Man who shed 21st left with extreme excess skin: 'I’m a 40-year-old in an 80-year-old’s body'
A man who lost 21st is now left with 3st of excess skin - which would cost him £30,000 to have removed.
Wayne Shepherd, 40, reached 35st 7lb (226.8kg) at his highest weight, before dropping nearly two thirds of his body weight thanks to weight loss surgery.
However, now Shepherd feels as if he is "trapped in an 80-year-old’s body" after he claims he was refused skin removal surgery on the NHS.
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"I’m a 40-year-old in an 80-year-old’s body because of the way I’m so wrinkly," he adds. "I wish I hadn’t gone through the procedure. It may be wrong to say as my health is amazing compared to what it was - I was in a mobility scooter, now I can walk fine.
"But I’ve gone from one problem to another. It’s mentality debilitating. I can feel the skin creasing up. It’s a horrible feeling."
Shepherd adds that he has faced issues with his weight 'since birth' and spent much of his 20s and 30s yo-yo dieting.
In June last year, he underwent gastric sleeve surgery - which sees a large portion of the stomach sectioned off in order to decrease appetite. This saw him lose 21st in 12 months, leaving him weighing 14st.
"When I was bigger, I could walk around with a T-shirt on, and it didn’t bother me. Now when I look in the mirror, I do feel disgusted," he says. "I just had a very unhealthy relationship with food. It was my comfort, it was my go-to, it was my guilt. I never had massive meals. But I would constantly eat throughout the day. I would be eating and eating. It was an ongoing battle. It lasted for years."
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Shepherd said he was aware he would have excess skin following the surgery, and that he was told by his surgeon that he would be able to have it removed.
However, when Shepherd applied for the surgery he was told it wouldn’t be funded by the NHS.
"I’m massively grateful to the NHS. They have changed my life," Shepherd says. "It’s great that they do this type of thing, but as for the full package, they need to look at that a lot more. There are a lot of people that have the same problem."
"If I was told that from the start, I would have had better knowledge and understanding. And I’ve gone away from a health problem of sorts, but fundamentally, it’s just as much a problem as it was. It hasn't really solved all the problems."
The NHS has been contacted for comment. Shepherd has started a GoFundMe to raise money for his excess skin surgery, which can be found here: gofundme.com.
What causes excess skin after weight loss?
Rapid weight loss or a large amount of weight loss can result in excess skin. This is because, as you gain weight, your skin expands to make room for increased growth (which is why you can get stretch marks).
So if you have skin that has been significantly stretched or has been stretched for a long period of time (such as during pregnancy), it’s less likely that the skin will be able to completely retract.
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Those who lose weight gradually are also less likely to have loose skin than those who lose it rapidly, such as weight loss surgery patients.
When you do have excess skin, it’s unlikely that it will go away on its own and many people need to have skin removal surgery performed.
Ask skin removal surgery is regarded as cosmetic surgery, the NHS says that it is not often available through the health service and must be sought privately.
Is there a 'safe' amount of weight to lose per month?
Due to his surgery, Shepherd lost a large amount of weight very quickly. In total, his 21st weight loss in one year meant he was losing nearly 2st - or 11kg - of weight each month.
This is vastly higher than the NHS' recommended weight loss of 1 to 2lbs, or 0.5 to 1kg per week - equivalent to 8lbs or 4kg per month.
Other side effects of rapid weight loss can include a slower metabolism, loss of muscle tone, and nutritional deficiencies.
It's always best to speak with your GP for guidance ahead of starting a weight loss plan.
Watch: "I lost over half my body weight after changing my lifestyle - but I'm now left with loose skin"
