Love Island’s Shaughna Phillips had 2.5 LITRES of fat removed from her legs with liposuction

Shaughna Phillips spoke candidly about the liposuction she received after being diagnosed with lipoedema, an abnormal accumulation of fat in the legs.

The former Love Island star, 26, revealed she had almost three litres of fat removed from her legs during the cosmetic surgery.

Speaking in a YouTube video on Sunday, the reality star gave fans a detailed account of her journey with the condition.   

What a difference: Shaughna Phillips spoke candidly about the liposuction she received after being diagnosed with lipoedema, as she showed off before and after pics 

Shaughna also shared a collection of before and after photos to her Instagram where she penned in a heartfelt caption that her ‘biggest insecurity’ before Love Island was her ‘abnormally large legs’ which she didn’t realise was a condition.

She said that trolls’ comments during her stint on the show only ‘heightened her insecurity’ and that she could have ‘cried with relief’ after her diagnosis. Shaughna added that it has been a ‘long and painful recovery’ since her liposuction. 

During the Q and A, one fan asked: ‘Does lipoedema get progressively worse over time?’ to which Shaughna replied: ‘It does, unfortunately. It is a progressive illness and there are four stages of lipoedema.

‘I was stage one to two on my legs when I had my surgery. It can get progressively worse over time. That was probably the biggest thing for me, it was such a relief finding out this is what’s causing this problem. 

Stunning: Shaughna revealed she had almost three litres of fat removed from her legs during the cosmetic surgery in a YouTube video on Sunday

Stunning: Shaughna revealed she had almost three litres of fat removed from her legs during the cosmetic surgery in a YouTube video on Sunday 

Painful: She underwent liposuction after being diagnosed with lipoedema, an abnormal build up of fat in the legs, and revealed she felt like 'time was ticking' as they'd 'get bigger'

Painful: She underwent liposuction after being diagnosed with lipoedema, an abnormal build up of fat in the legs, and revealed she felt like ‘time was ticking’ as they’d ‘get bigger’

Before and after: Shaughna also shared a collection of before and after photos to her Instagram where she penned in a heartfelt caption that her 'biggest insecurity' before Love Island was her 'abnormally large legs' which she didn't realise was a condition

Before and after: Shaughna also shared a collection of before and after photos to her Instagram where she penned in a heartfelt caption that her ‘biggest insecurity’ before Love Island was her ‘abnormally large legs’ which she didn’t realise was a condition 

‘But then I almost felt like “oh my God, the clock’s ticking. If I don’t have this surgery quickly then my legs are just going to keep getting bigger and bigger”.’ 

The reality star looked stunning as she chatted with fans, sporting a white vest top and adding a lick of makeup to highlight her features.

One fan asked how much weight she had removed from her calves, and she replied: ‘I believe I had just under three litres taken out of my calves. I think it was about 2.5 litres.’  

She then shared an image of three bottles filled with red liquid to show viewers how much weight was removed. 

Shaughna went on to talk about her struggles with the illness from an early age, when a fan asked: ‘How did you know for sure that you had lipoedema?’

She said: ‘There isn’t really a test that answers the question and goes “you have lipoedema” but I’ve known from a very very young age that my legs were different to everyone else.

‘Even more so when I did lose my four stone in weight and my legs didn’t change. So I always thought this is just my thing.’ 

Removal: One fan asked how much weight she had removed from her calves, and she replied, 'I believe I had just under three litres taken out of my calves. I think it was about 2.5 litres'

Removal: One fan asked how much weight she had removed from her calves, and she replied, ‘I believe I had just under three litres taken out of my calves. I think it was about 2.5 litres’

Helping: The TV star, 26, revealed her mother had to help her and 'change her adult nappy' as she spoke candidly about the recovery process

Helping: The TV star, 26, revealed her mother had to help her and ‘change her adult nappy’ as she spoke candidly about the recovery process 

Last September, the blonde underwent liposuction on her calves to combat a medical condition and previously revealed it’ll take her up to three months to fully recover. 

What is lipoedema?

Lipoedema is a chronic condition typically affecting the legs and thighs.

The build up of fat is not caused through obesity, and diet and exercise have little impact on the condition.

Research suggests it is caused by hormonal changes such as those coming at pregnancy or puberty. 

It is typically treated through liposuction. 

Source: NHS lipoedema fact file 

The influencer then went on to speak about the painful recovery process, five months post operation, which she described as ‘like a marathon and not a sprint’. 

A fan asked: ‘What has been the hardest part about you lipoedema journey?’ 

Shaughna said: ‘I think the hardest part of the journey is knowing it’s a marathon and not a sprint. 

‘You have the surgery and you imagine the next day you’re going to be up and you’ve got these super slim legs just like strutting your stuff and it’s absolutely not that at all. My mum was changing my adult nappy!’  

Around one in 10 women in the UK have the condition, which is an abnormal build-up of fat cells that can’t be broken down by diet or exercise.

She paid for private liposuction to shrink her legs as the procedure is currently not available on the NHS, and revealed she paid close to £6,000 for the surgery.  

Shaughna previously admitted she was ‘killing herself’ doing workouts six times a week while on Love Island as she felt like the token ‘fat girl.’

The beauty told The Sun she would cry to the therapist over the size of the legs and would feel insecure alongside the other female Islanders after being bullied for years over her pins.

The star said that water retention from the flight and the heat caused her legs to swell so much she couldn’t put her shoes on and she was worried about what she looked like.

'I'm doing well': The blonde updated her fans on her recovery from her liposuction surgery, after paying close to £6,000 for the procedure (pictured)

‘I’m doing well’: The blonde updated her fans on her recovery from her liposuction surgery, after paying close to £6,000 for the procedure (pictured)

It was only when Shaughna left the show that she was diagnosed with lipoedema.

She said she would get constant bruising on my legs, and they would be so painful but I had no idea what it was.

‘When I came off the show I had all these messages asking if I had been diagnosed with lipoedema…

‘It’s scary to think that had I not found out about my condition, and intervened when I did, I would’ve just been getting progressively worse, and in pain as well.’

She even admitted she blocked the word ‘legs’ from appearing on her social media before entering Love Island due to her fear of being trolled for the size of her calves.

Before: Shaughna said she knew 'from a very very young age' that her legs were 'different to everyone else' and decided to get the surgery to stop it getting worse

Before: Shaughna said she knew ‘from a very very young age’ that her legs were ‘different to everyone else’ and decided to get the surgery to stop it getting worse