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| Paul Mason: Excess skin plea from man once labelled world's fattest | Paul Mason: Excess skin plea from man once labelled world's fattest |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| A man once labelled the world's fattest has released naked photographs of his body to warn others "how bad things can get" and to plead for medical help. | A man once labelled the world's fattest has released naked photographs of his body to warn others "how bad things can get" and to plead for medical help. |
| At his heaviest, Paul Mason weighed 70 stone (444kg) and was confined to the bed of his bungalow in Ipswich. | At his heaviest, Paul Mason weighed 70 stone (444kg) and was confined to the bed of his bungalow in Ipswich. |
| He now weighs about 24 stone (152kg) but says he will be "stuck in limbo" until the excess skin is removed. | He now weighs about 24 stone (152kg) but says he will be "stuck in limbo" until the excess skin is removed. |
| "I want health professionals to have a look and think 'it's about time we helped this chap'," he said. | "I want health professionals to have a look and think 'it's about time we helped this chap'," he said. |
| Mr Mason, 52, who had gastric bypass surgery in 2010, says his "goal weight" is 15 stone (95kg). | Mr Mason, 52, who had gastric bypass surgery in 2010, says his "goal weight" is 15 stone (95kg). |
| 'Skin splitting' | 'Skin splitting' |
| He said about eight stone (50kg) would be lost if he could have the three operations he needs to remove loose skin around his midriff, legs and under his arms. | He said about eight stone (50kg) would be lost if he could have the three operations he needs to remove loose skin around his midriff, legs and under his arms. |
| "Around my middle and on my legs the skin keeps splitting because of the weight of it," Mr Mason said. | "Around my middle and on my legs the skin keeps splitting because of the weight of it," Mr Mason said. |
| "I've got myself a little bit of independence and want to carry that on to where I don't need a wheelchair to get around." | "I've got myself a little bit of independence and want to carry that on to where I don't need a wheelchair to get around." |
| He said he decided to undress for the photographs because he had given up hope of the NHS offering him the surgery, which he says could cost more than £60,000 in total. | He said he decided to undress for the photographs because he had given up hope of the NHS offering him the surgery, which he says could cost more than £60,000 in total. |
| "I wonder if it will ever happen now," he said. "I met a lady the other day who has been waiting 13 years and she's only got about two stone of loose skin to be removed." | "I wonder if it will ever happen now," he said. "I met a lady the other day who has been waiting 13 years and she's only got about two stone of loose skin to be removed." |
| The NHS says Mr Mason has to have a stable weight for two years before the skin removal operations can be considered. | The NHS says Mr Mason has to have a stable weight for two years before the skin removal operations can be considered. |
| Mr Mason said he had never seen "proper photos" of the back and front of himself and admitted that some people might find the images "shocking". | Mr Mason said he had never seen "proper photos" of the back and front of himself and admitted that some people might find the images "shocking". |
| "I wanted people to see the issues that can happen to your body, to your skin, when you put an extreme amount of weight on," Mr Mason said. | "I wanted people to see the issues that can happen to your body, to your skin, when you put an extreme amount of weight on," Mr Mason said. |
| "A lot of people think that's just going to shrink back, but it doesn't. | "A lot of people think that's just going to shrink back, but it doesn't. |
| "If people find it shocking perhaps they will think twice that they mustn't get themselves in that state." | "If people find it shocking perhaps they will think twice that they mustn't get themselves in that state." |
| Samantha Scholtz, a consultant liaison psychiatrist working in the bariatric (treatment of obesity) service at St Mary's Hospital in west London, said excess skin was an issue for a lot of patients. | |
| 'Self image' | 'Self image' |
| "It's an under-recognised issue and something patients before going to surgery aren't always informed about," she said. | "It's an under-recognised issue and something patients before going to surgery aren't always informed about," she said. |
| "Although health is the main motivator for seeking surgery, I think the cosmetic appearance does come into it. | "Although health is the main motivator for seeking surgery, I think the cosmetic appearance does come into it. |
| "It certainly affects their quality of life, self-image and their ability to form relationships." | "It certainly affects their quality of life, self-image and their ability to form relationships." |
| Ms Scholtz said she could not comment on Mr Mason specifically, but said it would be "unfair" to allow a patient to wait two years for an operation if they were suffering from other complaints such as tears to the skin. | Ms Scholtz said she could not comment on Mr Mason specifically, but said it would be "unfair" to allow a patient to wait two years for an operation if they were suffering from other complaints such as tears to the skin. |
| But she added it was important for patients to get to a "stable weight" before having the skin removed. | But she added it was important for patients to get to a "stable weight" before having the skin removed. |
| "If they are still losing weight they will be left with more excess skin," she said. | "If they are still losing weight they will be left with more excess skin," she said. |