Rebecca Deicu, a 37-year-old mother from Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, has successfully halved her body weight, reducing from 26 stone to 14 stone after undergoing gastric sleeve surgery. Despite this remarkable achievement, Rebecca reveals that her journey has left her with a significant amount of loose skin, impacting her confidence and comfort.
Having battled weight issues since the age of 10, Rebecca often consumed large portion sizes and struggled with her weight, reaching a dress size 26 at her heaviest. This affected various aspects of her life, including simple pleasures like riding rollercoasters or sitting on garden chairs, which she feared would not support her weight.
After years of fluctuating weight and unsuccessful dieting attempts, Rebecca was placed on the NHS waiting list for gastric sleeve surgery in 2020. The operation, which effectively reduced the size of her stomach, was performed in March 2025 after a five-year wait. Standing at 5ft 6in, she now wears a size 14 dress.
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However, the significant weight loss has resulted in loose skin on her stomach, arms, and legs. This has caused discomfort, leading Rebecca to continue wearing loose clothing, including the same baggy tops she used to wear at her heaviest. She expresses that the loose skin affects her self-image, particularly in intimate settings, describing feeling less confident and not feeling “sexy” due to the appearance she likens to a “mole rat.”
Rebecca credits her supportive husband for his unwavering love throughout her journey, emphasising that his affection has remained unchanged despite her physical transformation.
The loose skin also limits her clothing choices and daily activities. For example, during the recent summer heatwave, she avoided wearing shorts because the skin hanging off caused her discomfort. She wears tight clothing on her lower half to manage the loose skin but finds this frustrating.
Determined to improve her quality of life, Rebecca has initiated a fundraiser to finance surgery to remove the excess skin, an operation reportedly not available through the NHS. The estimated cost for this procedure is around £15,000.
Rebecca shares her hopes that after surgery, she will be able to enjoy activities she currently avoids, such as wearing a swimsuit, going on holiday confidently, receiving massages comfortably, and even getting another tattoo.
A spokesperson for NHS Gloucestershire ICB commented: “We are sorry that the individual concerned is unhappy following gastric sleeve surgery. We are unable to comment on individual cases. However, there is a process for considering individual funding requests which takes into account the available clinical evidence and each person’s circumstances. We advise the patient to contact her local ICB Patient Advice and Liaison Service/Care Experience team for further information.”