A man who had £18,000 worth of fat removal surgery abroad after UK surgeons refused to do the operation says he has no regrets about taking the risk – and plans to get even more work done.
Last year, after years of being bullied and called a “chubster” by cruel schoolmates growing up, Chad Teixeira, 26, decided that enough was enough.
In June 2021, the entrepreneur decided to use £18,000 of his savings to have a combined mega liposuction, Brazilian bum lift (BBL) and a tummy tuck – but was forced to do it in Turkey, when UK doctors declined his request.
The 26-year-old from London needed two blood transfusions and spent months recovering but says the operation helped him go from 25st 2lbs to 14st 13lbs, and regain his confidence after being bullied about his weight.
The young entrepreneur hit rock bottom during lockdown and after years of trying all sorts of diets, felt surgery was the only option for him.
“I think people often have this fatphobic conception of people who are larger as being lazy,” Chad, who had 5-6 stone of fat removed in total, told Jam Press.
“If we just stuck to the miserable, unmanageable diets and spent all our extra time working out, if we just had some willpower or never did anything fun, we could be accepted like everyone else but I think what these people often fail to realise is that being overweight and miserable isn’t a choice.
“I’ve always wanted something to change for me and I’ve worked so hard to make it happen.
“Unfortunately, surgery seemed like the only remaining option and it’s been the one that’s worked.
“It’s given me the kickstart and the confidence I needed to live the life I’ve been chasing. To be the person I know I am inside.
“I knew there were risks, some of them very serious. I was nervous, naturally. But I knew from the start that I was doing the right thing.”
Growing up, Chad was bullied from a young age about the way he looked.
He said: “I felt like a misfit. I was unhappy and struggled to accept myself and feel comfortable.
“I was called things like ‘fat c*nt’ and ‘chubster’.
“This definitely fuelled a difficult relationship with myself. I became my own worst critic and scrutinised myself constantly.”
Over the years, Chad tried all sorts of things to try to shift the pounds, but nothing stuck.
He said: “I’ve seen more personal trainers and nutritionists than I can remember, all who’ve promised a different solution to my unresolvable issue.
“I’ve tried everything, all the fad diets, starving myself, unsustainable exercise regimes and none of it has made me feel good, physically or mentally and none of it has ever seemed like part of a healthy way to live, for me.”
In lockdown, living alone and isolated from others, he became more and more fixated on his appearance.
Chad said: “I found myself in an awful space mentally. I felt hyper-focused on myself and my weight.
“I was on social media all the time and struggled with the constant stream of perfect images of perfect bodies I was looking at every day.
“I was ready to risk absolutely anything (even my life!) to change the way I looked.”
Initially, he contacted a surgeon in London but was told that for the amount of fat he wanted removed, he would have to have five sessions, six months apart as it was not safe to have so much removed in one go.
Desperate for a quick solution, he contacted clinics in Turkey, who said that although it was risky, they were willing to carry out the procedure as Chad wanted.
They were able to successfully remove around five stone of fat from his body.
Unfortunately, however, there were some complications with Chad needing two blood transfusions to replace what he lost during the surgery.
Chad said: “The transfusion wasn’t planned, the surgery was just so large and took a larger toll on my body than expected which resulted in the need for the two blood transfusions.
“Blood transfusions are considered a life-saving procedure and it brings its own risks.”
Luckily, he recovered well and was able to see his new body for the first time.
He said: ‘I saw pictures of my body about an hour after waking up and completely broke down in tears.
“The swelling then started and I didn’t see the full visual results until eight weeks after surgery.”
Chad had to spend 25 days in hospital before he could fly home and he faced a long recovery.
He said: “There were days when I wondered if I’d done the right thing because I was in pain and it was uncomfortable, but as I healed and began to see results I felt brighter and the confidence started to shine out of me.
“Recovery took months. I totally underestimated this and because I booked all my treatments and surgeries in quick succession it was a bit of a whirlwind and didn’t really give much thought to what recovery would be like at the time.
“It was one of the hardest things, trying to get back to work and put on a brave face but people have been so kind and supportive.”
Chad went on to have more – less invasive – work done in July 2021 and between August and December, he had a host of non-surgical procedures including lipo injections, fillers and Botox.
In January 2022, he returned to Turkey once again to have more mega liposuction, this time removing 11 litres of fat followed by an arm lift, for another £9,000.
In total, Chad has spent over £54,000 on his new body but he says he has no regrets and it has completely changed his life.
He said: “My whole mindset has changed as has the way I carry myself and act.
“Before I hid behind false bravado and this sassy confidence that I’m known for but in private I’d feel so low. The way I dressed and covered up, even how I would stand in photos – not that I ever enjoyed seeing photos of myself before – that all changed.”
His new body has also helped him feel more comfortable when it comes to dating.
He added: “I can be the life and soul of the party but as soon as sex and romance enter the scene I become so self-conscious.
“Since my surgery, I feel so much more confident in that arena.
“I’ve been able to date and enjoy being intimate without fear of judgement and rejection and without the anxiety that used to suffocate me.”
Chad is planning even more surgery in the future, including liposuction another BBL and potentially a thigh lift but for now, he’s working on maintaining his new body.
The entrepreneur hits the gym several times a week and is more conscious of what he eats and drinks.
Chad added: “I find myself choosing to live a healthier lifestyle because of my newfound confidence and the authentic positive reinforcement I’ve received on this journey.
“I’m so much more dedicated to making sure my body stays looking this way.”
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