A 38-year-old woman from Kent, England, who shed an astonishing 51 kilograms in nine months with the aid of a weight-loss injection, has revealed that the rapid transformation came at a severe physical cost—culminating in the emergency removal of her gallbladder.
Lisa Donnelly, whose weight once peaked at 140 kilograms, had long relied on takeaway meals, chocolate, and crisps as coping mechanisms, ordering delivery at least three times a week. The turning point arrived when she was asked to be a bridesmaid. Determined to fit into her dress, Donnelly first lost 19 kilograms through disciplined dieting alone. She then turned to the prescription drug Wegovy—commonly known as a “skinny jab”—to accelerate her progress.
A Dress as the Motivation
The medication dramatically suppressed her appetite, allowing her to break her sugar addiction completely. Combined with a strict healthy eating plan, the drug enabled her to lose a further 51 kilograms in just nine months. For the first time since her teenage years, Donnelly was able to slip into a size small dress—a milestone she had long thought impossible.
However, the consequences of such drastic weight loss began to surface in March 2025. Donnelly reported that even a single sip of alcohol would trigger a harrowing cycle of vomiting and excruciating abdominal pain lasting up to 48 hours. The episodes became increasingly frequent, eventually forcing multiple emergency ambulance call-outs.
Medical examinations revealed the root cause was not the injection itself, but a well-documented complication of rapid weight loss: gallstones. When the body burns fat at an accelerated pace, the liver secretes excess cholesterol into bile, leading to a buildup that crystallizes into painful stones.
By May 2026, Donnelly’s gallbladder was completely riddled with stones. She underwent surgery to have the organ removed that August. Describing the aftermath as a lengthy and grueling recovery, she noted that even the simple act of wearing a bra became an agonizing ordeal.
The Path to Rapid Weight Loss
Donnelly’s journey began when she was asked to be a bridesmaid. Determined to fit into the dress, she first lost 19 kilograms through conventional dieting. To accelerate her progress, she turned to the injectable weight-loss medication Wegovy, which strongly suppresses appetite. The drug, combined with strict dietary changes, helped her eliminate her sugar cravings and drop a further 51 kilograms in just nine months, allowing her to fit into size S clothing for the first time since her teens.
However, the consequences of the drastic weight loss surfaced in March 2025. Donnelly began experiencing violent reactions to even the smallest amount of alcohol, triggering up to 48 hours of intense vomiting and excruciating abdominal pain. The episodes became so frequent and unbearable that she required multiple emergency ambulance calls. Medical examinations determined the cause was not the injection itself but a well-documented side effect of rapid weight loss: gallstones.
The Medical Reality Behind Rapid Weight Loss
When the body burns large amounts of fat in a short period, the liver secretes excess cholesterol into bile. This imbalance can cause the bile to become thick and crystallize, leading to the formation of gallstones. By May 2026, Donnelly’s gallbladder was reportedly completely compromised by stones, forcing surgeons to remove the organ three months later.
The recovery process proved arduous. Donnelly described the postoperative period as painfully slow, noting that even wearing a bra was a source of significant discomfort.
Despite the ordeal, Donnelly told The Sun she has “no regrets.” She explained that the medication—identified as the popular weight-loss drug Wegovy—completely changed her life, curbed her sugar addiction, and restored her confidence. The initial 19 kilograms were lost through disciplined dieting after she was asked to be a bridesmaid. The injection then accelerated her progress, helping her fit into size Small clothing for the first time since her teenage years.
The Turning Point
The adverse effects began in March 2025. Donnelly reported that even a single sip of alcohol triggered up to 48 hours of violent vomiting and excruciating abdominal pain. The episodes became so frequent and severe that she required multiple emergency ambulance call-outs. Medical examinations ruled out toxicity from the injection itself, instead pointing to a well-documented complication of rapid weight loss: gallstones.
Medical experts explain that when the body burns fat quickly, the liver secretes excess cholesterol into bile, which can cause the bile to become sluggish and crystallize into stones. By May 2026, Donnelly’s gallbladder was entirely filled with stones, necessitating its surgical removal that August. Her recovery was arduous, with even the simple act of wearing a bra proving painfully uncomfortable.
Despite the ordeal, Donnelly told The Sun she has “no regrets.” The medication, she says, transformed her life and restored her confidence, allowing her to fit into size-small clothing for the first time since her teenage years. She has since stopped using the injection—citing rising costs and the health scare—and now works to maintain her weight through disciplined eating.
Medical experts note that while weight-loss injections are highly effective, rapid fat loss can cause the liver to secrete excess cholesterol into bile, leading to gallstone formation. Individuals considering such treatments are advised to do so under strict medical supervision and to be aware of the potential side effects associated with extreme, fast weight reduction.