WHEN Lauren Hughes stepped on the plane to Turkey, she believed she would be returning a few days later with the body of her dreams.
But instead, she says the trip almost killed her.
After losing weight naturally, Lauren (seen before) Lauren was keen to have her excess skin removed[/caption]
The mum of two booked in for a tummy tuck, breast reduction and liposuction in January this year.
But after returning home to Belfast, Lauren contracted sepsis and is lucky to be alive.
After her right breast agonisingly ‘burst’, she recalls her nipple falling off before she was rushed away for life-saving surgery.
Though medics in Belfast were able to operate, Lauren faces a long and painful recovery.
The mum of two and influencer says: “I flew to Turkey believing I would come home with the body I wanted.
“My main concern was the excess skin on my stomach, and I wanted my breasts taking down to an A cup.
“Instead, my breasts are full of lumps, and they are different shapes and sizes.
“Ironically, my body image has improved. I’ve realised that it doesn’t matter how I look. I am covered in scars but that doesn’t define me as a person.
“After I got sepsis, I was convinced I was going to die. I felt so guilty, because I had risked leaving my children without a mother.
“I am so lucky to be alive, and to be able to take my children to school each day. I no longer care about having the perfect figure.”
Lauren began considering surgery after losing weight naturally during 2023.
She lost three and a half stones, dropping from 16 stones to 12 and a half stones, but was unhappy with the excess skin left behind.
She says: “I couldn’t really enjoy my weight loss because I had a lot of skin, so it didn’t really show the change in my body the way I’d hoped.
“I had G cup breasts which didn’t reduce at all after my diet.
“I had a friend who had been to a Turkish hospital for cosmetic surgery and had a brilliant experience, so I decided to do the same.
“It wasn’t a decision I took lightly; I did lots of research and I spoke to people who’d been over there. I was still worried about the op – I’d never had surgery in my life – but I felt confident in the surgeons.”
Because of her following on Tik-Tok, Lauren claims the hospital offered her half-price surgery, at a cost of £3500, if she agreed to film her journey.
She claims: “I accepted, and I was put in touch with their representative in Northern Ireland who was supposed to travel to Turkey with me and be by my side throughout.”
On the day of her flight, in January this year, Lauren alleges the rep abruptly pulled out, leaving her to travel alone. She also claims that once she reached the airport, there was nobody to meet her as arranged.
She claims: “Two days on, I had my surgery. As I was wheeled into theatre, I saw another patient with open wounds, on a table next to mine. The medics put up a screen and told me: ‘Do not look around.’
“I was appalled. It looked to me like they were operating on both of us at the same time. But moments later, I was unconscious, ready for my op, and I could do nothing about it.”
Lauren was discharged four days later.
She alleges: “I was in a lot of pain and felt dreadful but was given a fit to fly certificate, so I thought I was Ok to come home.
“The staff assured me it was perfectly normal to feel so ill, and I’d never had surgery before, so I trusted them.”
Lauren went to stay with her parents, who helped look after her children, Konan, 7, and Clara, 5.
She says: “I was in horrendous pain but every time I texted the hospital, they said it was to be expected.
“The following week, I became very feverish, hot and cold, and red sludge began leaking from my right breast. Soon, there was blood everywhere.
My breast just exploded. In the hospital, whilst I was being examined, my nipple came off
Lauren Hughes
“I was barely lucid, but my parents got me to hospital, and no doubt they saved my life.
“My breast just exploded. In the hospital, whilst I was being examined, my nipple came off.
“I was so ill, I couldn’t register how shocking it was. I thought I was dying.”
Lauren was transferred from her local hospital in Belfast to the Ulster Hospital, where she had emergency surgery to clear the infection from her breast. Though the surgery was successful, her left breast exploded two days later.
She says: “Fortunately I didn’t need surgery on my left breast because the anti-biotics were starting to work.
“I was on so many painkillers and pills. But the pain was nothing in comparison to the mental anguish I felt.
“I was terrified of dying and I was so angry with myself. I felt selfish and foolish, risking my life for something so superficial.
“My children came to see me in hospital, and they were so worried about me. I felt dreadful.
“I blamed myself even though I knew this wasn’t my fault. They couldn’t even cuddle me because of my wounds.”
What are the symptoms of sepsis?
SEPSIS is a life-threatening reaction to an infection that happens when your immune system overreacts and starts to damage your body’s own tissues and organs.
Symptoms of sepsis in an adult include:
- Acting confused, slurred speech or not making sense
- Blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- A rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
- Difficulty breathing, breathlessness or breathing very fast
Symptoms in a child include:
- Blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- A rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
- Difficulty breathing (you may notice grunting noises or their stomach sucking under their ribcage), breathlessness or breathing very fast
- A weak, high-pitched cry that’s not like their normal cry
- Not responding like they normally do, or not interested in feeding or normal activities
- Being sleepier than normal or having difficulty waking
They may not have all these symptoms.
If you think you or someone else has symptoms of sepsis, call 999 or go to A&E.
Source: NHS
While she had a horrific experience Lauren says that her body image has greatly improved[/caption]
Ten days on, Lauren was discharged from hospital and lived with her parents for a month whilst she recovered.
She claims: “When the Turkish hospital eventually replied they told me the infection was my own fault because I’d gone home too soon, but they had discharged me.
“They never suggested I should stay longer. I was appalled.
“I had open wounds in my breasts, I was in a lot of pain, and I was at the hospital twice a week to have my dressings changed. Mentally I was very low.
“I couldn’t believe what I’d been through and couldn’t forgive myself for almost leaving my kids without a mum.”
Lauren developed lumps in her breasts which doctors at first feared could be breast cancer but were later diagnosed as fat necrosis.
She says: “The wounds have slowly healed but my breasts are lumpy and scarred and they are not the same size.
“I cannot wear a bra because it’s too painful. I can’t even cuddle my kids.
“My little girl says: ‘I just want to give you a big squeeze,’ which breaks my heart.
“I will need further corrective surgery in the future, but I am worried about having any more ops and I also will need to save up.
“I am no longer concerned by how I look. I understand now it’s a superficial issue. These scars are signs of my survival.
“Every day I celebrate being alive, and being there for my children, and I see this as a second chance.
“I had been planning to document my transformation on Tik Tok. Instead, I’m using my channel to make others aware of the dangers.
“My message to other women is love what you have and be proud of who you are – self-worth is not dependent on your body. It’s the person inside that counts.”
Lauren, seen with her children, says that everyday she celebrates being alive[/caption]
