A mum-of-three has revealed how she transformed her body by losing almost 90lbs – then having multiple plastic surgeries to remove the 8lb of excess skin left behind. Taylor Mitchell, 28, is now preparing for her final loose skin removal surgery.
She said: “I knew I wanted to be as transparent as possible when I started my journey. Isaw so many people losing weight but never showing the reality of loose skin. I wanted to share every part of it.”
Taylor’s transformation began on January 1, 2023, when she weighed over 17st 8lb. After three children and years of struggling with her weight, she finally made the decision to prioritise her own health. But while the number on the scale dropped, Taylor found herself dealing with an unexpected challenge – the excess skin left behind.
“Once I hit my goal weight, I knew my first loose skin surgery had to be my stomach,” she says. “I had a lot of excess skin hanging from my abdomen after three pregnancies and massive weight loss, and it really affected my confidence.”
Taylor worked with Southern Surgical Arts to perform her fleur-de-lis tummy tuck – a procedure that required both a vertical and horizontal incision to remove as much loose skin as possible. The results were dramatic.
Taylor said: “When I left the doctor’s office, they had removed over 8lbs of skin from my stomach and breasts. That’s an insane amount of extra weight to be carrying around!”
At the same time, she underwent a breast reduction, removing excess tissue and lifting her chest after losing volume due to weight loss and breastfeeding. “Not carrying around all that extra skin was life-changing,” she says. “My breasts used to be huge, and reducing them made such a difference.”
After seeing the success of her first surgery, Taylor decided to tackle the loose skin on her arms. “I had so much excess skin on my arms that I avoided wearing sleeveless tops completely,” she admits. “Even in fitted clothes, I could feel and see the hanging skin.”
In her second procedure, Taylor underwent an arm lift combined with a breast implant augmentation, opting for moderate implants to restore fullness to her chest. Surgery so far has cost just over £40,000 and the next procedure, a thigh lift in March, will come it at around £9,600.
“I work so hard at the gym, and I’ve built so much muscle, but the loose skin on my thighs makes me feel self-conscious. I can’t wait to finally feel confident wearing shorts again!” she says. But that’s not the only procedure she has planned. Taylor is set to undergo chin liposuction and skin tightening to address her genetic double chin, something she’s struggled with even before weight loss.
“I’ve tried Kybella, Botox along my jawline, chin filler – everything,” she shares. “But my injector told me chin lipo is the only way to truly get rid of that genetic fat for good.”
Taylor has prepared for her final surgery by sticking to a clean eating plan and ensuring her body is in the best shape possible to aid in recovery. “I’ve been eating around 1,326 calories a day with 130g of protein to keep my energy up and my muscles strong,” she explains.
“I want to make sure my recovery goes as smoothly as possible.”
Despite undergoing multiple surgeries, Taylor has no regrets. “Hands down, the best thing I ever did for myself,” she says. “I’ve had a breast reduction, tummy tuck, and arm lift, and the surgery that gave me the most confidence was my tummy tuck with muscle repair.”
Taylor’s journey hasn’t been easy. She recalls the challenges of pregnancy weight gain, undiagnosed postpartum anxiety, and struggling with self-confidence. But now, as she nears the end of her transformation, she’s feels stronger and more empowered than ever.
“Looking back at everything I went through, all the challenges I overcame, it really puts into perspective how I got to that place,” she says. There’s no excuses for poor health, but life happens. I don’t dwell on the past – I’m incredibly proud of where I am now.”
Taylor hopes her story will inspire others who are struggling with their weight and body image. “If you’re in a season where you’re struggling, don’t be too hard on yourself,” she advises. “Everyone has a story. There’s a time for everything, and right now, I’m so excited to be in my season of health.”