Tammy experienced a major health scare that led to her hospitalization. Doctors had to put her in a coma, which was a near-death experience that opened her eyes.

After surviving the health scare, Tammy gained a newfound respect for her life. She started focusing on her fitness and entered a rehab center in Ohio. Within a few months, Tammy naturally lost enough weight to qualify for weight loss surgery. She underwent the procedure in mid-2022 and lost hundreds of pounds in the following months. At the beginning of 2025, Tammy announced that she had successfully dropped 500 pounds. She appeared happy with her weight loss progress and was looking forward to having her loose skin removed, taking her physical transformation to the next level.

Tammy Took Up Vaping In Season 3

Tammy Started When She Was At Rock Bottom

There was a time when Tammy was very unhappy with her life and was trying to escape the stress by drinking, partying, overeating, and vaping without a care in the world. Tammy's addictions spiraled out of control in 1000-Lb Sisters season 3. She got into arguments with her family, which caused her to behave like a party animal. In season 3, Tammy was shown drinking and vaping with her friends while partying at her home. She mentioned that she had been doing this for a while, suggesting it had become part of her daily routine.

Previously, Tammy stated that she used vaping as a way to manage her stress.

She mentioned that vaping helped her cope with her "anxiety" and helped to relax her. Tammy's situation worsened to the point where she didn't even disclose it to her doctors. The 1000-Lb Sisters cast member made every excuse possible to avoid giving up her unhealthy habit. Fans have also shared their opinions on Tammy's vaping problem. According to a Reddit thread by @paintmered2024, fans speculated it was a family member or friend who introduced her to vaping when she first became addicted.

The Stakes Are High For Tammy To Quit Vaping

Tammy's Skin Removal Surgery Depends On It

In an episode of 1000-Lb Sisters season 6, Tammy consulted a new doctor about her skin removal surgery. She met with Dr. Peter Rubin, who approved her for the surgery. However, the doctor also revealed he had reviewed Tammy's lab report, and they needed to increase her protein levels. Tammy then itted to her smoking habits, mentioning that she had been vaping "every day, several times a day."

The doctor then advised Tammy to stop using nicotine products, warning that failure to do so could result in infection and wound healing issues after surgery. Dr. Rubin stated, "So 1, we got to get you off the vapes completely." He then added, "So we can't schedule the surgery now until we can get all these things worked out."

Does Tammy Still Vape When She's Stressed?

Tammy Is Yet To Undergo Skin Removal Surgery

Tammy met Dr. Rubin sometime in 2024, so it is highly likely that she has since decreased her nicotine intake and reduced her vaping habits.

Based on her recent social media updates, it appears that Tammy hasn't undergone skin removal surgery yet. Therefore, she may still be in the process of quitting her vaping habits. Dr. Rubin advised Tammy to quit smoking to ensure a successful and complication-free recovery after surgery. The 1000-Lb Sisters cast member will need to stop vaping before undergoing the procedure, and she may still be working on achieving this goal.

1000-lb Sisters airs on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EDT on TLC.

Sources: @paintmered2024/Reddit, Tammy Slaton/Instagram