Wednesday's season premiere of My 600-lb Life: Skin Tight featured Stephanie and Darcy, a mother-daughter duo from Clarksville, Tennessee, who embarked on skin removal surgery after losing nearly 320 pounds between them. To complete their journey, they sought the help of Dr. Younan Nowzaradan, a renowned Houston-based bariatric surgeon who is regularly featured on TLC's My 600-Lb. Life.
Stephanie's weight ballooned after her newborn son, Jacob, struggled with a heart defect, having a life-saving surgery when he was an infant. During this time, she fought depression and her weight continued to increase. To gain control, 27-year-old Stephanie had weight loss surgery, but it wasn't the final solution. The embarrassing extra skin left behind when she was 350 pounds held her back.
Stephanie's mother, Darcy, was nearly 300 pounds at her heaviest. Like her daughter, Darcy, 45, was able to lose the weight, but dropping 140 pounds meant she too had extra skin and uncomfortable with her new body.
For Darcy, a little over three pounds of skin was removed during the first surgery and five pounds was removed during the second. Stephanie had more thaneight pounds removed during the first operation and over three pounds from the second.
What was it like to have TLC film the final part of your weight loss journey?
Darcy: Having my skin removal surgery journey filmed was the most out of my comfort zone thing I've ever done in my life. I'm a very private person and letting the world into my little circle was frightening. Looking back, I'm still not sure how I was capable of standing in front of strangers in my bra and underwear! The film crew and producers were all extremely professional and down to earth, which made me at ease (as much as possible).
Stephanie: Deciding to undergo skin removal surgery on your entire body isn't a decision one takes lightly. I agreed to share my story in the hopes that it may reach someone sharing the same struggles as I was. Maybe seeing this episode can help them spark a change in their life.
Do you have any regrets about removing the skin?
Darcy: I would definitely do this process all over again. It was demanding and tough but the end results were definitely worth the struggle!
Stephanie: Even in the most painful parts of the healing process I have had zero regrets regarding the skin removal.
How do you feel after all the skin was taken off?
Darcy: I am truly grateful for the opportunity to get my excess skin removed. I am much more comfortable with my body and feel free from my past choices that haunted me.
Stephanie: I feel free now that I am not being weighed down by my excess skin. It was something that was constantly on my mind and now it's gone for good.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Darcy: I am going to continue a healthy lifestyle of eating well and exercising regularly. I hope my story helps others realize that with hard work they too can overcome their eating addiction.
Stephanie: In five years I see myself continuing to live my best life with my little man, my son Jacob, by my side. I will be done with school and starting my career in public health helping to encourage others to commit to a healthier lifestyle.
Don't miss TLC's My 600-lb Life: Skin Tight where it premieres Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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