The Patty project

In May 2015 I had weight loss surgery; I lost 64 kgs.

I was 39 years old and weighed just under 170 kgs.

Due to my age, my skin was already becoming thinner and losing elasticity.

After losing 64 kgs, the sagging of my skin became even more apparent.

Losing all that weight was a major effort; battling with the mind and learning to live life with a body that was shifting weight but also living with a ‘fat’ brain meant that the struggle was real.

I hoped to get to double digits but to date I still haven’t.

I have put on between 15 to 20 kgs over 7 years and once I get back up to a certain weight ‘diet brain’ kicks in and I’m able to lose a few kgs.

In September 2019 I was diagnosed with bowel cancer and both my body and mind were not well.

12 months later I was given the all clear and my mind was set on getting healthy and healing.

In January 2022 I begun consulting with medical professionals to explore the option of undergoing surgery to remove the excess skin.

The response from my colorectal surgeon floored me; he advised against any surgeries in my abdomen area due to the trauma my body had undergone to remove the cancer.

Three months later I spoke with a gynaecologist who was going to perform a surgical procedure on me and I asked her for her professional opinion to remove excess skin and she too advised against any surgeries to my abdomen.

It was a no followed by another no!

So, what did I do for the next few months?

I ate. I buried my sorrows in food and put on weight.

I spoke with a skin specialist who educated me on ageing skin, weight loss, wrinkles, fine lines and all the tricky things women in their late 40’s may be experiencing. So interesting but so confronting.

The professional advice was to not lose weight or put on weight if I wanted to save my skin from further sagging (and to consider fillers, botox or plastic surgery).

Wow!

So, what my brain processed was don’t bother losing weight because your skin will further sag therefore you will be more uncomfortable; you are stuck at this size and weight for the rest of your life!

Yay for weight loss – I have managed to keep 49 kgs off.

I feel better, I am healthier but I am uncomfortable.

I changed my diet and I lost those few kilos that I found during my ‘rebound’ stage.

In December 2022 I went to Bali for a holiday and whilst enjoying the trip my saggy bits were hot and uncomfortable.

In January 2023 I emailed a specialist plastic surgeon seeking a consultation to ask his professional opinion about surgery to remove excess skin.

There were a few emails going back and forth and in one of those emails I attached intimate and confronting photos of my body outlining what I considered were the areas of concern I wanted to change.

This surgeon did not consider me a good candidate for surgery because of my BMI.

Floored.. again!

Giving up? No!

I just want to speak to a surgeon face to face; I want to ask questions.

Things change with time right? I’m sure if a surgeon took the time to meet with me they could give me their professional opinion on how I could reach a place of comfort and confidence.

Later in January I went to Thailand; there was an issue with lost luggage and being Thailand I couldn’t find clothing in my size.

I was hot and uncomfortable.

In April we returned to Thailand and even though this time I had my luggage and my own clothing I was still hot and uncomfortable.

The level of discomfort I experienced (once again whilst overseas) was enough to motivate me to resume my search for a surgeon with whom I could have the face-to-face consultation that I longed for and this time I wouldn’t give up until they were found.

Whilst in Thailand I started emailing surgeons back home; I’d share information about the weight loss surgery, the amount of weight I’d lost, my age, the bowel cancer and what my abdomen had gone through.

Today; May 15, 2023 I have finally booked an appointment to meet with a specialist surgeon face to face in exactly 4 weeks time.

I feel relief.

My perseverance has paid off.

I will meet with them; I will ask for their professional opinion and I will accept what they advise.

Living well, safety and wellbeing are my priorities.

I would love to feel comfortable and confident in my own body.

I need assistance to do so.

I’m excited.

I’m also anxious.

There is hope; I have hope.

Stay tuned!