Tanya Bardsley has unveiled her new look after undergoing a tummy tuck – and the former Real Housewives Of Cheshire cast member is "over the moon" with the results after claiming her stomach looked like a "bulldog's forehead" before she had the op.
In an exclusive interview – which you can read by signing up, for free, as an OK! VIP below – the reality TV star details why she had the procedure, what it was like and shares exclusive before and after pictures.
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When new! catches up with Tanya Bardsley, the former Real Housewives Of Cheshire star is on top form. Despite having a hectic day of work and juggling being a busy mum-of-four, the 40-year-old still has us in stitches as we chat over the phone.
The star confesses that she’s feeling “over the moon” after undergoing a tummy tuck procedure earlier this year, which saw her have pounds of skin and fat cut away.
“Whenever I had a wee I was sick of looking at a bulldog’s forehead, because that’s what it looked like with all the skin bunched up,” she explains. “Phil [her husband and Burnley footballer] called it my mum bum bag!”
But Tanya is now thrilled to show off the before and after results and says she’s feeling “so much better” in herself, adding, “It’s nice not to have to tuck my skin into my Spanx!”
Real Housewives Of Cheshire fans were shocked when it was revealed in November that Tanya was leaving the ITVBe reality show after six years, having joined in 2015 as an original cast member.
But following an ADHD diagnosis, a terrifying seizure and life becoming “unmanageable”, Tanya says she had to put herself and her health first.
“If I hadn’t have had the seizure I would have been on there until I died,” she says.
Here, Tanya, who shares Gabriella, 20, Rocco, 13, Renz, nine, and Ralphi, five, with Phil, 36, tells us about her tummy tuck, how having a seizure changed her outlook on life, and her exciting new project with ITV…
Hi, Tanya! You’re looking great after your procedure. How are you feeling?
I’m feeling really good. I’ve been wanting a tummy tuck for ages. The more exercise I was doing the more my skin was just hanging off my muscles, and my stomach muscles were three inches apart. I finally took the plunge in January and I’m over the moon with the results.
What does the procedure involve?
They pulled up all my skin up because they had to sew my tummy muscles from top to bottom as they’d separated from kids and exercise. It’s called diastasis recti. Then they cut away the excess skin and fat. I wanted to keep the skin but they wouldn’t let me!
You wanted to keep your skin?!
Yeah, I wanted to keep the skin, I don’t know why but I just wanted to fry it and mess about with it and play some pranks on Phil! I think that must have been my ADHD.
What were your reasons behind wanting to have this done?
Whenever I had a wee I was sick of looking at a bulldog’s forehead, because that’s what it looked like with all the skin bunched up. I thought, I’m sick of looking at you so I’m having you off!
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Was any of it down to trolls?
No, that wasn’t part of it. I’m so lucky with my followers. I have 99% women follow me and they’re all so supportive. Obviously sometimes you get the odd troll who’s got a fake profile. That’s just people who want a reaction so it’s best not to give them one. I just ignore it.
Has this boosted your confidence?
Massively. I feel so much better. It’s nice to not have to tuck my skin into my Spanx! I can wear things without my Spanx, which is amazing, and I can just wear more things. They made me feel a bit sick and pushed
all my organs in.
If I’d eaten too much I’d get so uncomfortable and have to take them off because it was painful to wear them. My clothes fit much better now.
Were you unhappy with how you looked before the tummy tuck?
No, I wasn’t unhappy, but I think if something is bugging you that much you should just get it done. I love my body now but I love my old body as well because it’s given me four children so I’m really grateful to it.
Absolutely. How much does the procedure cost?
It starts at £7,295 and then it depends what else you add on. Some people just need the skin cut and not their muscles put back together but I needed that done. I went to Pall Mall Medical and they were amazing. I had a brilliant surgeon called Mr Hussain.
What was the recovery like for you?
The first five days were so painful and awful. I didn’t want to wee, cough or laugh because of the pain, but then after that each day gets better.
You have to rest for three weeks, you can’t exercise for six weeks and you can’t drink for three weeks as it bloats your belly. I’ve followed the aftercare advice and my scarring is actually amazing in the way it’s healed.
What did your husband, Phil, think about you having it done?
Phil kept saying, “No, I love your stomach as it is!” but he did also call it my mum bum bag! He just kept saying he liked it before but he does think it looks good. He compliments me in his own little way.
I think he was just scared after what happened with my bad boob job and he’d heard horror stories with surgery, but he was fine in the end.
You know what men are like, they don’t want the woman being out of action as they’ve got to do more work! But my mind did need a rest so it was a good time for me to have the surgery. With ADHD my mind is always on the next thing, so me having to be in bed for three weeks resting did me good.
What happened with your boob job?
I had a haematoma so I think it would have happened anyway, but it was a bad boob job and I don’t think I took it seriously or the recovery. My lifestyle contributed to it I was out partying about two weeks after which is not going to help, but when your young and stupid you think you’re invincible.
You also had a brow lift when you had your tummy done didn’t you?
Yeah. When I went for the consultation I saw Dr Hussain’s brow lift and I was like I need that! Because I’ve been having Botox for so many years, my actual brows have dropped below my brow bone.
The scars are in my hairline and I just thought whilst I’m under I might as well have that done! I love the results. Everyone keeps saying, “You look different!” and I said, “No I just look like I did when I was 21!” I don’t look angry anymore.
Do you feel a pressure to look a certain way?
No, I’ve never really felt that. I’ve just not got time to worry about that. Obviously sometimes I look in the mirror and think, “F*****g hell Tanya you look knackered!” but I’ve never thought I’d had to look a certain way. As you get older you just care less what people think. Life is too short, so f**k it!
Do you ever worry about your daughter Gabriella feel pressured to look a certain way?
Yeah, I think all mums worry about it. When I was younger we never had Instagram with all these unrealistic pictures. These young girls are comparing themselves to computerised Barbies, it’s not real life. It’s a scary world.
It is. Does Gabriella ever ask you about Botox and fillers?
Yeah. She pestered me since she was 14 for a nose job. I gave in when she turned 19, but only because she couldn’t actually breathe on the one side of her nose.
But I did keep saying to her, “You might not be able to breathe out of both sides once you’ve had it done!” I helped her do it rather than her go off and go to Turkey without help and not researching it.
She went to Pall Mall and once again they were amazing. She’s pleased with the results, and she can breathe out of both sides of her nose and she doesn’t whistle when she sleeps now!
Would she like to appear on Love Island one day?
Well I don’t think Phil would let her! I think Phil would actually go into the villa and drag her out! She’s currently setting up her own swimwear brand and fake tan and focusing on that.
We hear you’ve quit drinking. When did you decide to do that?
I’d been doing it on and off for three years, but then it would be someone’s birthday so I’d drink and then it got to the point where I felt I couldn’t even do that. So New Year’s Day was when I started.
And how are you feeling?
It’s made a massive difference to me. I didn’t have a drink problem, I just drank once a week, but I had hangover problem. I had the worst hangovers. I just couldn’t move and I felt so ill.
Mentally it was like a hamster wheel of getting drunk at the weekend and then feeling rubbish after for five days after. It’s just not worth it and it would make life more difficult.
Has it been life changing?
Yes. It’s been life changing for my skin. I look five years younger. I’ve saved so much money and I’ve lost weight. I’ve lost half a stone and I’ve toned up because I don’t have a beer belly anymore.
Wow! Do you think you’ll remain teetotal now?
Some days I just think I’d just love to have a drink as with my ADHD my mind is so busy, and it quietens it, but I just know it will give me hell after for five days after so it’s just not worth it.
You revealed your ADHD diagnosis last year. How does your ADHD impact your day-to-day life?
I have to write down lists of things and I’m constantly forgetting things. Some days I’m hyper focused, sometimes on the wrong things, but I’m learning to manage it with exercise and medication.
I work out five times a week, either with a personal trainer or going to a class. I also write a gratitude list every day. I did try with medication but it didn’t agree with me.
Why didn’t it agree with you?
I ended up having a seizure. I think because I have low blood pressure, then also there was a lot of stress and with the side effects from the medication it wasn’t a good mixture.
I was overworked and doing too much. That’s one of the reasons I left Housewives. I just had to completely change my lifestyle and rethink everything. I had to put my health first.
Absolutely. The seizure sounds so scary. What happened?
It was really, really scary. I was on a photo shoot for my clothing brand called MyGlamStyle and I collapsed. I remember coming round and by then my mum and Phil had got there and they were screaming because they thought I died. I stopped breathing for a while, well, for a few seconds, but it seemed like a while.
Did you go to hospital?
Yes, but only for a few hours to check me over, and then I was put on bed rest. I’ve been fine since. After it happened Phil put me on what he called “Phil prison” and took my phone off me and didn’t let me get out of bed so I could rest, as it was all stress related.
Looking back, was it the right decision to leave the show?
Yes, I think if I hadn’t have had the seizure I would have been on there until I died, so leaving there just before I did die was probably for the best. I’m actually doing a documentary with ITV about ADHD. I’m only doing work now that brings belly laughter or helps people. Those are my new rules.
When can we expect the documentary?
I’ve just started filming so it will probably be out in autumn. Everyone is affected by it, they either know someone or they’re undiagnosed themselves. I was treated for anxiety and depression for 20 years, but it was actually undiagnosed ADHD.
To be diagnosed was a relief. One in four women with undiagnosed ADHD end up committing suicide so it’s really serious. We explore that in the documentary.
Has leaving Housewives made things easier in terms of managing your ADHD?
Yes, because I have more time for things like self-care. My life just got busier in every way with my businesses and my kids’ social lives and football. In the beginning it wasn’t as full on as it is now. Life just became unmanageable.
Do you think you’d ever go back?
I’d never say never. I’ll always be the number one fan of Housewives, but right now I can’t manage it. I’ll still be watching.
Are you still in touch with your former co-star Leanne Brown?
Yeah we’re still really good friends. We don’t to see each other as much as we’d like, just because life gets in the way with kids and work.
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How is she doing following her split from her husband Wes?
They’re fine and they’re great people and they’re great parents. They’re going to be fine.
Were you shocked when you heard the news?
I don’t really want to say anything as it’s their personal business.
It sounds like you’ve been supportive…
Yes, me and Phil will always love Leanne and Wes. They were on our honeymoon. They’re very special to both of us and we’ll always be there for them both.
We went to LA and Vegas with them. We went to the Maldives on our own the year before but we were bored as we’re so sociable, so we wanted to do something else and they came with us!
And finally, last year you revealed Phil had had a vasectomy. Was that a difficult decision to make?
It was the easiest decision in the world! After lockdown and our four kids in the house, the thought of another kid was just no! It was f******g brutal. I was like get them all signed Phillip! He’s not even had the one you can reverse, he’s had the one where they proper singe them. So it’s done and we’re free [laughs]!
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