A MAN who lost 17 stone following a gastric bypass says he has been left depressed after begging doctors to remove the excess skin he was left with.

Paul Thorn, 30, from Princes Risborough, told the Bucks Free Press he has been living a nightmare and was happier weighing 30 stone than he is now.

When doctors agreed to go ahead with a gastric bypass in 2007, Paul thought he would finally be able to move on with his life.

However, he says the resultant loose skin has left him depressed and despite 16 applications to the Thames Valley Clinical Commissioning Group, his applications have been rejected every time.

He said: “I have nothing to lose anymore, it is a do or die situation now, I can’t live with the remaining excess skin.

“I was actually happier when I was fat, my self confidence is very low and some mornings it is just difficult to get up in the mornings.

“I have tried to take my life five times and because of this I never feel I can go out or work.”

In an attempt to help in restricting the excess skin, Mr Thorn flew with his mother to Poland to have cosmetic surgery.

Despite the costly procedure appearing to be a success, because of complications the surgeon refused to do a second procedure and he had to return home.

The family have even attempted to raise the finances for the surgery themselves, but this left them in a difficult financial situation, Mr Thorn said.

He added: “We were almost evicted recently and it is difficult to raise the money ourselves.

“We need about £15,000 for the operations I would need and we would like to try and get help in starting a fundraising campaign.

“I just want to be able to live a normal life, I would really like to work and have a proper girlfriend, but my confidence is so low and I feel like I am just being ignored by everyone.”

An Aylesbury Vale CCG statement said: “We are aware of this case, but we do not discuss individual details.

“We can advise however that aesthetic surgery for the removal of redundant skin after weight loss programmes or bariatric surgery will not normally be funded.”

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