Shaughna Phillips opens up about her struggle with lipoedema

Shaughna Phillips quickly became a fan favourite on Winter Love Island 2020, but her fans had no idea what she was going through at the time.

Speaking to The Sun in a new interview, Shaughna Phillips has revealed that she ‘spent lots of time crying to the therapist’ whilst in the Love Island villa as she compared herself to the other girls on the show. She felt particularly self-conscious about her legs, which were constantly bruised and painful.

Shaughna’s lipoedema

It was only after her time on Love Island that Shaughna heard of lipoedema when concerned fans messaged her to see if she had had a diagnosis. She described the moment she found out about the condition—which is when there is an ‘abnormal build-up of fat cells in the legs, thighs and buttocks’ - as a ‘breakthrough’.

Shaughna said:

I got comments when I was 13 in secondary school, as my legs were compared to girls who are smaller than mine. Ever since then, I have always looked at girls’ legs thinking that mine are triple the size. It’s crazy how things can stick in your head. But it makes sense now as lipoedema is progressive, and diet nor exercise affects it.

What is the treatment for lipoedema?

Although there is currently no cure for lipoedema, some sufferers may choose to have liposuction to remove excess fat. Shaughna has been very open about her decision to pursue this option, as she got liposuction on her legs in September, and shared selfies throughout the process on social media.

She says:

Yes, I have had liposuction on my lower legs. It’s something that I have been suffering with physically and mentally my whole life and it has now been sorted. So I am not ashamed or embarrassed to say I have had that done. It was to help with a condition I have, and hopefully it will help others too.