A woman who was left with a cyst on her spine after her breasts grew by three cup sizes in just two years has spoken of her life-changing decision to get a breast reduction.
Renee Smith, 24, an events coordinator from Midland, Michigan, had been buying bras since “elementary school” and was already a triple D cup by the time she finished high school.
She was constantly suffering from horrific back pain and tried everything, from hiring a chiropractor to a PT, to lose weight so the breasts would shrink.
To her horror, despite losing eight inches off her waist, her chest continued to grow larger.
In autumn of 2021 the situation became so severe that Renee was forced to go to A&E due to the pain and also struggling to breathe from the pressure – which is when doctors discovered a cyst in her spine.
“I had an extensive list of health issues that my breasts caused me,” she told Jam Press.
“I was suffering from a lot of lower back pain, achey shoulders and neck, which progressed into sharp shooting pains, as well as divots in my shoulders from bra straps.
“My MRI showed a cyst on my lower spine pushing up against my nerves.
“I started talking about it with my personal trainer and my chiropractor and they both kind of came to the conclusion that maybe my back pain was coming from the weight of my breasts.
“Maybe even the fact that my breasts caused the ‘trauma’ to my lower back, which then created the cyst.
“I was so frustrated that I was putting in all of this work at the gym, seeing results. but my breasts were getting bigger!”
In March 2021, Renee decided to schedule a consultation for breast reduction surgery, with a referral from her doctor.
The high demand for her surgeon meant Renee would have to wait until December 2021 before she could finally have the surgery.
Now a D cup, she paid $1,000 USD (£810) for the operation, with the rest covered on insurance, and feels like a “new person”.
Renee said: “I had an instant feeling that I could breathe easier. I literally felt like a whole new person.
“For some women, working out and living a healthy lifestyle does decrease your breast size.
“For me, none of that mattered. I had grown three cup sizes within close to two years.”
During the procedure surgeons removed 660cc out of one Renee’s breast and 760cc out of the other.
She said: “Almost all of the tissue that was removed during my reduction was in fact, glandular.
“I had almost 3.5lbs removed of glandular tissue.”
Renee loves her new body and has invested in a new wardrobe to show off her confident self – donating and selling over 100 tops and dresses.
Prior to surgery she struggled to find clothes that would fit comfortably.
Her reduction also included a lift and Renee says her breasts now feel perkier than ever.
She said: “My breasts were taking over my whole upper body.
“All of the room in my tops were just filled with boobs.
“They are perkier than ever [now]! I feel like I finally have the body I deserve to have.”
Since surgery she has taken to TikTok to share her journey with others, going viral with her surgery announcement video racking up 10.4 Million views and her channel gaining 2.3 Million likes.
One user commented under her before and after: “That looks so much more comfortable!!!! Congratulations!!”
Another could not get over her transformation: “you looked beautiful both ways but now you are literally glowing and i can see your relief thru the screen, so happy for you pretty girl!”
A few were envious saying “This gonna be me.”
“I’m so proud of you this was so brave!! You look so much more comfortable and u look absolutely beautiful good for you.” said another.
Renee added: “I started to share more and more about my journey on TikTok.
“I knew I could reach a broader audience there. I just want to break down the stigma, stop the taboo subject, and be open about such a necessary and life-changing procedure for many women (and men, too!).
“I want people to know that they have someone who supports and loves them if they are interested in pursuing the surgery.”
In other news, Mum reveals how she got body back just 45 DAYS after giving birth using YouTube videos and pelvic training
