I don’t want to be the “woe is the big-breasted gal” person but seriously, woe is the big-breasted gal. By the time I was 17, I had D-cups. By the time I was 21, they were DD-cups. While this might reek of breast privilege, being so well-endowed so early in life – when you still feel awkward and you’re still growing into your body – it screws up a lot of girls. I wore minimizers throughout college and I still wear them to the gym today. It changes the way you feel about your body, it changes the way you dress, the way you sit, stand and walk and it changes the way you feel about the way boys look at you. It sucks, basically.
So I always felt sorry for Ariel Winter. The young star of Modern Family was already growing up and going through those awkward teen years in front of the cameras. Add to that the mess with her family, and most of us were already sympathetic. But in the past few years, Ariel’s bust has just kept getting bigger and bigger. And now, at the age of 17, she’s already undergone breast reduction surgery. Ariel did a surprisingly long and in-depth interview with Glamour to discuss her choice to undergo surgery – you can read the full piece here. Some highlights:
She’s 5’1 and she was already a 32F: “It really did happen overnight. I remember being in my sister’s wedding and being so flat and thinking, ‘I just wish I would grow boobs!’ and then overnight I did. But then they kept growing and growing and growing and it didn’t seem like they were going to stop. I was 15 years old with [size] F [breasts]. It’s like, ‘How do you navigate that?’”
Back pain: “I had a lot of back problems. I really couldn’t stand up straight for a long period of time. It started to hurt so bad that I couldn’t take the pain. My neck was hurting so bad and I actually had some problems with my spine. I had been discussing my chest with doctors for many years, but when I finally said, “I’m thinking of doing this,” he said, “Your back is going to thank you so much.”
She didn’t get the surgery because she was bullied: “I got it for myself. I can’t even really put it into words about how amazing it feels to really feel right.”
She’s now a 34 D: “I feel like a new person. It’s amazing to finally feel right. This is how I was supposed to be.”
When she decided to get it done: “I went to a swimsuit store with my cousin a few months ago and couldn’t find a bathing suit that fit me. I really felt bad about myself. I didn’t feel happy. I just kept saying, “What am I going to wear? There’s nothing for me to wear at the beach, at the pool.” I can’t go to a party with my friends and wear the same thing as them. I have to be completely covered up otherwise I’ll look a certain way that I’m not intending to look.
Finding clothes that worked: “It was really hard. There was so little that I could wear that was age-appropriate. I’d have to wear the dress that was super tight and form-fitted everywhere because if I didn’t, it didn’t look good. I didn’t really have an option other than to wear fitted clothes. Everyone would [say], “Why is she dressing so mature? That’s so inappropriate for her age!” I understood what they were saying. It’s not like I wanted to pick out those inappropriate dresses, it’s just that I didn’t really have another choice, or I was going to get ridiculed. It’s hard when you’re a teenage girl and you already have a lot of ridicule and then you pile on more, and it’s kind of…it just gets too much.”
Deciding to stick with a D-cup: “I knew for sure that I wasn’t going to go bigger than a D because the whole point was to get rid of it! I was a 32F and that was too big for me! My doctor said we shouldn’t go bigger than a D, and I agreed. He said he didn’t think we should go smaller than a C, and I agreed. And the reason I said that was because I have always been a curvier girl. Always. And I enjoy being a curvier girl. I don’t want to be disproportionate again. I have a big butt, I like having a big butt. I didn’t want to have a big butt and no boobs!
I had a friend who got a breast reduction at 17 as well – she was also very petite, but she just had enormous, natural breasts and she hated them. When she had them reduced, she went WAY down, to like a B/C cup. I always wonder if there’s a chance that your breasts will still grow even after the surgery, especially if you get it done so young? My breast size increased in my late teens and early 20s, I’m just saying. Ariel might not even be done growing. But good for her for knowing her body and for doing what she wanted for herself. I just think there’s a chance she could possibly need another surgery in early 20s, you know?
Photos courtesy of WENN.
They can “grow back” at any age, unfortunately. I’m also a busty gal (32 E) and I would LOVE a reduction, but don’t want surgery…
I have a friend whose had the surgery 3 times and they keep growing.
From weight gain or did she maintain the same weight and they still grew ?
I know when you get older many women complain they got bigger boobs as their hormones changed in their late 40’s – 50’s. But I wonder if its all hormonal, weight gain or a combo.
Same weight. It’s something that happens to some women – the doctors warn you about it pre-op.
Ygah, mine have changed through the. Years… They have gotten bigger too, fortunately, not as much, nut I am a D now, I. Was B for a long time.
I feel like mine fluctuate with the moon. They are ever changing and I’m fine with that, granted, they’ve never been bigger than a D or smaller than a B and a half, so it isn’t too daunting to adjust (and readjust) to them.
Mine grew in my 30s several sizes because of cysts. Breast specialist says they could decrease significantly after menopause (here’s hoping). I do understand the fit conundrum–was trying on dresses recently and a friend commented “you wouldn’t think that the fitted dresses would be SO much more flattering– but you’re looking at either ha-cha-cha or circus tent.”
I knew someone who was completely flat chested up to age 26. Like, she just never grew any bosoms. And then, in one year, she did.
Mine doubled after menopause and I’m only about 10 pounds heavier than my 20’s. I was always a full B cup and that was fine with me. Now I’m easily a DD and probably bigger if I had a well fitted bra. I HATE them. No matter what bra I buy it’s miserable to wear and I’ve had fittings at department stores. I really don’t see why all these women get implants. Big boobs suck. I’m thinking about losing 20 pounds just to see if I can get rid of them. Is there a Boob-B-Gone diet?
One of the commenters said she looks so good now. Are these pics AFTER the reduction? Because they are still huge. If this is after, she must have really been drowning in boobs before. Poor girl.
Yikes! I can’t imagine going through that procedure THREE separate times, to no avail. I feel for your friend and her poor flesh.
I’m so pleased by the commenters chiming in with their support, though… most of the time, complaints like these fall on ears unwilling to listen. But I totally get why you wouldn’t want the surgery, and luckily there are better bras and more clothing options than there were 20 years ago. It’s possible to minimize some of the biggest problems associated with disproportionately big boobs, even if it’s impossible to permanently correct them. I didn’t get the surgery either, and I’m a 32E too… but I thought I was a 34DD for YEARS. Then I discovered that department store/VS workers weren’t actually employing the right sizing methods. Life-changer.
YES. A proper bra fitting will change your life if you are busty. Be prepared to spend some money, but it will be worth it.
I had a reduction this past December. I am 5’2 and I had a 36J. I have no idea what i am now. I need to get fitted.
I would have done it at her age if I could. My insurance paid for the entire surgery. I was very lucky.
My breast size was the same if I wore a size 4 or a size 12. They were awful. You have to wear a large shirt just to cover them then it’s too big everywhere else.
The only thing I don’t like is your waist looks bigger without the huge books.
Yes! There are actually some very good online bra fitting tutorials out there. I think herroom.com has a really good one – I usually buy my bras there – they ask about all kinds of things like fullness & separation, not just measurements. The two bras I bought after filling out their form are the best fitting I’ve had in my life – secure and comfortable AND attractive! Not easy to do with big breasts!
I was wrong – Herroom.com is very good, but the quiz I was talking about & my recent bras are from True & Co.
https://trueandco.com/quiz/welcome?utm_source=google-adwords&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google_USA_Search_Brand_Alpha&utm_term=true%20bras&utm_content=e&gclid=CK_j076FpscCFQ4paQod9MgLog
@ Brittney B which sizing methods do use? My back thanks you in advance!
Hahaha, kcarp. My sister underwent breast surgery and she looked smaller /thinner after it.
The size of the boobs made her look like if she was chubbier, I swear her wais looks smaller now, especially in some dresses that are one color and with an A skirt. I wish i could look well in those!
Nordstrom’s is always good for sizing, the employees at mine actually know what they’re doing, and I’ve been really happy with the bras I’ve gotten from Soma. They run sales a lot and have a rewards program, which helps with the price.
Once I found a good bra, it’s funny, but I notice everyone who DOESN’T have a good one. A lot of people jog along the road I take to work, and some of the women must be in pain! There’s also a much older woman at a community group I’m part of who wears low cut things and unsupportive bras, and she’s just swinging all over the place all the time.
@ Alice
I’ve also used HerRoom and True & Co and recommend both (the former has a helpful but simple sizing guide)… but I think this was the specific sizing guide I used:
http://sameatschildren.tumblr.com/post/45962915522/do-it-now-guide-to-proper-bra-fit-and-measuring
VS is the reason why a lot of women are wearing the wrong size bra. They measure very incorrectly. Nordstroms & local bra shops are the way too go & they usually measure correctly. Went from a 36E US sizing to a 32J UK sizing when i was measured correctly. So was about 6 cups off.
I didn’t know that it was possible for your breasts to keep growing (apart from pregnancy, nursing, etc.). How does this happen?
Indeed! not even weight fluctuation ( though Those are a thing as well) but i’ve gone from a B To a 36D after my 20s and No Likey
It is. It happened to me. I felt so self-conscious at my sister’s wedding because I had a spurt between fittings and the wedding and the threads were undoing themselves. I got so many gross comments and when I went back to school (I was 20) I got some nicknames, have you seen the Max Power episode of The Simpsons? High school was one thing with the girls, (‘We’d really not like you if you were someone else, but you’re just so nice and helpful to everyone that it’s okay’), that didn’t feel so weird, I knew them, we were little. But, the university stuff was gross.
I had the surgery and they never grew back? I find that hard to believe
I agree. She may have only gone to a D just in case she needs another reduction down the line. I’m glad for her though it’s tough to deal with that kind of body issue while growing up in the public eye.
She’s navigating her fame pretty well to me. Her TV family seems to be a good support as well. I hope that continues for her.
I’m glad she feels better about herself. I guess if she waited until she had “stopped growing”, because she’s only 17, she would have continued feeling miserable. At least she’s comfortable and happy for the time being. What happens in the future, will happen, but thank God she’s satisfied right now. She discussed something so awkward in such a mature way! And she’s so great on that show. Wishing the best for her, especially in her personal life!
“She discussed something so awkward in such a mature way!”
Yep she did. Good on her.
Both Drew B and Soleil M Frye did this at that age as well.
I did not know that about Drew. I remember when she was a teenager and they seemed pretty big, but she was also heavier then.
Can’t believe she’s only 17 but was able to give an articulate, well reasoned and educational interview about her breast surgery on the same level of Angelina Jolie’s Time magazine articulate. #impressed.
Mature young ladies like her who are actual kids are one of the many reasons I hate people defending immature women in their mid-20’s like Swifty and Kstew for being “just kids”.
I was an E at 19 and went to a large B/Small C. Never regretted it. My weight has changed over the years and with that my chest. D is still pretty big, she might still battle back problems when she is older
Is this a very invasive procedure? Are there permanent scars? thnks
Yes I have scars but I have pretty pale skin and so you really can’t see them. The worst of the scaring is underneath my breasts. They basically cut around the nipple but keep it attached and cut down the center of the breast and across the bottom. They remove the fat and and reposition the breast higher and reattach the nipple. They do this so that hopefully you can still breast feed some day. I’ve have not had kids so I don’t know if I could have. Recovery takes some time and there is a lot of pain – breast implants are far less painful.
There will be an inverted T scar in the lower part of the boos, but as my sister said, she prefered the big scars (which would be less noticeable in time) , than the big boobs.
She is a dentist and she was practically feeding her clients when she was working. She teased that ther clientelle would diminish after her surgery!
D isn’t really big though, Bre, it all depends on your frame. It would be large still on a petite framed little girl, but Ariel is curvier and broader so it’s perfect. I only say this as I myself went from a 36G to a 36D about 8 years ago and I really wanted small boobs – like a B, but the surgeon explained that for my bone structure that would make me flat and out of proportion and a D would be perfect, and she was absolutely correct. It made a huge difference to my life. Like mind blowingly so. Your overall confidence and happiness just escalates overnight. I wish I’d done it when I was younger and not suffered those years of insecurity over it. Well done to Ariel!
As for scars, you can’t really see mine at all except a tiny bit at the side that’s the same color as my skin. The rest is underneath. To look at me naked (yikes!) you’d never know I’d had surgery and they had to reposition the nipple and everything.
Good for her. She made a decision based very much on health issues and in consultation with her doctor. She seems smart and mature.
I’m so jealous of her! I had all the money saved to do it. I hated my boobs. They weren’t even that big! But I’m 4’11, and I was an F cup. And then I had a kid! I breastfed, and there for a while I thought I would really need surgery, but after breastfeeding and losing about 30 ibs, it basically melted off. But if it hadnt: I would have had surgery for sure!
Shame I can’t imagine dealing with this. I’m a big girl but I always thanked the Boob giver that he gave me B cups, because I don’t know if I could deal being big and have enormous breasts.
When I’m at my heaviest I guess i go into a C, and when I was 20 Kgs (I suppose about 40 pounds? ) thinner, my boobs were a small B… So when I (hopefully) lose some of this weight again, I don’t know if i will deal having super small boobs. (a woman can never win… sigh).
It’s refreshing to hear someone talk so candidly about surgery like this and why they wanted it done. I have small boobs so can’t imagine what it is/has been like for her. It makes such a change from having plastic kardashians rammed down our throats constantly…
I tried to get the same procedure when I was her age… but there wasn’t enough fat tissue to justify the insurance coverage, especially after I lost ten pounds and they deflated.
What you said about growing up with big boobs (and what Ariel said about clothing choices and looking “a way you don’t intend”) is spot-on… it does change the way you perceive yourself. And then there are the cruel people who prove your perceptions are somewhat correct… the guys who openly admit they’re only interested in you because of your boobs, the insecure girls who remind you about those boys and predict premature sagging (newsflash: they were saggy when they grew in; perky just doesn’t happen for us). It’s all part of the same systemic problem. Mine were never big enough to cause back pain, though, and many people don’t think about the physical pain involved with big boobs. I’m so happy she did this for herself, and at such a crucial age. She deserves a reason to feel happier and lighter… she had enough pain in her life as it was.
I agree that growing up with large breasts changes your perception of yourself. I’ve consistently been a D since high school but I’m only 5’3″ so they look even larger on my frame. By sophomore year of HS I was a C cup and yes, attracted much unwanted attention from guys and scorn from girls to include Senior girls throwing food at me at lunch because one of their guy friends liked me and said I was hot. Being told by a teacher that I dressed ‘too sexy’ because I wore a tank top that was exactly the same style as the girl next to me with smaller breasts. Catching guys staring down my shirt if I bent over. I spent my 21st birthday at the bar with friends and some douchebag guys a few tables down actually taking cell phone pictures of my cleavage (they were trying and failing to be incognito) because I dared to wear a low cut shirt.
Maybe this sounds like “boohoo, poor me”, but I am 30 years old now and for the last 7 or so years I have rarely shown cleavage. The attention at such a young age and being objectified that way changes how you feel about your body and you just want to hide them. You start to wonder if a guy asks you out for your personality or because of your body. I’m glad she did what was right for her and is being honest about it. Especially as an actress and being in that Hollywood world – it seems she would have even more opportunities to be objectified for her chest.
My mum is huge and is constantly at the physio for back problems. I can’t imagine how painful it is constantly. I’d get a boob reduction too!
Wow, that must have been rough on her. I remember being one of the first girls in my school to develop at around 11-12, and am now a small D cup. (Even that is because I have a tiny torso and not necessarily big breasts). Dealing with puberty and growing was hard enough; I didn’t have to try and adapt to being an F-cup before I was old enough to drive.
She might need more surgery later on but at least for now she can be happier with her smaller chest.
Same here. Boobs first, bigger than others’. Trying to hid them, slouching, walking all concave like Quasimodo. Not a pretty sight. And yet, the boys kept looking. Ugh. It took a couple of decades before I found some pride in my assets.
One of my friends had a D in 4th grade (9 years old) and it wasn’t just the comments from guys her age, the thing that disturbed her most was the obvious leering of grown men. It was a very confusing and scary time for her.
When Ariel was emancipated (I think she was only 16), the comment section of an article I read was absolutely disgusting. I’m pretty sure it was a reputable site (not tmz).
She must feel so much better! You could see on modern family they were trying to hide her chest with bulky clothes, hopefully she doesn’t have to do that anymore.
I know; not to continue harping on myself, but I totally recognized my teen self during the Hawaii episodes, when everyone was lounging in bikinis and she covered up with a tee-shirt. At the time, I hoped it was her choice, not the producers’… but now it occurs to me that they may have had legal/moral reasons to prevent the implicit sexualization of a minor.
Actually, that’s exactly the problem she cites, though not in those terms. It’s unfortunate that people see big boobs and think “lewd”… that our own body parts could be considered trashy, that different sizes are held to different standards… but she’s right under the microscope, developing in front of millions while standing next to teeny tiny women and an international sex symbol, and she’s handling all of it with remarkable poise and foresight. 17-year-old me didn’t think to question the unfair standards; I just directed the pain inward.
#BreastPrivilege 😉
Good for Ariel. She seems like a lovely and mature young lady.
I’ve had two reductions. They just came back bigger than ever, and I wasn’t particularly young when I had them.
If I could find a doctor who’d perform a purely cosmetic mastectomy I’d do it in a shot. The back pain is crippling, I have to literally bind my chest to go for a light jog, clothes never fit properly and frankly after two surgeries and gravity taking it’s toll, well let’s just say they no longer hold any aesthetic value.
I hope Ariel is one of the lucky women who don’t have them ‘grow back’.
Did a plastic surgeons not do the surgery? I had mine done and it seems like mine keep get smaller.
I’m an F too. I’m sympathetic. I didn’t breastfeed because my boobs were bigger than my kid’s head. I was pretty sure I’d suffocate him. Hell, they’re bigger than my head. (Drunk amberica has put her bra on her head to check.) Hoping as I lose weight they’ll go away, but nothing so far.
Ha!
I got up to an L cup when I was nursing my second. The contrast between my ginormous chest and his tiny little head was always worth a giggle.
My best friend had a reduction straight out of high school. Her surgeon advised her to be conservative with how much to remove, which she regretted, and she ended up having a second one a few years ago. She says you can’t imagine the relief-not only being rid of back and shoulder pain, but of looking like a walking tomato on toothpicks. If that’s what Ariel needed to feel better about herself, good for her.
I had a breast reduction when I was in my early 20’s and have never regretted it. I had back issues (not to mention self esteem issues from being so large chested so young) so insurance paid for it. I had a phenomenal surgeon that was thinking of the future for me when I was too young to even imagine one and made it a point to save as many milk ducts as possible in case I had kids. As a result, I was able to exclusively breast feed my 2 kids, which I am so thankful for his foresight. And yeah, in my case, I did grow my boobs back, but it was as I gained and lost weight, so it was natural to my body type instead of being this rail thin teenager with F boobs. They are proportional to my body, and while they are bigger now than after surgery, they fit me and i’m completely comfortable with my body now. And being able to buy shirts, bras, and swimsuits that fit me was liberating. I finally stopped dressing in ways to hide the things I hated so much.
Good for her. If she was having back and neck problems due to her breasts at age 17, things were only going to get worse. Oversized breasts can cause the spine to curve. She did this for her health and may she continue to be healthy.
I’m surprised she’s be given this surgery before she has stopped growing. I noticed she looked much heavier in the last couple of years (like in this movie clip http://satellitedirect.site40.net/watch?ch=2124&p=11746) but I didn’t think it was all breast weight, I just thought she’d gained weight like some kids do when they go through puberty. I wish her well. She looks great in these pictures.
@Claudia Slater, I thought she looked heavier recently, too but I read somewhere they were dressing her in bulky clothes on Modern Family to hide her constantly-growing chest. I saw pictures of her in her prom dress and she is very small other than her boobs. Unfortunately sometimes a huge chest can make a person look a lot bigger than they really are.
“This is how I was supposed to be.”
No. This is the result of a surgical procedure. Not saying Ariel Winter made anything but a good decision about this.
OMG! her face..so pretty.
I’m 4’10 and have a big C-Cup and I fnd those babys way too big most times. Big boobs make you look heavier and are not what you want when you like running and jumping around (unless you like wareing a strong sports bra plus a very supporting running top. I feel for girls with even bigger boobs and I cannot understand how some ladies get theirs filled up with silicone just to end up with rediculously large tits.
Im 4’11, 103 lbs… DD cup breasts. I was a tomboy and ‘blessed’ with these at 12 years old. I had all boy friends in the neighborhood that got all weird with me, so as a kid I ended up home a lot. I quit sports too. I wish I could get a reduction. I really dislike the creepy male attention. Plus being so short they make me look heavy.
So many ladies here with the same problem. I’m an A-cup and I always wear a very tight top when I’m running on the treadmill, because I feel them bouncing, so I can only imagine how bad it would be if they were big. Add the back pain, and the annoying looks from men and women, I can completely empathize with her. Glad she’s feeling good now.
^This. Past my early twenties, I stopped wishing for big boobs and learned to love my a/b’s. I appreciate the #breastprivilege comment though because even now I feel a twinge of jealousy when everyone here recites their naturally large cup size.
#culturallytrainedtofeelboobenvy
If I could share three quarters of my breast volume with you, I would. You guys have #breastprivilege in the other direction. I hate running solely because of my breasts, heck, even fast walking is a bother if I didn’t put on a sports bra first, finding clothes that fit is difficult, finding bras is worse, finding nursing bras is THE worst, I look far dumpier than my weight would suggest, even modest clothes can look smutty, I can’t sleep on my stomach, my back and neck hurt out of nowhere…. Let’s just say I wish my chest had stopped growing years and years ago.
Yeah, it wouldn’t hurt me if they were a bit bigger… Mostly because they almost disappear when I lay down! For some weird reason, I don’t feel like doing implants.
I tell you, without a proper sports bra + running top it feels like they are ripping off. I have to do the jumping test when I buy workout gear. Also, with bigger boobs you need bigger straps. Those thin spagetti straps don’t help, even worse when they are elastic.
No doubt! I run in a pretty snug sports bra even with my modest endowment.
I have small breasts that I whine about but I would never want to have breasts that big. The back pain, the sagging, the marks from your bra straps cutting into your skin, men leering at you, trying to find clothes that fit the rest of your body and your breasts. I’m glad she had the surgery and is happy. Hopefully they don’t get out of control again.
I had it done at 22. They grew back and now after kids I am getting another one.
Good for her. She sounds like a remarkably grounded and sweet girl. Although, as someone with naturally small boobs and a big butt I could have done without hearing how undesirable that is. 😉
I got that too! Big butt and small boobs here. But she handled the interview greatly, so I won’t pick up on her about that.
Girl that’s me too, big booty and small boobs. I have never been an attractive woman and now, pushing 30, I’m aging out of the “hot chick” age range anyway. I just console myself with my awesome career, my fabulous friends, and my open and giving heart. 😀
@INeedANap: Great name – I need a nap, too! Don’t forget, for lots of people (aka. anyone of at least average intelligence/the kind of people anybody would WANT to waste their time with) what really makes a person attractive and sexy has nothing to do with one’s superficial beauty. It’s the kind of person she is and a certain wisdom and confidence she exudes. So don’t be so sure that you’re “aging out” – it seems very possible to me that you just might be “aging in” to a time where you may find yourself involved in the kind of passionate relationship you’ve never even dreamed of. 🙂
^^^ This, x 1,000,000
At any age or body proportions— we must learn to love ourselves. Women who take care of themselves even carrying some extra weight really can be beautiful no matter what your Birth Certificate says.
The only thing I find a bit repulsive and sad are cases of morbid obesity. I don’t know why…but I watch that program “My 600-lb. Life” and find it grotesque and fascinating all at the same time.
I can relate to a lot of what she’s saying as well since I’m a 34F, borderline G cup. As someone said upthread, I was also wearing the wrong bra size for years – it was only when I got measured for undergarments for my wedding that I found out my true bra size.
There are just certain ways that it affects your life. For instance, I will never be someone that enjoys long-distance running as a hobby – not gonna happen and I find other ways to keep fit. I also now buy bathing suits at specialty stores online to make sure there’s proper coverage. I’m not as into clothes shopping as I used to be as it gets a bit frustrating when a lot of things you like are not made for your body type.
There’s also the awkwardness of being a large-busted teenager – you’re still learning to cope with your changing body and the hormones, and add all of the attention you get from boys (and gross older men) on top of that, and it’s a very confusing time.
Despite the downsides though, I’m still happy with my curves.
I was an F at 14 and got them reduced to a C at 15. It hurt my back. I was self-concious, wore lose clothes and generally hated my body. The surgery helped a lot, physically and mentally.
20+ years later, because of some weight gain, I’m at DD. They didn’t grow more in my teenage years though. It was really all weight gain. They started to grow when I started to gain weight after university, at around 25.
Good for her. I know two people who had this procedure – one while in high school, the other when in her early 30s. It changed their lives for the better both physically and emotionally. I don’t like cosmetic surgery, but I would not categorize this procedure as cosmetic at all. As a longtime athlete, I don’t know how I would have coped with awkwardly large breasts.
It is definitely goes beyond aesthetics…disproportionately large breasts make a lot of things difficult. Swinging a golf club, for example, was extremely hard before my reduction!
I had a breast reduction at the age of 21 (I had D sized breasts at the age of 10 and they continued to grow until I reached 36F). It was the best decision I ever made. However, now that I am pre-menopausal (I’m 38 but both my grandmother and mother went through early menopause as well) they have continued to grow again! I now have to consider having another reduction surgery in order to be able to jog, sleep comfortably, or even wear a bra with an underwire. Big breasts are not a gift for some. They actually caused me to be brutally teased and people (including teachers) assumed I has loose morals because of my large breasts. I was being unfairly judged based on a physical attribute over which I had absolutely no control. It was demoralising, and I still struggle with body issues to this day.
I’m a 34H and I cannot wait to get a reduction when I’m done breastfeeding the baby I’m carrying. I’ve never heard of them growing back, wonder if it’s an issue at 35 or just when you’re younger?
I mentioned some of your concerns in my post above. Your breasts can definitely increase in size post-reduction. I don’t have children but menopause is wreaking havoc on my girl parts. It’s almost like I don’t know who they are anymore. Just for perspective: I was 220 pounds when I first had them done, and am now 155. Regardless of my weight loss, my girls still started to grow when I hit my mid-30’s. I wish you the very best: I couldn’t imagine not only carrying my girls but also a child?! My back would be screaming!
I had mine reduced when I was 32, and they have stayed pretty much the same; it has been 14 years. Since then, I had a baby, and my weight has fluctuated. Maybe it depends on the person, but for me, the results have been consistent and well worth it!
Man they did a really good job styling her, she looks great in those pictures. I love that black and white jumpsuit. Having big boobs isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. I can’t imagine being an F!
I had a breast reduction when I was 14. I know, so young, whatever, but I was really short and skinny(?) and my back hurted soooo much. Anyway, my boobs eventually grew again(doctor told me it could happen and that I would need another reduction at the age of 18), and now I am a 20 year old with a DD cup. I didn’t get the second reduction cause I decided to wait, I guess. I’ll do another, eventually, because my back still hurts. Wait till I have a baby and the baby ruin my body to have the second, maybe?! Lol
sorry for bad english, not from the us of a (or any other place that speaks english, whatever)
Good for her. She sounds very mature and sensible in the interview which is really impressive considering everything she’s been through as a teenager.
Good for her. While I can’t say I know what she used to feel like, I do know it’s a situation lots of young girls go through, and for many, if not most of them, it sucks.
She must have been even larger than a 32F by the time she had the surgery, I think. I’ve been that size at a similar height and weight, and mine weren’t as large. They still caused me a lot of shoulder pain and posture problems, so I definitely feel for her, and consider myself lucky that my breasts are the first place I lose weight… A huge chest that has no relation to your body weight must make you feel so helpless.
Well good for her! I’m 34 and have been flat chested my entire life, so I can’t imagine being a 32F, especially so young. Boobs are fraught for everyone and having to navigate being very busty as a teenager must really suck.
I’m with Ariel on this. I had a reduction a year and half ago. One of the best things I ever did. I hated the discomfort and the look. I’m only 5’3 and i Looked like I could nurse a battalion. Now I’m a 34 C and I’m freeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! (I am saggy, tho but that’s fine)
I sympathize and wish her a speedy recovery. I’m 5′ 1″ and at my heaviest (which was not that heavy at all, about 125 pounds) I was an E. Too. Much. Boob. I’m down to around 100 pounds now and I’m a large C – and my shoulders still ache!
There is absolutely NO WAY she is a 32F… she is more likely a 32H.. I’m shorter than her, being 4’11, and wear a 32E, and to be honest, I consider myself to have smaller than average boobs….even if they would be 2 cup sizes bigger they wouldn’t be enough for me to consider them huge or warranting a reduction… how big breasts are aren’t determined by cup size alone… a 28DD would be incredibly small, while a 40DD is definitely big…. I wish people would get bra sizing correctly so there wouldn’t be so much misinformation out there (if she looks so huge and she is just a C cup then I must be —A, etc)
I wish that more people would get bra sizing correctly and know how bra should fit. When I read that someone has “big C” or “small B” I have a suspicion that they probably don’t know how bra should fit and just put their breasts to whatever cup they get in a store without thinking that a cup size always depends on the band length.
30G here and her breasts look far bigger than mine, its surprising how women constantly wear the wrong bra I’d guess she would be a 30HH . Although my bra sounds big when people look at me they think I am a D or DD max people don’t understand band size vs cup size. Also you notice once you’re in a fitting bra your back pain eases I’d been wearing a 32E or DD and having horrible back pain and it would get worse if I wore a 34 D or DD. Which almost disappeared by wearing my correct size, it makes such a difference.
Good for her. I felt so bad for her with those giant boobs…she always looked self-conscious.
I was a 34B FOREVER….and wished my boobs were bigger. Be careful what you wish for! At the ripe old age of 41 they are 34DD’s (down from DDD) and I miss my smaller, perkier boobies.
Yeah, I think perky is the name of the boob game myself. Maybe mine would bother me less if they were where they’re supposed to be instead of collecting sweat on my rib cage.
My mom is the best example of being careful about what you wish for. She had breast enhancement surgery in the 1970’s and still has sores that pop up in random places on her body where bits of silicone work their way through her skin from silicone poisoning as a result of two ruptured implants. Just recently she had to be rushed to the ER because one such sore . . . burst, for lack of a better term, leaving an inch-wide hole that keeps having to be filled by her doctor with packing material to help it drain.
I’m a big advocate of “Be careful what you wish for” as it has always backfired but, I’m in my late 30’s and I pray that the same thing that happened to you could happen to me!
My belly is bigger than my barely there A cups, I had to start taking steroids for a skin problem so I got fat, and now I became a heavy person with no boobs.
I didn’t mind being flat when I was skinny, but it’s hell now 🙁
I worry about this girl. Between the family drama, the Modern Family stardom, and the overnight puberty (my husband definitely noticed and commented on her boobs while watching MF)… I just hope she comes out of it ok. That is a LOT to deal with at her age. I’m glad to read this interview where she seems to be doing well and comfortable discussing her decisions re her body.
I had mine made WAY smaller 14 years ago, and they have stayed pretty much the same, in spite of weight fluctuation and a pregnancy. The process is really worth it…one of the smartest things I’ve done. Recovery wasn’t bad, either!
Getting a breast reduction was one of the smartest things I ever did. I was a 36E and my boobs dominated my entire life. Try finding 2-piece suits or bathing suits that fit. I felt uncomfortable ALL the time, had to wear sleep bras and had constant neck aches. I found a surgeon that is doing a new type of surgery where most of the fat is removed via liposuction so there’s no incision under the breast, just around the nipple and down the front. Very little scarring too, you can barely see the incisions. I’ve been a C-cup since 2007 when I had it done and it was SUCH a relief to be able to buy clothes that didn’t make me look matronly and actually fit into a bathing suit without boob overflow.
Good for her. Even with a D cup, i always had trouble finding clothes, getting attention from older guys on the street was the worst. I was always trying to hide me. Fortunately im more comfortable with my body and I realized their not as big as i thought. Theyre big for my frame (also 5’1) but i feel better.
I have the exact opposite situation when looking for a swimsuit. I’m barely an A cup. Have been waiting for decades for them to grow. LOL. But, I guess if I had to choose, I’d take the A. I certainly don’t have back problems and can always wear a padded bra to keep proportions looking fairly decent.
Yeah I have to say I have NEVER desired bigger boobs. I am a 34B and happy to stay that way. Never understood women getting breast enlargements, I don’t need the added back/chest/neck pain! Plus I can wear lower cut shirts and get away with it becaus there isn’t much there to begin with. I feel for you bigger chested ladies. I can’t imagine how self conscious poor Ariel must have felt.
My college roommate had a reduction while we were in school. She couldn’t find bras that fit her in stores and would have to custom order them. I can’t remember the change in cup size but she was super happy with it after the surgery.
So jealous. I started trying to get reduced at that age and they made me wait til I was 21 to allow things to stop growing. Even then I had to fight like hell to get them to do it. Thankfully they did and it was covered bc Canada but I permanent issues in my neck/shoulders/back because it wasn’t done sooner. I went from being a F to a large D.
Was it a male doctor that didn’t what to do the surgery?
I ask because a family friend was fighting with her doctor because he refused to make her reduce her chest to size she wanted. She wanted to go to a large C and he kept interesting that she go down to a DD. After doing some research she found out that a lot of women have the same problem with male doctors.
I find in general, male plastic surgeons are obsessed with large breasts. They always advise larger implants than requested, and larger than requested post-reduction size. My friend wanted a C-cup post cancer mastectomy, and he gave her DDs. As an RN, I’ve seen this a lot. How irritating that the doctor believes He knows better what she wants.
I feel her pain, I was a 38EEE and it was so frustrating finding clothes to fit that didn’t make me look like an elephant or super dowdy and mature. Even the slightest v neck had cleavage spilling out of it like I was wearing two Wonderbras and men would just stare at them, so I tried to keep them covered as much as possible, it really didn’t do wonders for my self esteem. The final straw was when I had to be a bridesmaid and get a size 30 dress and then spend hundreds of additional dollars to get the dress altered; they basically had to cut the bottom part of the dress in half, as I’m a size 6 to 8 through my hips and waist (I was so disproportionate, I had barely any curves on the bottom , then giant boobs, basically I just looked like I was going to topple over all the time). I got a reduction 6 yeas ago and it was the greatest decision ever. I’m so much more comfortable, the recovery was very easy and now I can wear whatever I want, it’s done wonders for me on all levels.
With regards to them growing back, my doctor explained that there is glandular breast tissue and fatty breast tissue and that glandular doesn’t come back once removed, but fatty could (just like anywhere else on your body). So that might explain why some people had their’s grow again?
Good for her – I’m an DD/F cup (depending on brand) but am 5’6” so its not too bad. I have fluctuated 1 or 2 up sizes due to weight gain/loss but they have generally stayed the same size, not that any bfs have complained 😉
You can always tell when someone is naturally busty, they have fleshier upper arms. If someone has big breast and skinny upper arms, their fake.
Have thin arms & size 32M is US sizing & they’re real. It can look odd & have had people ask me if they’re real. Its my moms genetics, she also was very thin w/ big boobs.
I had thin arms, legs, hips, etc. but was still a 36E. Your theory doesn’t hold water.
I don’t think she was too young to do it…I know people have mentioned they’ve had friends where they “came back” and a girl I knew went through the same thing, but I had my reduction when I was 18 and it was worth it, even if they did come back. I’m 5’6 and was around 120-125 lbs and had 34E’s. I vividly remember crying my eyes out trying on clothes in high school because nothing fit and everything that did looked so inappropriate or poor fitting, not to mention all of the comments and stares I used to get from gross old men. Trust me, no one wants to be a D cup in 6th grade! I went to a 34C and while I still have some scarring, I would’ve gladly done it again at 25 or whatever if they went back up to a DD or E-it made me feel normal and did wonders for my self esteem when I started college. Good for her!
I might be alone here, but I love being a busty girl. I have had a 32FF bust since I was 18-19 years old. I feel like at this point if I had a reduction, I would loose part of my identity. I have received both negative and positive attention because of their size, but for the most part, many women express envy. I think the only time I would consider a reduction is after children, but so far, I would never consider reduction. To each their own.
My cousin is currently a 34DDD. She lived with me during her teens, and it was very difficult for me to balance pride in her body and modesty. Either they’re showing, or she’s wearing a tent and looks twenty pounds heavier. At her grandmother’s funeral, her two aunts shamed her to the extent that her grandfather (the new widower) had to angrily intervene. It was just over the top.
And something that no one else has mentioned – With the plethora of huge implants, naturally large breasted women are called “saggy”. It drives me crazy. Mine are where they belong. Your breasts do not belong at the collar bones.
Very true. Seems like naturally large breasts are usually deemed unattractive, especially now that plastic surgery has advanced to the point where implants can be made to look practically indistinguishable from “perfect” natural breasts. I think there’s a correlation there.
Don’t blame her at all. I’ve always had big boobs small frame, medium frame. Had them them at her age & men are gross about it. Grown arse 50+ year old men oogling & cat calling a teen girl. Men came up to me (much older) asking if they were real, kid you not asked if they could touch. Just for the oogling factor & creepy older men staring is worth getting a reduction.
Wish I could get a breast reduction. I’d go down a B-cup at least. I’m 5 foot one and close to an F right now.
I feel all y’all pain. Literally.
Good for her. I am a member of the Itty Bitty [Ahem] Committee, but I imagine this was painful for her. I’d like bigger boobs, but an F seems like a lot.
Scrolling through reading how many ladies are E’s and F’s naturally. I’m forever a larger B32 and never wanted bigger. Some ladies look to be in such pain. Have cleavage without trying getting stares. Sweat marks on hot days. And oh those ladies I see while running. The pain that heavy motion and extra weight brings.
If someone wants to get reduction surgery for pain issues or body issues. No shame. We’re not all born into perfect bodies. We are thankfully free to make adjustments.
Dear PMK,
THIS is how your youngest in the coven should look. Young, fresh, pretty, self-confident. NOT what you & Jenner churned out. Shame on you.
Considering Ariel’s parents were so abusive they lost custody of her, and she still turned out so well (from what we can tell)… Kris must really be pure evil.
Good for her. Those breasts really were enormous. And good point about clothes. And back. Absolutely no surprised.
I always wondered why Christina Hendricks didnt do this. Those breasts are just hard to carry.
Good call, though I hope the surgery wasn’t too early for her hormonal growth to finish up. Large breasts are fine. Enormous ones can be miserable. Not only for biological reasons but in how men often use early sexual development against young girls. I have no idea how my friend with E-F level breasts deal with it.
Depending on your build, larger breasts can make you look so much heavier. I’ve envied women in the past who had skinny arms and no underarm fat with proportional breasts. For me, it was always meaty arms and broad shoulders and big boobs. It was miserable when I was growing up.
I finally had a breast reduction at age 42. Went from a DD to a small C, and now, 12 1/2 years later, I’m a full C or a small D, depending on the bra style. The girls are still perkier than they used to be but have “bulked” up some due to menopause and weight fluctuation. They are still SO much better than they were before, tho. I highly recommend the procedure to anyone. It will change your life.