Two women open up about their breast reduction experiences

“Being able to choose to have this surgery has made my body mine again, and I feel so much more connected to it.”

‘Plastic surgery’ doesn’t often bring to mind feminism and female autonomy. But for some people with large breasts – who are constantly navigating hypersexualisation, the male gaze, and physical discomfort – the ability to make decisions about their own bodies is empowering. 

A reduction mammoplasty, or a breast reduction, is a surgical procedure that aims to reduce someone’s breast size. Despite our culture’s fetishisation of big boobs, many people view breast reductions as a way to resolve issues relating to chronic pain and discomfort, or to achieve a breast size more in proportion with one’s body.

Interested to hear how others navigate the world? Head to our Life section.

Though some people can make their way through the world with large breasts without encountering problems, for others, it can significantly impede their lives – from being able to find clothes that fit, to feeling comfortable in their bodies.

I have two friends that have had breast reduction surgery, and I was curious about the emotional and physical aspects of their experiences so I decided to reach out to them so they could share their stories. 

Jess, 23, she/her

I was 19 when I had my breast reduction surgery, and I went from being an 8G to an 8C (sometimes a D). Although 8G bras exist, they aren’t standardly stocked because it’s not common to have the smallest back size and such a large cup size. I usually had to go to a specialised place or pre-order something and they were always a) hideous and b) uncomfortable. 

Having large breasts affected everything I did; I stopped playing sports as I got older and clothes shopping was impossible and always resulted in some kind of emotional breakdown because nothing fit me. I’d always been a size six (or a small) and most clothing made for that size didn’t accommodate for large breasts. But the main thing was feeling physically uncomfortable no matter what position I was in, whether it was sitting, sleeping or even walking.

When I first met my surgeon, I told her that I wanted to be an A cup, and I remember her saying, “I’m not going to make you an A cup because you’ve lived your whole life in this body with really large boobs. I think you would find it quite confronting if you went that small.” So instead she aimed for a C to D. 

I was so nervous that it wasn’t going to feel small enough, and for the first few weeks there was a lot of swelling, so they looked a lot bigger than they ended up being. The images I was shown beforehand were also a best-case scenario – they were before and afters of women’s breasts that had no visible scar, were really perky and all had beautiful nipples. But when I had it done, the surgery made my nipples inverted, which came as a shock, and you can definitely see where the scar is. 

After I got home from the surgery, I felt euphoric. I have photos on my phone of when I went to my friend’s house to try on some of her clothes and they fit me for the first time. There was no moment where it felt strange. It’s almost less about what it allowed me to do in terms of sport and clothing – although clothing is a big thing because it’s given me a lot of confidence being able to dress in a way that I feel expresses myself.

But the major thing is just in every single moment; in how I walk and how I hold my body, I’m comfortable. I’m not readjusting. I’m not self-conscious. Before the breast reduction, I felt so disconnected from [my body] and so ashamed of it. To be fair, I have friends with similar breasts sizes to mine and they’re completely fine with it. It hasn’t affected them like it did for me.

But being able to choose to have this surgery has made my body mine again, and I feel so much more connected to it. Prior to the reduction, I would’ve had different opinions on plastic surgery. But now, after the confidence and quality of life it’s given me, I’m pro every type of surgery ever. If it can make you feel more in tune with your body and yourself, it’s worth it. 

Ally, 23, she/her

I had my breast reduction surgery in 2021, and I went from being a 34F to a 12D (or 14C). I experienced a lot of back and neck problems prior to the reduction, and I’d always felt the need to hunch over and hide my boobs because I felt uncomfortable and insecure. I never liked when men stared at my chest, so I would instinctively cover them up. 

I wanted to wear tighter-fitting clothes that flattered my curves more, but the only clothes that I could wear that wouldn’t attract the male gaze were frumpy and unflattering. Before having the reduction, my breasts were really heavy and disproportionate. When you imagine the beauty standard of what perfect, symmetrical, perky boobs are – I never felt like they lived up to that.

One was much larger than the other, although I didn’t really notice until my surgeon actually pointed out how many cup sizes bigger [it was], and I thought, ‘Wow, I’ve been living with that’. I chose to have the reduction when I did because it was my last chance to do it on my parents’ private health cover [laughs].

While I still paid a lot out of pocket, it essentially meant that I was able to go through a private surgeon and have it done at a private hospital, rather than having a long wait through the public system. Although my overall experience was positive, and I felt comfortable and safe throughout, it was also quite a vulnerable experience.

It’s a part of your body that feels very intimate, and it’s a surgery that involves an exposed part of your body – rather than an internal surgery that no one’s going to see. Once you have the surgery, you immediately see the change. 

Not many people had seen my boobs, not even some of my closest friends, because it’s something that I’ve always felt insecure about, so it definitely felt strange to then be on a surgery table and have them stared out by a room full of strangers. 

Post-surgery, I remember feeling panicked and quite emotional as a result of the change in my body, and I had doubts. I remember briefly thinking, ‘What have I done? Should I have done this? Should I have spent all this money on this procedure?’.

Now, a year later, I look at myself and feel like I have a different body. Even if it’s just in my head, I feel more comfortable and confident, and I’m sure my posture has improved as well because I can stand up straight without worrying about my boobs being the main attraction. 

Obviously, your body changes as you age, particularly around your 20s, so maybe I’ve come into it a bit more as I’ve gotten older, but the reduction has made a big difference in my ability to reclaim and feel comfortable in my body. 

For more on feminism and breast reductions, head here.