Mum Donna Lambert, from Billericay, Essex, said she felt “disgusted” with her body after losing eight stone which left her with excess skin.
Mom had previously had a gastric band to help with weight loss, but she still didn’t like the way her body looked.
At her oldest, Donna was 18 and says she had no portion control as she was “greedy”.
After dinner every night, he ate three bowls of cereal.
It was when she started working at a new skin care company that required a uniform – one that didn’t fit her – that Donna had a wake-up call.
The 33-year-old then decided to get a gastric band, which cost her £8,000 to have done in London.
Since having the operation, Donna wanted more work done which she managed to convince partner David to finance.
The partner agreed last Christmas and paid £6,700 for a lower body lift, arm lift and liposuction. The surgeries took place in January this year in Turkey.
Donna now says she couldn’t be happier with her new look.
Donna said: “I’m now 15 weeks post op and I feel amazing, I never thought having this would help me so much mentally.
“Some days I’m more swollen and that’s totally normal, but overall, I feel amazing and I’ve got my confidence back.
“I’m so glad I made the decision to do this, I’ve never looked back. I’m happier than I’ve been in years and I love my body.’
Donna admits that by following her gastric band, she didn’t follow the rules that come with it and remembers melting a chocolate bar to eat right after her surgery.
In 2014 Donna gave birth to her son Beau, six, and two years later to her daughter Amelie, four.
Donna says she gained and lost weight with each pregnancy, causing her even more problems with her body confidence.
She said: “I had lost so much confidence about the way my body looked, I was actually happier when I was bigger than I was at a lower weight with excess skin.
“I stood in front of the mirror every day, looking at and touching all my loose skin. I was disgusted by what I saw in the mirror.
“I was in a really bad place and I finally sat down with my partner, David, and admitted that I needed help and told him I really wanted to have the operation.
“I had done so much research on this, looked up so many different surgeons, looked at pictures of their work and read endless reviews until I found my surgeon in Istanbul, Turkey.
“I explained all this to David and he could see how desperate I was to do it and he said he would support me and fund my operation. So on New Year’s Eve last year, I shut it all down.’
Donna chose Turkey as the procedure cost £6,700, a huge difference to the cost in the UK which can be around £15k.
Donna remembers that once her surgeries were closed, it was like a switch was turned on and she started to feel better.
He added: I don’t regret having my operations abroad.
“I feel and look my best ever and love showing off my figure in new tights.
“I’m 12 now and I feel a decade younger.”
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