Melissa Foreman British woman who underwent gastric stitching and skin tightening Country: Great Britain

Transformation of Melissa Formen: From Obesity to a New Life

Melissa Formen, a British mother of two, weighed over 152 kg and despised her body. Determined to change her life for the better, she underwent weight loss surgery similar to gastric banding and successfully lost over 76 kg. However, instead of achieving her dream body, the 44-year-old woman from London was left with sagging skin on her thighs and abdomen. She describes her body as resembling a deflated balloon, feeling like a fake because her body looked completely different in clothes. She hated it.

In her blog post, Formen reveals that her appearance made her feel humiliated. When she saw herself in the mirror, she believed that she had no chance of ever resembling her previous self. She gained her extra weight while growing up in California, where she couldn't resist sweets and fast food. Formen recalls, "I was a big child hiding food. Food was my best friend and worst enemy. From a chubby child, I transformed into an even heavier teenager, and then into an adult woman with pathological obesity."

"On a typical day, I could skip breakfast," Formen continues. "Then lunch could easily consist of two Big Macs and a large serving of French fries. For dinner, it would be either a lot of takeout food or a healthy portion of homemade food high in fat. Between meals, I would snack on chips and cookies. I could easily consume 5000 calories a day, more than double the daily calorie intake for a woman." Exceeding the recommended calorie intake, Formen swelled up to 152 kg and continued to gain weight.

In 2009, at the age of 38, she gave birth to twins and realized the significant role of motherhood, prompting her to change her life and regain her health. "I wanted to be an active mom," says Formen. "A mom who could run after her children. I already felt at a disadvantage because I had children at such a late age. I didn't want obesity to cut short my years." After conducting research, Formen decided to travel to the Czech Republic to undergo a surgery known as gastric plication. This minimally invasive surgical procedure involves stitching the stomach wall to reduce its size and potentially decrease the need for food. Gastric plication works on the same principle as gastric bypass, but the procedure is less invasive.

After the surgery, Formen gradually lost weight over the next 18 months. She could no longer consume as much as before and consciously chose healthier food options. The mother of twins felt lighter, but her joy quickly faded as her excess sagging skin constantly reminded her of her obesity. That's when she decided to go under the knife again, this time with cosmetic surgeon Paul Baguley.

"The process took place in two stages over three months. Recovery was difficult because I was covered in stitches and staples. But it wasn't as terrible as I had imagined. The painful sensations were worth it. Plastic surgery gave me the body that I couldn't achieve through my own efforts," says Formen. "It was like a magic wand was waved over my body, erasing all evidence of my obesity. Mr. Baguley removed several pounds of skin. The areas where the skin was tightened now have firm contours."

Currently, Formen weighs 72 kg and proudly shares her photos not only to support and inspire others struggling with weight issues but also to regain their sense of self-worth. She says, "The new version of me can run, live longer, and do whatever I want! I was incredibly lucky when an amazing surgeon intervened, allowing me to transform myself."

"Now, looking back, when I see myself in those photos with sagging skin, particularly on my thighs and abdomen, I realize that the results are simply incredible. I no longer feel ashamed of those photos. It's like I've shed my cocoon," Formen admits. She acknowledges that she's not perfect, but she's thrilled to have transformed into a butterfly, no matter how strangely it sometimes flutters.