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WHEN Susan Banks goes out with her husband Des, whom she has been married to for 23 years, it sparks whispers among onlookers.
However, it's not due to any issues on her part – quite the opposite, in fact.
After having four children, Susan felt she had lost her sense of sexiness. She also dealt with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.Credit: Susan Banks/Lucy Laing
Now, people hardly recognize her. One man even thought her husband had found a new partner.Credit: Susan Banks/Lucy Laing
The speculation arises because, after a remarkable midlife transformation, she appears incredibly different and attractive. This stark change has even led some to believe that Des has started dating someone new.
Des has even been told that his "new partner" is "out of his league."
Now, at 46 years old, Susan, a mother to Jack, 27, Chloe, 24, Luke, 21, and Oliver, 18, shares how a significant part of her transformation involved going from a size 20 to a size 10 and from 19 stone 5 pounds to 12 stone.
This transformation followed gastric surgery, a breast uplift and implants, a tummy tuck, and an arm and thigh lift, costing £12,000. Remarkably, Susan's body makeover has also alleviated numerous health issues, including severe sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.
‘Out of his league’
She states: “I’m half the size I used to be. It’s changed how I look and how others perceive me. Even though Des is not thrilled about the comment that I’m ‘out of his league,’ it shows how impactful my transformation has been, which is wonderful to hear.
“I definitely feel like a new woman – that’s for sure.”
Susan has struggled with her weight since she was a 16-year-old student. “All my friends were slimmer than me, and being the larger one was not pleasant,” she reflects. “But the weight never seemed to budge, and instead, it just continued to accumulate over the years.
“While juggling the responsibilities of motherhood, I relied on biscuits and crisps for nourishment, and the only exercise I got was chasing after my kids. I attempted various diets, but nothing worked. My doctor suggested a shake diet, but that didn’t yield results either.”
Her weight increased to 19 stone 5 pounds, bringing with it a slew of other health concerns. During a health check at her GP, she was found to have extremely high blood pressure and was prescribed medication to manage it. She was also diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and received medication for that condition.
“I felt incredibly unhealthy,” Susan recalls. “I was in my early 40s and already on multiple medications. What would my future look like?”
“Des, now 50, and my children were all worried about my health. I lacked energy and suffered from sleep apnea as well.
“It all began to escalate after I gave birth to my first child, and with three pregnancies in quick succession, I had no chance of losing the weight.
“Years later, I felt trapped in a midlife crisis regarding my weight. I saw no way out. But then I learned about gastric surgery and began researching it online. I found many clinics to consider and read their reviews, eventually choosing one clinic in Turkey.
“I had read many horror stories about experiences abroad, but this clinic appeared to have an excellent reputation.
Piling on the pounds
“I discussed my plans with Des, who was supportive. We’ve been together since I was 18, so he has witnessed my weight gain over the years and the distress it caused me. When I showed him the clinic's reviews, he agreed it was a good idea to proceed.”
In April 2023, Susan traveled to Turkey. She arrived feeling nervous yet excited, hoping this decision would transform her life.
After completing all pre-operative tests, she was taken to the operating room for surgery.
“A few hours later, I woke up from the operation, groggy but relieved that it was done,” she shares. “The surgeon visited and informed me that everything had gone well.
“I was up and walking around a few days later, and shortly after, I was cleared to fly home. Following the surgery, I could only consume liquids for a few weeks, then gradually introduced pureed food before slowly transitioning to small portions of solid food.
Lost an entire person in weight
“The pounds began to drop off immediately. Within a year, I lost an incredible 7 stone 7 pounds, reducing my weight to 12 stone, and went from a dress size 20 to a much smaller size 10. I was astonished – I hadn’t fit into a size 10 for years, not since I was a teenager.
