text: At his heaviest he tipped the scales at a mind-boggling 70st. But after losing two thirds of his body wight in just five years Paul Mason now faces a new challenge - ridding himself of the unsightly rolls of skin he longer needs. The Brit, from Ipswich, Suffolk, managed to shed a staggering 46st after gastric bypass surgery in 2010 but the NHS have refused to give him an operation to remove his 7st of excess skin. Scroll down for video . Now: Paul Mason, pictured in hospital last month when he was treated for an infection in his leg, once tipped the scales at 70st but has lost 46st in five years . Then: At his largest, the former postman would then eat quadruple portions of fish and chips along with two kebabs for lunch followed by a roast dinner, curries or pizza and more chips in the evening . The 54-year-old wanted the surgery done for free but his bid failed after health service bosses said he needed to prove that he could keep the weight off. Despite his monumental weight-shedding feat, Mr Mason has been left with a constant reminder of the size he once was - thanks to the excess skin sagging around his arms, legs and stomach. Speaking after the NHS turned him down in 2012 the former postman told The Mirror: 'The loose skin is having a horrible effect on my life. I can't make any more progress if they don't do these operations.' Mr Mason is now preparing to undergo an operation in the U.S. after plastic surgeon Dr Jennifer Capla, from Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, offered to carry out the procedure free of charge. Speaking to The Mirror, she said: 'I remember seeing an image of him, wheelchair-bound, he couldn't walk. 'To me it was so sad that he had gone through this whole journey and come full circle, and he couldn't even do basic things and no-one would help him.' Turned down by NHS: The 54-year-old wanted the surgery done for free but failed after health service bosses said he needed to prove that he could keep the weight off . Preparing for more surgery: Mr Mason is now preparing to undergo an operation in the U.S. after plastic surgeon Dr Jennifer Capla, from Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, offered to carry out the procedure for free . Road to recovery: Mr Mason, seen walking in hospital in Massachusetts last month, moved to the USA last year to live with his fiance . After an agonising period in which he had to wait for a health visa to be granted, the former world's fattest man flew to Orange, near Boston in September to live with his fiance, Rebecca Mountain. In 2013 Mr Mason appeared on television to tell the world of his blossoming relationship with Ms Mountain. 41-year-old Miss Mountain, who is a slender 8st, asked for his hand in marriage as they appeared live on ABC's The View last year. She first got in touch with Mr Mason on Facebook after she saw a television documentary about his extreme obesity. Appearing on UK breakfast television programme in 2013, in the week they met in person for the first time, she said she 'just felt compelled to reach out and just try to help and that's all it was.' 'I have a lot of drive and just thought I could write letters and support,' she said. 'Things I set my sights on, I just go and do. I just knew that I should try and help. 'He's incredible, a genuine person. Incredibly honest and open about the difficulties he's been through, which helped our relationship.' Former world's fattest man: At the height of his food addiction, he was eating an entire packet of bacon, four sausages and four eggs complete with bread and hash browns for breakfast . Found love: In 2013 Mr Mason appeared on television to tell the world of his blossoming relationship with Rebecca Mountain . Mr Mason's binge eating began in his 20s at the time of his father's death and a deterioration in his mother's health. He quit his job as a postman when his weight stopped him from finishing his rounds. As his weight soared he was left unable to stand or walk before finally becoming bed-ridden and being looked after full time by council carers. Firefighters had to demolish the front wall of his former home so they could drive a fork lift truck inside to lift him out and put him into an ambulance when he needed a hernia operation in 2002. Mr Mason was later given a purpose-built housing association home with extra wide doorways so he could move around. His care bill cost taxpayers an estimated £100,000 a year and is believed to have topped £1million. At the height of his food addiction, he was eating an entire packet of bacon, four sausages and four eggs complete with bread and hash browns for breakfast. He would then eat quadruple portions of fish and chips along with two kebabs for lunch followed by a roast dinner, curries or pizza and more chips in the evening. Mr Mason finally beat the bulge after an NHS operation to fit him with a gastric band, but his life was left on hold as he waited for further surgery to remove the excess skin it left behind. His latest bout of surgery is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, and Ms Capla will be helped by a large team of doctors, including two surgeons from other states. Set to marry: Paul Mason and Rebecca Mountain, right became engaged after she proposed to him during their interview on the ABC show The View last year (above)
target: Paul Mason was 70st in 2010 but has lost two thirds of his body weight .
  The ex-postman, 54, shed the pounds after gastric bypass surgery on NHS .
  Mr Mason, of Suffolk, then found love online and is engaged to US woman .
  Next week he will have 7st of excess skin removed free of charge by American doctor who saw his plight on TV .