I lost 15 stone after saving £10,000 for body overhaul surgery - now I've found love for the first time Kylie Serlis, 34, from Swansea, stopped drinking to save for her surgery READ MORE: I spend $17,000 a year on solo travelling and leave my boyfriend at home - I won't let a relationship stop me from seeing the world By Monique Rubins For Mailonline Published: 04:22 EDT, 15 August 2024 | Updated: 04:22 EDT, 15 August 2024 e-mail View comments A support worker who gave up drinking to save £10,000 for body overhaul surgery lost 15 stone - and is now in her first ever relationship. Kylie Serlis, 34, from Swansea, was tipping the scales at 26 stone and struggling to squeeze into a size 28 after years of weekend binge drinking and greasy takeaways took their toll. Party animal Kylie could never say no to evenings filled with Sambuca shots and late night Big Macs, but her wild lifestyle left her feeling 'insecure' and 'exhausted all the time'.
Despite constantly socialising, Kylie had never found love - although admits she was 'desperate to find the one'. But after being told by doctors in 2021 that she would die if she didn't lose weight , Kylie knew she had to change her ways. Kylie Serlis (pictured), from Swansea, Wales, has lost 15 stone after having a gastric sleeve fitted at a clinic in Turkey.
She later underwent liposuction and a tummy tuck to remove loose skin Since losing the weight, the 34-year-old support worker has started her first ever relationship with factory worker Joshua Lewis (pictured) After a visit to her GP to inquire about gastric band surgery she was shocked at the length of the NHS waiting list and decided to contact a private clinic in Turkey instead. Quoting her £3,000 for a gastric sleeve, Kylie started saving up by cutting out alcohol and taking up extra shifts at work. In January 2022 she underwent a successful gastric sleeve surgery.
She lost five stone in just four months and returned to the same clinic in October 2023 where she paid a further £4,580 for liposuction and a tummy tuck to remove her loose skin. Now weighing 11st 8lbs and slipping into a svelte size 12, Kylie 'can't recognise' her old self. With her new-found confidence, Kylie has even started her first relationship with a 28-year-old factory worker called Joshua Lewis after the pair matched on a dating app.
'Being told I was on borrowed time was the biggest wake up call,' she said. 'I was going out every weekend to drink and then comfort eating to mask feeling single and alone. Kylie paid £4,580 for liposuction and a tummy tuck to remove her loose skin after she had lost the weight Kylie and Joshua have been together for a year and they're looking forward to having some lovely holidays together this year 'The 14-year NHS waiting list wasn't an option for me - I would've been dead by the time I'd have it.
'But booking my sleeve was a no-brainer. 'Most weeks I was working 90 hours because I was determined to get my surgery. 'Two weeks after having it I scheduled my liposuction and tummy tuck because I knew I'd have lots of loose skin.
'I haven't touched alcohol for over two years and I'm the happiest I've ever been. 'For the first time in my adult life, I'm able to go into a shop and buy clothes that I feel confident in. 'I've now lost more than half my body weight and I'm in my first relationship.
'I knew that I'd lose weight but I never thought I'd gain such an amazing partner as Josh.' Kylie says she was always the 'bigger friend' at school and always felt insecure about her weight Kylie says it was her rocky relationship with food that always left her feeling like 'the bigger friend' at school - which continued into adulthood. But in July 2021 - weighing 26 stone - Kylie received the alarming news that she had five years to live.
Due to long NHS waiting lists and staggering UK private costs, Kylie looked overseas and found a reputable clinic in Turkey. Kylie even took up extra cases at work - which saw her working up to 90 hours a week- to save up for her surgery. 'I was working all hours to get as much saved as possible because I knew it was now or never,' Kylie said.
'I even gave up drinking and luxuries like getting my nails, hair and eyebrows done monthly.' After a very successful surgery, Kylie booked a liposuction and tummy tuck at the same clinic just nine months later. After healing up, she soon met Joshua, through the dating app Badoo in April 2023.
Kylie tipped the scales at 26 stone and was struggling to squeeze into a size 28 before her surgery In 2021, Kylie was told by her doctor that she would die if she didn't lose weight. She swiftly decided to opt for gastric band surgery but decided to do it privately in Turkey when she saw the length of the NHS waiting list Not only did Kylie cut out drinking to save money for her surgery, she also took on extra cases and worked 90 hour weeks After matching on dating app Badoo in April 2023, Kylie and Joshua now have plans to move in together Kylie says she never got approached by men before her weight loss because she was too insecure about her looks They've now been together for a year and are planning to move in together. Kylie said: 'Before, I never got approached by blokes when I was out because I was too insecure about my weight.
'I was always just the big girl with my gorgeous girlfriends. 'But when I lost it all, I decided to join dating apps and luckily I matched with Josh. 'He's my first boyfriend and I'm happier than ever.
'He treats me the way I want and deserve - how any woman should be. 'We've got some lovely holidays booked this year and I can't wait. 'We're hoping to move in together soon too.
'I wouldn't swap my boozy weekends for the world.' Wales Turkey NHS Share or comment on this article: I lost 15 stone after saving £10,000 for body overhaul surgery - now I've found love for the first time e-mail Add comment.
