Woman Who Lost More Than 16 Stone Says She Was Told to Gain Weight Again to Qualify for Surgery

Mother-of-Three Describes Frustration After Major Weight Loss

Lisa Smith, 44, from St Helens in Merseyside, says she has been left facing an upsetting and confusing situation after being told she may need to regain weight in order to qualify for surgery to remove excess skin from her stomach.

The mother-of-three previously weighed 28 stone at her heaviest but managed to lose more than 16-and-a-half stone through strict dieting and major lifestyle changes.

Despite the dramatic transformation, Lisa says she is now struggling with the physical and emotional impact of loose skin left behind after her weight loss.

She claims she was initially encouraged to lose weight with the understanding that surgery to remove the excess skin would eventually be funded.

However, after reaching her target weight, she says she was informed that there was no available funding for the procedure.

Health Problems Began After Pregnancy

Lisa says her health difficulties became serious following the birth of her son in 2008.

After experiencing severe breathlessness, she sought medical attention and initially believed she might have asthma.

Instead, doctors discovered she was suffering from diabetes-related heart failure.

According to Lisa, the diagnosis came with an alarming warning about the seriousness of her condition.

She says she was told that immediate weight loss was necessary to improve her chances of survival.

The experience left her shocked and frightened, particularly as she had recently become a mother again.

“They thought I wouldn’t make it out of the hospital alive. I was in shock,” Lisa said. “I’d just had a baby and was facing death.”

A Dramatic Physical Transformation

Determined to improve her health, Lisa committed herself to losing weight naturally through healthy eating and strict discipline.

Over time, she successfully reduced her body mass index from 70 to 28.

Her weight eventually dropped from 28 stone to just over 11 stone.

The transformation also saw her clothing size change dramatically, going from a size 36 to a size 8.

Although she continues to manage diabetes with daily insulin, Lisa says she worked hard to take control of her overall health and future.

The weight loss represented years of sacrifice, determination, and constant effort.

But despite achieving what many considered an extraordinary result, Lisa says the outcome created new challenges she had not fully expected.

Excess Skin Became a New Struggle

After losing such a significant amount of weight, Lisa says she was left with large amounts of loose skin around her abdomen.

She explains that the excess skin became both physically uncomfortable and emotionally distressing.

The issue affected her confidence, mobility, and overall wellbeing.

According to Lisa, she believed the NHS would help fund surgery to remove the excess skin once she reached her target weight.

Instead, she says she was later informed that the procedure would need to be paid for privately because funding was no longer available.

For Lisa, the news was devastating after years of effort focused on improving her health.

Diabetes May Qualify Her for Surgery

Lisa says her diabetes diagnosis may now make her eligible for skin-removal surgery under certain criteria.

However, she claims she has been told that she would need to regain weight in order to access treatment through a different pathway.

The situation has left her feeling trapped between conflicting medical requirements.

She says she does not understand why regaining weight would be considered necessary after the progress she fought so hard to achieve.

“I’m just trapped in the most ridiculous situation,” she said. “I lost more than 16-and-a-half stone myself through healthy eating but my health is worse than ever.”

Lisa believes the current situation creates unnecessary complications for people who successfully lose large amounts of weight independently.

Concerns About Mental Health

Lisa says the pressure connected to eligibility requirements had a serious impact on her mental health.

She explains that the intense focus on weight targets eventually contributed to eating disorders.

“I was told to lose more weight to get funding which triggered anorexia and bulimia,” she said.

According to Lisa, the emotional toll of trying to qualify for treatment became overwhelming over time.

She says she now lives with anorexia and bulimia while continuing to struggle with the consequences of rapid weight loss.

The situation has left her feeling exhausted physically and emotionally.

Lisa believes more attention should be given to the long-term effects experienced by people who undergo major weight changes.

Financial Difficulties Add Further Pressure

In addition to the emotional strain, Lisa says financial limitations prevent her from paying privately for the surgery she believes she needs.

She explains that her ongoing health problems and diabetes have made working difficult.

Without the ability to earn enough money for private treatment, she says she feels stuck.

Lisa also argues that requiring weight regain before treatment could create even higher costs overall.

“It’s such a joke,” she said. “That would cost the NHS even more money than just funding the skin removal.”

She says the current system feels impossible to navigate.

“But I can’t work to pay for the operation myself because of the diabetes, so I’m in a catch-22 situation.”

Living With Physical and Emotional Exhaustion

Lisa says the daily reality of living with excess skin has become increasingly difficult to manage.

The emotional pressure has affected both her mental wellbeing and her quality of life.

She describes feeling overwhelmed by the physical discomfort and ongoing uncertainty surrounding treatment.

“All I know is I can’t go on living like this and I’m worried my ten-year-old son will find me dead,” she said.

Lisa says she simply wants the opportunity to move forward after years spent fighting to improve her health.

“Life trapped in this awful body is horrible. I just want a chance to get my life back on track after working so hard to lose weight.”

A Long Journey Marked by Determination

Lisa’s experience reflects years of major personal struggle and determination.

After being warned about the seriousness of her condition following the birth of her son, she committed herself to making dramatic changes.

The transformation required constant discipline, major lifestyle adjustments, and a commitment to healthier eating habits.

She successfully lost more than half her body weight without surgery.

The achievement represented a significant improvement compared to the serious health risks she once faced.

Yet despite that progress, Lisa says she now feels unsupported while dealing with the physical aftermath of extreme weight loss.

Concerns About Wider Impacts on Others

Lisa believes the situation may discourage other people from attempting major weight loss naturally.

She worries that individuals who see the difficulties she has faced may lose motivation to improve their health independently.

According to Lisa, the current circumstances send a damaging message to people struggling with obesity.

“I’ve gone from obese to bulimic trying to qualify for this operation, only to now be told the only way is to put the weight back on,” she said.

She fears the process may convince some people that losing weight without medical intervention is ultimately pointless.

“The system is basically going to force men and women to not bother trying to lose weight themselves because they know they’ll get no help with the skin at the end.”

Continuing to Search for a Solution

Although Lisa remains frustrated by her situation, she continues to speak openly about her experience.

She hopes greater awareness will help highlight the difficulties faced by people who lose large amounts of weight but continue struggling with the physical consequences afterward.

For Lisa, the issue is not simply cosmetic.

She says it affects her mental health, confidence, physical comfort, and ability to move forward with her life.

After years spent working toward a healthier future, she says she now feels trapped in another difficult battle she never expected to face.

Her story reflects the complicated realities that can follow dramatic weight loss, even after achieving what once seemed impossible.