Tammy Slaton Before and After Weight Loss: What Really Happened to the TLC Star

Honestly, if you’d told me five years ago that Tammy Slaton would be wearing "dainty" underwear and sitting in the front seat of a regular car, I would’ve thought you were dreaming.

We all saw the early days of 1000-lb Sisters. It was rough. Tammy was often stuck in her room, tethered to an oxygen tank, and struggling with a weight that eventually peaked at a terrifying 725 pounds. It wasn't just a TV show; it was a life-or-death countdown that felt like it was moving way too fast in the wrong direction.

But then, things shifted.

The Tammy Slaton before and after weight loss transformation isn't just about a smaller number on a scale. It’s a total overhaul of a human being who was once written off by half the internet. As of early 2026, Tammy has dropped an incredible 560 pounds. She’s down to roughly 180 pounds. That is a whole different person.

The Turning Point That Changed Everything

You can't talk about Tammy's "after" without looking at how scary the "before" actually got. Most people remember her being hospitalized and put on life support. That wasn't just for the cameras. Her lungs were failing, and she ended up with a tracheostomy tube just to keep air moving.

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It’s easy to judge someone from your couch, but food addiction at that level is a monster. Tammy’s brother, Chris Combs, often had to be the one to lay down the law. There were screaming matches. There was the time she left rehab early after losing only 60 pounds, claiming she "kinda" knew what she was doing.

She didn't. Not then.

The real shift happened in an Ohio weight loss facility in 2022. She lost 180 pounds on her own, finally hitting the 534-pound mark required for bariatric surgery. Dr. Eric Smith, who has been a pillar in her journey, finally gave her the green light for a vertical sleeve gastrectomy in July 2022.

The Surgery Timeline

1. July 2022: Bariatric surgery (the sleeve).
2. 2023-2024: Intense 14-month rehab stay and steady weight drop to the 200s.
3. January 2025: Massive 8-hour skin removal surgery in Pittsburgh with Dr. J. Peter Rubin.
4. January 2026: Season 8 reveal showing her at 180 pounds.

Life After the 500-Pound Drop

Losing that much weight leaves a physical footprint. You don't just "get thin" and look like a magazine cover. Tammy was left with what she colorfully described as "bat wings" and a "hanging ball sack" under her chin. It was painful. It caused infections. It made moving around—the very thing she worked so hard to do—extremely uncomfortable.

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In early 2025, she finally had over 15 pounds of excess skin removed from her chin, arms, and stomach.

Looking at her now in the current 2026 season of the show, the difference is jarring. She’s smaller than her sister Amy now. Think about that for a second. For years, Amy was the "successful" one who got the surgery first, while Tammy stayed behind. Now, the tables have turned so much that it's actually causing a bit of a rift between them.

What Most People Get Wrong About Her Journey

There’s this idea that surgery is a "cheat code." It isn't. Tammy had to completely rewire her brain. She basically live-streamed her grief when her husband, Caleb Willingham, passed away. In the past, she would’ve turned to a massive feast to cope with that kind of pain.

Instead, she stayed the course.

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She’s "adulting" now—that's her word for it. She’s volunteering at animal shelters. She’s moving into a house with her sister Amanda. She’s even talking about a new engagement. It’s not all sunshine and roses, though. Reality TV still captures the messy parts, like her sharp tongue and the family drama that seems to follow the Slatons everywhere.

The Real Stats

• Highest Weight: 725 lbs
• Current Weight (2026): ~180 lbs
• Total Lost: 545–560 lbs
• Skin Removed: 15+ lbs

Why This Matters in 2026

We see a lot of "transformations" on social media that are filtered to high heaven or fueled by the latest weight-loss shots. Tammy’s story is different because it was so public and so ugly at times. She was the person everyone loved to hate-watch, and she turned into a genuine inspiration for people who feel like they’ve "failed" too many times to try again.

Her "proffee" (protein coffee) and her TikTok updates show a woman who is finally comfortable in her own skin—literally.

If you're following a similar path, Tammy’s journey offers a few real-world takeaways:

• Surround yourself with "no" people: Chris and Amanda didn't sugarcoat things for her. You need people who will call you out.
• The surgery is just the start: The real work happened in that 14-month rehab stay after the procedure.
• Mental health is the foundation: Tammy didn't see real success until she started addressing why she was eating, not just how much.

Moving forward into 2026, the focus for Tammy seems to be on maintenance and finding her own identity outside of being "the girl from 1000-lb Sisters." She’s proving that even when you’re at your absolute lowest point, the "after" is always possible if you're willing to walk through the fire to get there.

To keep up with the latest updates, you can watch the new episodes of 1000-lb Sisters on TLC or follow Tammy's verified social media accounts where she frequently shares unfiltered looks at her recovery and new life.