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Austin Excess Skin Removal Surgery
Donation protected
hi guys! My names Austin Shifflett. I started my weight loss journey a little over 5 years ago with hopes and dreams that I would one day achieve my ultimate goal of being comfortable in my own skin. Since then I've Lost a total of 166lbs and i feel great and my confidence is higher than i have ever had it. I've been fortunate enough to be featured in Peoples Magazine "Half Their Size" issue as well as be on Good Morning America and several other late night segment shows. I never wanted to benefit financially from my story I just wanted to help someone going through a lot of the trials and tribulations that i too went through with being bullied in high school and ulitmiately hating myself. With clothes on I look like your average 22 year old slender build very much into working out and running. What you guys dont see is the excess skin from my weight loss that has been haunting me since i've lost the weight. I would always tell my friends "when i lose weight i cant wait to throw my shirt off and be normal and have abs" I was crushed to find out by medical doctors that its not really a possibility without having surgery they went on to tell me that no matter how much i lifted or how much muscle i gained it would never be enough to fill out my damaged skin. Hearing that really crushed me, my hopes and dreams were being put on hold because they classify skin removal surgery as "cosmetic" and not seen as a health risk which means insurance will not cover the cost. Since the weight loss ive had rashes break out all over my stomache and back in which are painful and very irritable. I went to the doctor about it several times and they simply couldn't diagnose it, they said it must be "stress". My frustration grew with the skin and after 5 and a half years im ready for it to go, I've worked too hard to still be ashamed of my body and I don't want to live with this anymore. I hate asking for money, I have never been the type of person who wanted to come off as a charity case but with me being a full time student with a part time job as an after school teacher I don't make nearly enough to do this on my own. ANYTHING helps and im so appreciative to anyone who can or is willing to donate I know times are pretty tough on anyone so im not really expecting much maybe just enought to put a small dent in it. Thank you all so much and god bless <3
Organizer
Austin Shifflett
Organizer
Ruckersville, VA