My Name is Steven Wingate and I contacted Cosmetic Bliss when I weighed 19.5 stone and was a 42/44 waist.   I felt like I was having a heart attack if I walked up a hill.  I have never been healthy or small, in fact I was told by my GP that I have come from a “big boned” family so I shouldn’t worry about my size. He gave me diet pills and a gym pass.
Friends would say to me “Don’t rush into this” (OK, I have been like this from birth and was now heading for middle age). For 10 years I had been on diets. I would not say that this was an overnight decision.

Like most people I have done diets and joined clubs, spent loads of money on milkshakes that make you sick and spent endless amounts of money on diet pills and gym memberships that you never use. So, I would do a new diet, lose about 3 stone and drop down to a size 38 waist so that I could shop in a real shop for my suits. However, once I had lost the 3 stone and gone for weeks feeling unhappy being on yet a new diet my friend would say “let’s have a night out”. The only issue with this is the same old story - self control or willpower, or with me the lack of self control.  Once I get a taste of the pizza or whisky and coke I am off again.

I would eat and eat and then make up rubbish reasons as to why I eat so much and so fast.  Food, then, becomes your friend - it has never let you down and is always to hand.  My life became one of a ‘yo-yo’ dieter. I would lose 3 stone but gain 4 and so on.... until one day I went for a walk, as soon as I got to the top of the hill I was crying with pain.
This was my turning point. I was out of control with my eating, I needed some help fast. This persuaded me to go back to my GP, and this was when we talked about Gastric Banding.  My GP said before he would approve me for this I would need to do a year-long diet with the Health Nurse and gym. I told him that I had tried all of this,  he then told me I was 5 stone underweight for this on the NHS, so I asked him “If I put on 5 stone can I have the Gastric Band then? “

I left my GP with little support. I needed to drop 7 stone but to do this I need to put on an extra 5stone first, then to lose 12 stone.  Has the whole world gone mad or is it just me? Oh, and the most helpful advice of all that I was given was to ‘JUST STOP EATING!’

So with the little hope left I turned to the internet for more pills and at one point was even thinking about drugs. However this was only a passing thought!

I looked up the price for the Gastric Banding in the UK, it was from £5,950 so I made a few calls to see what I would get for my money. You get max two nights in a hospital and up to five saline band fills.

I started to talk to lots of people about the banding I found some good points and some not so good for me.

I was then told about the Gastric Sleeve.  Again I phoned up a few centres some in England and some in Belgium.  My findings were shocking.  Some of the English companies I had asked said yes to both operations without even asking me any health questions and that they could do it within a week.  I asked one of the centres if I could come out a day early as I had a big staff meeting to go.  I was told that I could go home within one day!!

Then I call Cosmetic Bliss. I talked to Deborah.  She asked what I was looking for and put me at ease straight away.  She was the first person I had talked to in two days who could answer any question that I had.  She gave me advice and information about my BMI (body mass index) and about how long things would take.  With this information in hand I called back two of the centres that had said yes and asked them about the European Guidelines for Surgery.  Both of the centres said not to worry about this so I went back to Cosmetic Bliss and completed a medical questionnaire.  It was made clear to me that the Dr who reviews the case notes might say no to the surgery.  I was happy about this because it didn’t feel like all they were after was the next customer.

I got a phone call back the next day and was told that I could have the surgery but before I had this done I would have to undergo a full medical to check that it was safe for me to have.  If the Doctor, for any reason said that he would not do the Sleeve Gastrectomy operation then I would be told why.

I didn’t mind - at last I was talking to someone who knew and understood how I felt.  I didn’t feel to blame for the way I was anymore. The communication from Cosmetic Bliss, from my first phone call to now, has been exceptionally great and I have never, in a whole year, had any reason to grumble.

I had been given all the information I needed for my trip to Brno,  the e-mails I received had all the information I could have asked for - but the trick is, you need to read all the information as this will put your mind at rest and you will know what you need to do and why.

I was picked up at the airport and taken to the Grand Hotel for one night. I met the rest of the people from England who were having the same operations as me – Sleeve Gastrectomy or Gastric banding. We had a coffee with Deb and Michael who talked about what was going to be done and when.

On Monday we went to the clinic for the health check-ups.  You talk to a Doctor about your health, you then have bloods taken, a breath test, and then they have a look in your tummy, do the X-rays, ultrasound scans etc.

On Monday night I was taken down for the surgery. Deborah was with me on the way down, it really didn’t seem that long but as soon as I woke up it was all done.  I spent that night in ICU and the nurses are the most helpful and kindest people I have ever met, which is exactly what you need when you have just had surgery.

Tuesday, I was up and walking.  At this point it is when you see the true colours of Debbie, she has you up and out of bed walking about, only short walks but enough to get you motivated. You think you cannot do it but you can.
Wednesday and Thursday is much the same, however, on Thursday I had my drains taken out. This has got to be the best part because as soon as the two drains come out you feel 100% better.

Friday and ready for home, It’s a funny kind of week and it gives you time to think and reflect on what you eat and why.
When you get home do what you’re told to do, it’s no good crying if something is not right because you didn’t rest or something.  You get your aftercare from Cassandra, Debbie and Michael, you need to keep them updated with weight loss and in a year time if you want, you can go back to meet Dr Cierny, and maybe have a tummy tuck etc. if you need one.

From beginning to end, the staff, treatment and care is second to none, the reassurance throughout keeps you focused on why you are putting you and your body through this life changing surgery.  Cosmetic Bliss really has changed my life for the better, I now have a life I could never have had before, for that I am truly grateful.