Why 1000-Lb. Sisters' Tammy Slaton Can’t Get Skin Removal Surgery Amid Dramatic Weight Loss

1000-Lb. Sisters' Tammy Slaton’s next phase in her weight loss journey is skin removal surgery, but her plastic surgeon said it’s too early for the TLC star to be eligible.

By Bentley Maddox Nov 15, 2024 2:20 AM
| Updated Nov 15, 2024 12:09 PM
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Watch: '1000-Lb. Sisters' Star Tammy Slaton Gets Heartbreaking News in Weight Loss Journey

Tammy Slaton is ready for the next phase of her massive weight loss journey.

After the 1000-Lb. Sisters star weighed in at 303 pounds in the Oct. 15 episode of the TLC series, her doctor Dr. Eric Smith recommended she should consider skin removal surgery. However, the 38-year-old has now run into a roadblock.

“Tammy is not currently a candidate for skin removal surgery because she's only about 13 or 14 months out from her weight loss surgery,” Dr. Brad Turner said in a Nov. 14 clip on TLC’s Instagram. “At this point, she should probably continue to lose weight over the next six months to a year, get to her goal weight and then we can reapproach the topic with her.”

And while the news was frustrating to Tammy—whose health journey has included bariatric surgery in July 2022 and a 14-month stay in a weight loss rehab facility—her surgeon reminded her to not lose hope.

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“I'm gonna let Dr. Smith’s work keep on doing its job, OK?” Dr. Turner added. “I'm definitely not telling you, ‘No.’ I'm just telling you, ‘Not tomorrow.’”

Despite the frustration, Tammy—who stars in the show alongside her sister Amy Slaton and brother Chris Combs—also had much to celebrate, as she revealed she reached another exciting weight loss milestone when she stepped on the scale and weighed in at 281.2 pounds.

“Chris said he weighs 284,” Tammy said in a Nov. 13 video shared to TLC’s Instagram. “I now weigh a little less than Chris. That's mind blowing.”

And Tammy also noted that it has been quite some time since she was this small.

@tammy.l.slaton/TikTok

“The last time I weighed 281, I was like fourth or fifth grade,” she continued. “I'm the baby sister but I'm not the big baby sister no more.”

For his part, her brother Chris was eager to celebrate his sister’s success.

“Tammy's success makes me ecstatic,” he shared in the season six clip. “Did I ever think I'd see the day that she was smaller than me? Well, no, probably not, because I never thought about her ever being smaller than me. She's always been Tammy. Big.”

Keep reading to see more of Tammy’s weight loss transformation.

Sharing Her Journey

Since 2020, TLC viewers have watched Tammy Slaton's journey on 1000-lb. Sisters. She underwent bariatric surgery in mid-2022 and since then, fans have continued to witness her transformation on TV and on social media.

As of August 2024, she has lost 500 pounds.

Summertime Style

The reality star shared a snap of herself in a floral print dress on Instagram in June 2023.

Squad Photo

That same month, Tammy posted a group photo with her brother Chris Combs and YouTuber Chelcie Lynn.

A Heartbreaking Loss

In July 2023, Tammy mourned the death of her husband Caleb Willingham. "Rip sweet angel you will forever be missed and loved so much," she wrote on Instagram alongside throwback photos, "thank you Caleb for showing me real love and happiness."

Mirror Selfie

Tammy stopped for a series of bathroom selfies, shared on Instagram August 2023.

Posing in Jeans

In October 2023, Tammy proudly posed for an Instagram selfie in jeans.

Tie-Dyed Style

Tammy posted this video on TikTok in January 2024.

"Killing It"

After she shared new selfies in April 2024, her weight loss surgeon, Dr. Eric Smith, commented, "You are killing it!"

Great Cat-titude

Tammy included in her update a pic of herself with her cat, Chocolate.

"You Are Beautiful"

Amid her weight loss journey, Tammy continued to provide her followers with the optimism she had gained throughout her 500-lb. weight loss.

“Always remember you are beautiful,” she wrote in the caption of an August 2024 TikTok. “You are strong. You are brave. You are loved and you are enough.”

Skin Removal Recipient

After months of setbacks that prevented Tammy from being approved for skin removal surgery, she was finally given the green light for the procedure.

She unveiled the results on a June 2025 episode of the TLC series.

Flaunt Your Form

One month after Tammy revealed her new look following her skin removal surgery, she shared a series of selfies from her life as of late.

Included in the July 2025 update, she showed off her new figure in a skin-tight body suit as she smiled at the camera.

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