Shrinking Violet 'in love' with new body

Elora Harre has shared before and after photos on her Facebook page. Photo / Facebook

After having 2.5kg of excess skin removed from her body, Christchurch woman Elora Harre is in love with her new tummy.

The 21 year old, who lost 55kg, has shared photos of herself after a seven hour tummy tuck surgery in California removed the skin from her body.

Ms Harre lost the weight over two years, through healthy eating and exercise, dropping from a size 24 to a size 14.

But the transformation resulted in uncomfortable extra skin sagging on parts of her body - including her stomach, inner thighs, calves, lower back, arms, breasts and armpits.

She suffered from serious discomfort and continuous skin problems, including Staphylococcal infections but was not supported by New Zealand's public health system to get the skin removed.

But with the help of Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr Cat Begovic, Ms Harre had an abdominoplasty five days ago.

"I will no longer have to tuck my skin into my clothes, nor face the health risks that I would've if I stayed obese," she wrote on her Facebook page, The Shrinking Violet.

"I am in love with my body and my health thanks me for it," Ms Harre wrote, after sharing a picture of her new stomach.

"I'm still going to have those small rolls and little bits of loose skin on my side because my back skin is loose and also needs doing but I don't give two craps right now because look at my cute new tummy."

Dr Begovic only charged Ms Harre for the use of medical facilities and anaesthetic. Through the support of her fans, which include more than 33,000 Facebook followers, she raised money to pay for airfares and accommodation - a Give a Little page helped raise $12,400 from more than 400 donors.

Ms Harre also shared a graphic image of the skin that was removed from her body for those brave enough to visit her website.

She said she chose to share her weight loss journey to show people that cosmetic procedures shouldn't be "taboo."

"People shouldn't be ashamed to get something like this done if they need or want it."

In February this year, Ms Harre was told Christchurch Hospital would not do the surgery for her, due to a lack of resources.

As a result she urged her followers to write to the Ministry of Health and Christchurch Hospital's general manager.

Last week, on her Facebook page, Ms Harre's doctor wrote that the young New Zealander would need multiple surgeries to remove all excess skin.

"The patient will need a second surgery to remove excess skin from the back and sides."