Woman hides for 21 years after cruel bullying over ‘elephant legs’ caused by condition – World News

Yasmina Kemppainen, 36, from Finland, would experience pain and swelling in her legs while people commented on her ‘elephant legs’ until her diagnosis 21 years later

A woman who hid for 21 years with ‘elephant legs’ is now unrecognizable after spending £ 10,000 on surgery.

Yasmina Kemppainen, 36, began experiencing pain in her legs when she was just 12 years old and they began to swell shortly after.

As a teenager, people would tell her she was “too thin”, but she was unable to look past what she called her “fat legs”.

Suspecting that something was wrong, Yasmina finally visited a doctor in 2018 and was diagnosed with lipoedema, a rare condition that causes an abnormal buildup of fat.

The communications manager from Espoo, Finland, shut herself off from the age of 12 until she was diagnosed 21 years later.

She said: “I was 12 years old when I started to feel pain in my legs.

“Sometimes they swelled and I knew they looked different.

“It was depressing to notice. People said I was ‘too thin’, but I just saw my fat legs.”

Yasmina hated attending social events or at the beach and told how the condition slowly took over her life.

Other adults would also refer to her legs as elephant legs or tell her that she should lose weight because she was too big.

“Others told me I had to lose weight because I was too big. I did not like going to social events because I did not want to show my legs.

“I did not go to the beach. I could not dance without getting tired easily. I could not even cope at work anymore.

In February and April 2019, Yasmina decided to pay £ 10,320 for liposuction in Berlin, Germany, where the fat was removed.

Along with this, she also switched to a keto diet consisting of high fat, low carbohydrate content.

“I was finally diagnosed with lipoedema in February 2018 and my doctor talked me through the various options,” Yasmina said.

“I flew to the Med Plast Clinic in Berlin, Germany, and underwent two liposuction surgeries that really changed my life.”

Prior to surgery, Yasmina weighed 10.7lb and wore a size XL on her lower half. Now she weighs 8.6lb and is able to carry a size XS.

Since the surgery, her self-esteem has grown by leaps and bounds and she feels she has taken control of her life again.

Now full of energy and confidence, she began posting her story online in an attempt to help and inspire other women who might be in a similar situation.

“I feel strong now,” Yasmina said.

“I feel confident. Lipoedema no longer controls my life. I want to raise awareness of lipoedema for all the other women who suffer. I hope my story gives them hope.

“Surgery changed my life, but adopting a keto diet has also helped a lot.

“I’ve been surrounded by supportive friends and my husband through all this. My husband always tells me how strong I am.

“I would never have met him without the surgery. We met at a party and I would never have gone to a party before.

“Do not give up. Life can surprise you in a very positive way.”