapes previously derided as merely being 'overweight', are now critical towards influencers who have chosen to shed the pounds. For body-positive activist and journalist Gina Tonic, a plus-size model or influencer losing weight can almost seem like a personal slight to their followers who may also be bigger. 'There are unspoken feelings of treachery between people who are fat and those who used to be fat,' she writes in her memoir, Greedy Guts. 'Watching those conceding to societal pressure can feel like a slap to the face.' Lizzo, once at the forefront of the body positivity movement for celebrating her bigger frame, has faced backlash from some former fans after she chose to start losing weight. While her approach was slow burn (in an interview with The New York Times, the singer asserted that she was dropping the pounds in a gradual manner, and claims to have lost weight through Pilates and being in a calorie deficit), there is now an increasing number of weight loss drugs readily available for those able to afford them. Ozempic has gained popularity in the United States, and Wegovy is available in the UK for weight management. Similarly, not everyone was pleased for Goodman as she went through her weight loss journey, which she has posted about candidly on Instagram. Her content has sometimes received a string of negative commentary from some of her 34,000 followers. 'I'm totally unapologetic for having surgery' 'I would get remarks that would become quite nasty,' she explains. 'People would say I've 'cheated', or that I've 'taken the easy way out'. But I am totally unapologetic for having surgery, and wish I'd done it years ago. Though she had previously tried dieting and weight loss regimens such as Slimming World, nothing seemed to lead to long-term weight loss for Goodman. It was a family friend who recommended she try gastric sleeve surgery – a procedure in which a large part of the stomach is removed in order to create a tube-like structure with a smaller capacity. With the procedure being funded by her parents, Goodman went under the knife, and five years later she has lost more than eight stone. She has also earned the money to pay her parents back. 'It blows my mind that people can't just be happy for people. If you see someone go from 300lb to 170lb and they're living a healthier life, why would you not just be happy for that person?' Canadian influencer Olivia Messina, who has more than 400,000 followers on Instagram, is another who has faced criticism for weight loss. Messina weighed more than 23 stone when at her heaviest, and always encouraged her followers to love their curves and embrace the bodies they were in – but she then started facing a number of health issues that were detrimental to her work as a plus-size model for a fashion brand. 'I found myself getting so tired so quickly,' she explains over Zoom from Toronto. 'I have the skin condition hidradenitis suppurativa, which causes lumps and scarring all over my skin, and it just kept getting worse.' Beforehand, Messina would 'impulse-eat', loading up on carb-heavy food her body fancied rather than what it really needed. She also found herself relying on takeaways, frequently ordering dinner and snacks on Deliveroo and Uber Eats and eating large portions quickly. 'I was fed up of constantly feeling exhausted, and having to deal with the scars all across my body,' she continues. 'I was also struggling with poor mental health, with symptoms of depression and anxiety. 'My doctor recommended I tried eating a little healthier and work out more to see if that would help, and as I lost weight, my skin condition completely cleared up. Exercise became an outlet that helped me, and I decided to encourage others into starting their own fitness journey. I regret not doing it sooner.' After more than a year of starting a gym routine, deleting takeaway apps and batch-cooking high-protein meals from scratch, Messina has lost more than 5 stone. To start with, she admits she did feel a little 'hypocritical' at losing weight after building such a following for her fuller figure – and she received some comments from followers urging her not to get 'too thin'. 'I've got the body I always dreamt of' 'I think where body positivity goes wrong is how it tells you to love yourself no matter what,' Messina continues. 'I support body autonomy. I'm an advocate for individuals choosing what's right for them, and having the freedom to do what you want with your appearance. 'I'm very open about how weight loss has improved how I feel about myself and want my followers to understand the benefits of exercise that I've seen.' Messina now feels healthier and happier with her body having lost weight: 'I used to be quite round, and now I have a more defined waist. I feel more feminine now.' Goodman feels the same. While she always enjoyed team sports, she now has a regular gym routine and has discovered her love for running – she regularly completes 5km runs and now has her sights set on training for a marathon. 'I regret not being more clued up on nutrition and not knowing how to look after my body properly when I was younger,' she says. 'I understand there may be contention between being body-positive and then going on to lose weight, but it was so important for me to be honest about how I felt in myself.' Goodman's weight loss has now opened further opportunities for her, seeing her working with clothing brand Gymshark, as well as moderating Gastric Gossip, a digital community for people who have undergone weight loss surgery. Her substantial weight loss has now seen her undergo a tummy tuck, where she had one stone of loose skin removed from her stomach. 'The first time I looked in the mirror after the surgery, I cried,' she says. 'It was the first time I recognised myself as the girl I wanted to be. I've got the body I always dreamt of. 'I am so unapologetic about my journey. This is what has worked for me. There's always the fear that people would call me out about not being faithful towards being body-positive. And I always respond: I loved myself enough to do something that would make me love myself even more.'
Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
JENNI MURRAY: I have been using weight-loss jabs for seven months and I'm delighted with the results... but this is why they shouldn't be made more easily available
For seven months I've been taking the weight-loss drug Mounjaro. I've had no unpleasant side effects and have stopped hearing what's been described as 'food noise'. So far I've lost 4st, bringing my weight down to a more comfortable 12 st. After years of struggling with rarely successful diets, it's been a revelation to find the fat falling off so easily.
The Sun
06-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
I spent £7k on ‘mummy makeover' surgery but I look better fat – it feels like I'm ripped in HALF from painful stitches
CHANTELLE Woolston, 46, decided to get a tummy tuck and a breast revision after her 6st 7lbs weight loss left with excess skin. The mum-of-two did her research and picked a surgery in Izmir, Turkey, which also offered her a back lift at an all inclusive price of £6.9k. 8 She flew out in February this year, but when she came round she knew she'd made a "big mistake". Now two months post- surgery, she says she can't stretch for fear she will "rip in half" and says she had gathered skin and her stomach is as "hard as a block". Chantelle, an administrator from Southampton, Hampshire, said: "I'd built it up so much and I was so excited to go. 8 "I couldn't wait to see the results. I 100 per cent wish I hadn't done it with this clinic. "I'm regretful of going with this clinic. I wish I'd researched more. "Now I have to tell people I'm devastated with how my body is. "I looked better with the fat. I should have known by the deal that it was too good to be true." Chantelle flew to Istanbul, Turkey, back in September 2020 for a gastric sleeve and was delighted with the results after it helped her drop from 15st and a size 18 to 8st 7lbs and a slender size eight. But she still struggled with the excess skin it had left her with. She said: "I was looking in the mirror and seeing droopy boobs and rolls of fat. "I didn't feel attractive. I wanted to look nice." 8 Chantelle wanted to do something for herself and decided to look into surgery abroad after her success first time around. She chose to look into a different surgery as the medics from the initial clinic had left. Chantelle said: "I trawled the internet for places to go. I didn't see any negative on this Facebook group. "It was just so positive and they sent me pictures of stunning women. I thought 'bloody hell, can I have that body?'" It was only after she'd paid her deposit Chantelle started to notice some negative comments but she still flew out in February with her husband, Marc, 50, a maintenance worker. But Chantelle felt uneasy and said she felt "rushed" to sign the paperwork to get her into surgery. She said: "It was a case of you need to hurry up. It's like a conveyer belt. "When I came round I was in a mess. I was freezing cold. I thought 'I've made a big mistake'." Chantelle stayed in Turkey for a week before flying home. 8 She was initially excited to see the results but two months out she feels unhappy with her healing journey. Chantelle said: "I'm now able to lie on my side in bed and if I have move in bed I feel like I'm going to rip in half. "I can't open my garage to park my car - I can't stretch. "I have skin that looks like dog ears above my pubic bone. It's like a zip. "I have flaps of skin and three rolls of skin sewn up - it's just been sewn up and gathered. "My stomach is hard as a block. My body has completely healed but my breasts are all crusty. "I feel hollow in places." 8 Chantelle says she has been in touch with the clinic and they have told her to "trust the process" and to "exercise". She said: "My scarring is there - it's like a roadmap. I asked for a flat stomach not for three rolls." Chantelle was told healing can take from three to six months but she doesn't feel her results are going to change. She now wants to warn other women before they make the same mistake she did. She said: "Trust your gut." 8 The clinic said: "While we aim to give patients ample time to read and sign these documents, the pre-operative schedule-including tests and consultations-may create a sense of urgency for some individuals on the day of surgery. "Post-operative recovery varies per patient, and swelling, tightness, and temporary asymmetry are common in the initial stages. "We advise patients that full healing can take months, and we provide detailed aftercare instructions. "Terms like "dog ears" or "gathered skin" often describe normal transient swelling or suturing techniques that improve over time. "However, we always encourage patients to voice concerns during follow-ups so we can assess and reassure or intervene if medically indicated. "Our team remains available post-operatively to guide patients through their recovery. While phrases like "trust the process" may stem from managing early-stage expectations, we prioritise addressing concerns with clinical evaluations when needed. "We regret that this patient feels dissatisfied and invite her to contact us directly so we can review her case in detail and provide personalised support."
