Importance Score: 65 / 100 🔴
Confronted with body image anxieties during a family beach outing in 2022, Emma Roma Jayne recognized the need for a change. Disheartened by her self-perception, she opted for weight loss surgery, specifically bariatric surgery, instead of considering options like Ozempic. Inspired by her mother’s successful experience with a similar procedure, the then 22-year-old New Zealander, now residing in Australia, underwent a $13,000 operation. This procedure, designed to reduce stomach size, facilitates quicker satiety and aids in weight loss. Over two years, Emma experienced a dramatic transformation, shedding an impressive 130 pounds and achieving significant health benefits.
Dramatic Weight Loss Leads to Unexpected Changes
While thrilled with her newfound physique, Emma, a resident of Australia originally from New Zealand, acknowledges several unanticipated and uncomfortable changes resulting from her substantial weight reduction.
Physical Transformations and Body Image
Initially, Emma noted a decrease in her bust and buttocks size. She cautions others that breast size is unlikely to be restored after significant weight loss. This alteration in body proportions was one of the first physical changes she observed post-surgery.
Social Dynamics and Shifting Friendships
Beyond physical alterations, Emma discloses that her weight loss journey led to strained friendships. Some individuals, she explains, struggled to accept her transformation, asserting that she had changed as a person.
Emma Roma Jayne, currently living in Australia, chose weight loss surgery over Ozempic to achieve her health goals. Pictured left: before her weight loss transformation; right: after losing 130lbs.
Reflecting on these altered relationships, she states, “Many individuals struggle to cope with you at your best, preferring you when you are struggling. Consequently, some relationships may naturally dissolve. Judgement from others is common, with some claiming you’ve become a different person since losing weight.”
Persistent Coldness: An Unforeseen Side Effect
Another surprising consequence of her significant weight loss is constant coldness. Previously unaccustomed to feeling cold, the content creator now describes herself as “always freezing,” with perpetually cold hands and feet.
To manage this, she has adopted the habit of carrying extra layers of clothing, including a sweater, jacket, and even gloves, whenever she leaves home.
Hair Thinning and Recovery
Adding to her list of changes, Emma mentions experiencing considerable hair loss during her weight loss process.
Dr. Malay Mehta, based in India, clarifies that hair loss related to weight loss is typically temporary, usually resolving within three to six months. “As the body adapts and nutrient balance is restored, hair regrowth generally resumes,” he explains.
Foot Size Reduction and Wardrobe Changes
Emma also recounts a reduction in her foot size, decreasing from a US size 9 to 7.5. This necessitated a complete overhaul of her shoe collection and, more broadly, her entire wardrobe.
Voice Modulation Post-Weight Loss
Interestingly, Emma notes her voice has become more feminine following her weight loss, an effect she appreciates. The reduction of fat around the face and neck can modify the throat’s structure, thereby altering vocal tone.
“It’s much lighter now, whereas last year it was quite deep… I often sounded unwell previously, so this is a positive change,” Emma commented.
Emma reveals the loss of friendships due to perceptions of personality changes after weight loss.
Maintaining Identity Amidst Physical Change
Despite these various changes, Emma emphasizes that her core personality remains unchanged.
In a TikTok video shared with her over 60,000 followers, she asserts, “I am still fundamentally the same person as before. The key difference is that I now feel liberated to be my authentic self. My confidence has simply grown.”
Navigating Dating After Transformation
Emma also discusses the complexities of dating post-weight loss surgery. She admits feeling apprehensive about disclosing details of her weight loss journey to potential partners, citing negative past encounters.
In a video recorded before meeting her current boyfriend, she elaborates, “Re-entering the dating scene has been challenging, particularly in terms of sharing my weight loss history with new acquaintances.”
She further explains, “Regrettably, some men exhibit unkindness and diminish your worth upon seeing pre-weight loss photos.”
Emma recounts instances where men she dated immediately requested to see pictures from before her weight loss upon learning about her journey.
Describing an upsetting experience, she shares with her followers, “One individual even inquired about my current body appearance following the substantial weight loss… This unsettling curiosity is, unfortunately, a reality of dating after undergoing a significant weight transformation.”
Emma’s decision to pursue weight loss was sparked by body shame experienced during a family beach trip in 2022.
Evolving Eating Habits and Food Preferences
Addressing her eating habits, Emma acknowledges that her unhealthy relationship with food persists, even after weight loss. However, she emphasizes improved management of these tendencies.
A positive development is a shift in her taste preferences. She now enjoys foods like avocados, which she previously disliked.
Emma stresses the pivotal role of diet in maintaining weight loss and focuses on monitoring her caloric intake.
While acknowledging the benefits of exercise, particularly for toning and refining physique details, she concludes, “Ultimately, sustainable weight loss and maintenance fundamentally depend on diet and maintaining a calorie deficit.”
Loose Skin: An Inevitable Outcome
Lastly, Emma addresses the issue of loose skin, a common and “unavoidable” consequence of significant weight loss.
However, she conveys that loose skin is a minor concern compared to her previous weight. She states she “much prefers loose skin to being at her former weight.”
Positive Health Outcomes and Lifestyle Improvements
Among the positive outcomes, Emma highlights a significant reduction in illness frequency. In contrast to her previous susceptibility to frequent illness, she now rarely gets sick.
She also notes improved skin health, reducing her reliance on expensive skincare products.
Furthermore, facial slimming was among the initial visible changes, enhancing her facial features.
Persistent coldness is one surprising side effect Emma experienced after substantial weight loss.
Understanding Bariatric Surgery Options
Emma, in her videos, describes bariatric surgery as “life-altering.”
Types of Bariatric Surgery
There are three primary types of bariatric surgery: gastric band, gastric bypass, and gastric sleeve.
Emma’s Choice: Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Emma opted for the gastric sleeve procedure. This surgical intervention involves dividing the stomach vertically, creating a narrow, sleeve-shaped section approximately 15 percent of the original stomach size. This reduction limits food intake and appetite.
Effectiveness Compared to Other Options
Weight loss outcomes with gastric sleeve surgery fall between those of a gastric band and gastric bypass. Both gastric bypass and sleeve operations are generally irreversible.
Surgical Approach
All bariatric surgery procedures, including revisions, are typically performed laparoscopically, using minimally invasive “keyhole” surgery techniques.
Bariatric Surgery vs. Weight Loss Medication
Experts at UCLA Health indicate that weight loss surgeries generally result in greater weight loss compared to weight loss medications.
They cite expected weight loss percentages: approximately 10-15 percent for Wegovy (Ozempic), 15-21 percent for Zepbound (Mounjaro), and 25-35 percent for bariatric surgery.
Furthermore, they point out that weight loss medications often require “long-term or potentially lifelong use” to maintain weight loss, with rapid weight regain common after discontinuing medication. In contrast, weight loss surgery is typically a single, one-time procedure.
Embracing the Weight Loss Journey
Offering encouragement to others considering weight loss, the TikToker, now 24, emphasizes that it is not an “intimidating or frightening ordeal that leads to unhappiness.”
She describes the process as an “enjoyable journey of discovery… learning what strategies are effective and ineffective.”
“Simply embrace the journey and savor the experience,” she concludes, advocating for a positive approach to weight loss and lifestyle change.