Comedian Tanya Hennessy explains why she had breast surgery

Comedian Tanya Hennessy has gone under the knife to fix an issue that has plagued her for years.

Comedian Tanya Hennessy has gone under the knife to fix an issue that has plagued her for more than 20 years.

The radio host and author underwent surgery before Christmas to reduce her breasts from an F-cup.

“They removed two-and-a-half kilos of tittage and now I am a C,” the 35-year-old told Confidential.

Comedian, radio host and author Tanya Hennessy in Sydney before surgery. Picture: Richard Dobson

“I have never liked them. Sometimes I would bandage or gaffer tape them. They have always been big, even when I was thinner and then when I gained weight, they got even bigger.”

Looking back, Hennessy remembers feeling uncomfortable with her breasts from around the age of 15.

Right up until surgery, she would wear multiple bras and baggy T-shirts to hide her chest.

“I wanted them to sit flat,” she explained. “Sometimes I would wear three or four bras just to push them down.”

Medically too, there was good reason to have surgery.

Hennessy, who was a contestant on I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! last year, has suffered from extreme migraines and even been hospitalised for them.

She’s also suffered from chronic neck pain.

Tanya Hennessey in hospital before breast reduction surgery.

“It is the best thing I ever did. I wish I had it done years and years ago. I was so scared to do it. Even now, they are a C and I could go an A,” she said.

“I don’t want to be an influencer for surgery. If you want to get it done, fine. But don’t feel like you have to. I’ve never been sexy big breasted kind of gal. I love those women, I just never identified that way. I always wanted to hide them.

“Maybe it is because I’ve always wanted people to hear what I have to say instead of looking at my body.”

Hennessy’s style of comedy has always been to share her personal stories. She was however reluctant with this very personal journey.

Tanya Hennessy at the ACRA Awards in 2018. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

In the end she felt it was important to stay true to her fans by sharing the experience.

“I kind of didn’t have an option not to tell people, but I haven’t done like a whole, ‘this is my recovery story’ because no one wants to follow me for that,” she said.

“They want me to tell a ‘lol’ (a joke). Now I get a lol and I’ll feel better about myself because I feel more comfortable. And I don’t have migraines or neck pain anymore.”

Hennessy’s new book — Help Self — is out now.