I splashed £11k on a gastric sleeve in the UK – I lost 11 stone but ended up unable to WALK, I wish I’d gone to Turkey
A YOUNG woman has revealed that she spent £11,000 on a gastric sleeve.
But things didn’t go to plan for Betty Hunt, who was left wheelchair-bound after having the surgery in the UK.
The brunette beauty, who once topped the scales at 20 stone 3 lbs, dropped down to 9 stone 3 lbs after going under the knife, but suffered brain nerve damage and was left unable to walk.
It all started after Betty piled on eight stone in just eight months.
After trying numerous diets but with no success, Betty decided to go ahead with weight-loss surgery, which saw her shift 11 stone.
But despite slimming down, Betty is now forced to use a feeding tube and wishes she had flown abroad to Turkey for the surgery, rather than having it in the UK.
Posting on social media, Betty shared her jaw-dropping surgery transformation – and it’s left many totally stunned.
The young woman, who was “so unhappy” when she weighed over 20 stone, shared her clip with the caption “11 stone weight loss but ending up in a wheelchair not able to walk due to brain nerve damage through gastric sleeve surgery was the last thing I was expecting.”
At the start of the short clip, Betty shared a snap of her prior to her weight loss.
Seconds later, viewers saw an image after Betty’s weight loss surgery.
Although she had dramatically slimmed down, she was sitting in a wheelchair and was reliant on a feeding tube.
Betty claimed that after her gastric sleeve, she was unable to “keep anything down” and get nutrients into her body, which caused a Thiamine Deficiency – which can lead to a range of symptoms, from fatigue to paralysis.
This affected not only Betty’s body, but her sight and speech too.
She explained: “Due to me not [being] able to keep anything down – tablets, food, water – I got severe malnutrition which is the brain nerve damage which has affected my whole body, eye sight and my speech – my condition is called Wernicke’s Encephalopathy which is common in alcoholics but not in my case.”
Different types of weight loss surgery
For many people who are overweight or obese, they may feel they have exhausted options for weight loss and want to try something more drastic.
Weight loss surgery may be available to them on the NHS if they have a BMI over 40 and have a condition that may be improved with weight loss, such as diabetes.
But the availability of these procedures largely depends on where you live in the UK. People can also pay privately.
Weight loss surgery is a common and safe procedure. However, as with any operation, there are risks, such as a blood clot, a band slipping out of place, a stomach infection, gallstones and excessive skin from weight loss that in most cases, won’t be removed on the NHS.
In all of the following options, the space in the stomach is reduced, therefore a person feels fuller after eating less food. They lose weight as a result.
However, it is necessary for them to also learn good eating habits and have a healthy balanced diet, too.
Gastric bypass
The stomach is divided into two using a staple. The smaller part is connected to the intestines, effectively cutting how much space there is in the stomach by half.
The operation takes around two hours.
Gastric band
A band is tied around the top of the stomach and inflated so that it tightens.
The operation takes three to four hours.
Gastric balloon
Patients swallow an empty balloon which is attached to a tube.
The balloon is filled with water via the tube, taking around 20 minutes, so that it fills around two-thirds of the stomach space.
Sleeve gastrectomy
Around 80 per cent of the stomach is removed in surgery to make it much smaller and a sleeve shape.
The operation takes between one and three hours.
Wernicke’s Encephalopathy is a serious, potentially life-threatening neurological disorder caused by a deficiency of Vitamin B1.
While it is often associated with chronic alcohol use, it can also occur in individuals with poor nutrition.
The condition is characterised by a triad of symptoms: confusion, eye movement problems (ophthalmoplegia), and ataxia (difficulty with balance and coordination).
Untreated, Wernicke’s Encephalopathy can lead to permanent brain damage and death, or can progress to Korsakoff syndrome, a chronic memory disorder.
Following Betty’s malnutrition, she went down to just 8 stone 4 lbs and was “so weak”.
Paid £11,000, didn’t have the aftercare, I wish I went to Turkey
Betty Hunt
She then spent six months in a rehabilitation hospital and “wasn’t able to eat”.
Now, she has a feeding tube to ensure she doesn’t lose any more weight.
Betty acknowledged that her nerve damage is expected to last five years, while the damage to her eyes “is permanent.”
What are the risks of getting surgery abroad?
IT'S important to do your research if you're thinking about having cosmetic surgery abroad.
It can cost less than in the UK, but you need to weigh up potential savings against the potential risks.
Safety standards in different countries may not be as high.
No surgery is risk-free. Complications can happen after surgery in the UK or abroad.
If you have complications after an operation in the UK, the surgeon is responsible for providing follow-up treatment.
Overseas clinics may not provide follow-up treatment, or they may not provide it to the same standard as in the UK.
Also, they may not have a healthcare professional in the UK you can visit if you have any problems.
Source: NHS
She claimed that this all happened because she didn’t get the right aftercare following her surgery, as she snapped: “I was letting them know how much I was being sick, they didn’t care, just wanted to know how much weight I lost.”
As a result, she bluntly concluded: “Paid £11,000, didn’t have the aftercare, I wish I went to Turkey.”
Social media users react
The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @bettyhunt2109, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 356,700 views.
It’s also amassed 9,130 likes, 358 comments and 763 shares.
If only it was actually the easy way out like people like to say! Can’t imagine how much you’ve been through
TikTok user
Social media users were stunned to hear Betty’s horrifying story and many eagerly flocked to the comments to share messages of love and support for the young woman.
One person said: “That’s crazy, my thoughts are with you, hope you get some level of recovery and life back to normality.”
Another added: “God bless you! That seems so unfair.”
A third commented: “If only it was actually the easy way out like people like to say! Can’t imagine how much you’ve been through.”
Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club