Obese woman sheds 8st and splashes £12k on plastic surgery for dream wedding

A BRIDE-TO-BE shelled out thousands to get the “perfect” body before her big day.

Chantelle Harris tipped the scales at 21st and was at a loss after trying and failing ever diet under the sun.

After seeing a friend’s results, the 29-year-old decided to fork over £6,000 for gastric band surgery so she could beat the bulge once and for all.

She went under the knife five years ago and quickly shed 8st thanks to eating smaller portions and getting a personal trainer.

And just one month after her op, Chantelle met the man of her dreams Marlon Powell, 30, who proposed last year.

Chantelle said: "I think a lot of people forget that after a gastric band you don't wake up skinny because that's the start of your journey – but it's completely worth it.

"After the weight started to drop off I found I had so much more energy and was all the more confident.

"At first it was difficult understanding the limitations of the gastric band and sometimes meant a lot of my dinners went cold before I could finish them.

"After losing eight stone I felt great, I was fitter, not sluggish anymore and could feel the difference in every aspect of my life.”

But Chantelle refused to walk down the aisle without having a boob job after her dramatic weight loss had caused her breasts to drop from a G to a C-cup.

She explained: "After my initial gastric band surgery I felt great but there was one last thing that I wanted to resolve about myself.

"My only problem was that my breasts had lost a lot of their volume and I'd gone down five cup sizes. It left me feeling unhappy as there was nothing I wanted more than to look amazing on my wedding day.

"I wanted to have the option not to wear a bra on my big day and for me it was the way to complete my amazing transformation. Now I feel incredible and can't wait to get married.”

Seven months ago Chantelle spent another £6,000 on size E implants so she could be body confident for her wedding day this April.

“There was nothing I wanted more than to look amazing on my wedding day”

She continued: “What took me aback was that before most people would see my size before anything else, but not my fiance, Marlon, he didn't even think I was big enough to have a gastric band.

"Before my breast surgery he told me that he only wanted me to have the surgery if I was doing it for myself and no one else – he didn't mind whether I had it or not.

"I'm so glad I did as I've gained all of my confidence back and feel so much happier now."

Chantelle booked in with Staiano Plastic Surgery who enhanced her assets.

Jonathan Staiano, 44, company director and plastic surgeon said: "Losing weight is one of the major things that can change the appearance of a person's body. In Chantelle's case she wanted her body to look how it did before her gastric band and keep looking in proportion.

"I met up with her several times before the operation to discuss what she could realistically achieve and knew the change was important to her.

"She wanted to return to having the body shape she had before and was really happy with the results.

"She was always a confident lady before the surgery but I could see a real emotional difference in her after the operation and we both were delighted with her results."

Now Chantelle wants to share her story in a bid to help others who feel trapped being overweight or unhappy with their appearance.

She added: "My surgeon was so lovely, he really put me at ease and I knew as soon as I walked out the door that he was right for me.

"Everyone was incredibly supportive and understood why I decided to go for the surgery.

"When I woke up I expected to feel pain but it was amazing, it was then that I knew I was complete and ready for my big day."