I spent £15k on surgery to get my New Year dream body but it almost killed me – I feared I’d never see my kids again

BLINKING quickly, Joanne Strong tried to focus on the bright lights of her private hospital room as she came round from having a tummy tuck.

After losing five stone in weight, the £15,000 surgery, which also included breast augmentation and a hernia repair, was a 40th birthday treat to herself. 

It was January 2024, and like many women who start the new year in pursuit of a better body...