A woman who used ‘skinny jabs’ to beat her shopping addiction has revealed how she was left with the ‘body of an 80-year-old’ – but has forked out £10,000 on surgery to wear a bikini.
Mum-of-one Grace Parkin had weighed 19st 11lbs at her heaviest.
The 34-year-old knew something needed to change – and fast – but not just in terms of what number was on the scales.
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Grace, from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, was spending up to £1,000-a-month on clothes, eating out, holidays and alcohol out of “sheer boredom”.
To kick her addiction, and to lose weight, she took up taking Mounjaro, costing £150 per month instead; saving her a whopping £7,200 per year as she was no longer impulsively spending.
Despite the financial benefits, and losing 9st, the estate manager was left with an “apron tummy” of excess skin.
And, as a result, Grace was covering up more than she was before.
Now, though, she’s spent £10,500 jetting abroad to Lithuania to undergo a tummy tuck, liposuction and breast uplift.
“I was so happy about the weight I had lost, but I was finding that instead of embracing my new body, I was covering up more,” she told Need To Know.
“I hated my shape, the way everything pulled down and under my clothes, I looked 80 years old.
“No amount of exercise or supplements were going to correct it.
“So I made the decision to have skin removal surgery.
“Now, I’m really happy with the way things are going.
“I’m much more confident in the clothes I’m able to wear and I’m excited to see the final results.”
Grace recalls being “big” her entire life and says that sustaining weight loss long-term only ever felt like a dream.
She began taking Mounjaro in May 2024 as a last solution after various diets – and even gastric balloon surgery – had little-to-no effect.
And although the weight was flying off, the person staring back at her in the mirror wasn’t who she thought.
She said: “I was looking in the mirror and still had a large stomach.
“I didn’t look how I imagined I’d look after losing [that much] weight.
“I thought that if I lost more, my stomach would disappear.
“But that wasn’t the case at all.”
Grace made a few enquiries in the UK about skin removal surgery, though was shocked at the quotes of £20,000 for “average” clinics.
While jubious about going abroad, the mum-of-one didn’t have much choice.
She decided against Turkey after seeing multiple “horror” stories and settled on a clinic in Lithuania.
After a consultation, she paid a £800 deposit and the remainder when arriving for the procedure in February 2026.
She said: “I never felt nervous once.
“The staff were friendly and the clinic was immaculate.
“I was just excited.
“I felt fine when I woke up, but achy in my stomach area since I had muscle repair.
“But, all in all, I was fine.”
While Grace battled to stand up for long periods, it’s something she’s slowly recovering from.
After 10 days, she flew back to the UK.
Since being home, there’s only been one issue with a small incision that opened up, which was minor.
Grace, who is “overjoyed” with the results so far, has made the decision to go back on Mounjaro, at £320 per month, in a bid to maintain her current weight of 11st 10lbs.
She plans to stay on the jabs until she’s “buried in the ground” as they’re a part of who she is now.
It’ll take anywhere from six months to a year before the final results of the surgery will show.
For now, though, she’s looking forward to summer and strutting around in a bikini with confidence.
She added: “I feel weird when I look in the mirror, as I almost don’t recognise myself.
“I’m so happy with the results.
“But I’m now looking at other parts, such as my arms, and if they need to be done, too.
“Overall, though, it feels amazing.
“I no longer avoid my reflection – and I catch myself looking in the mirror multiple times a day.
“I’ve got a couple of holidays planned this year.
“And a few bikinis at the ready.
“I used to be modest and go with a coverup or I would avoid walking around the pool without a towel wrapped around me.
“My bum would sag and I’d feel so conscious about how I’d look.
“I can’t wait to parade my new figure around.
“I’ve always had an outgoing personality, but I’m more adventurous.
“I got on the rides in Orlando for the first time as I didn’t fear getting stuck in the seat or the weight limit.
“It was a blast.”
