Woman’s E cup breasts ‘grew back’ after reduction surgery

A woman who had surgery to reduce her painful E cup breasts was horrified when her bust started to change three months later.

A woman who spent $13,000 to reduce her E cup breasts has been left devastated after they grew back six months later

Bethanie Lyon, from Los Angeles, California, had surgery in July 2019 after years of struggling with back pain, people staring at her chest and clothes not fitting properly.

The 24-year-old performer was delighted with her new C cup breasts – but within three months her bust began to grow again, a rare occurrence among patients who have the surgery.

Just nine months after the op, Bethanie was back to almost the same size she was before, leaving her heartbroken.

“It was as frustrating as it was heartbreaking honestly – I was so happy after surgery with how they looked,” Bethanie said.

“After having gone through so much pain, feeling like it was all for nothing was really difficult to come to terms with.”

Bethanie Lyon spent $13,000 having her size E breasts reduced to a C cup in 2019. Picture: Jam Press

In her early teens, Bethanie’s chest grew quickly and by 14 it was clear she was going to have large breasts.

“I was always a little embarrassed of their size,” she said.

“People commented constantly and it felt like that was all people saw about me and all anyone associated me with was having a big chest.”

As a performer, her US size DDD (AU size E) breasts also had an impact on her work.

“They were just always so heavy and in the way, and I honestly felt like I looked stupid with them when I danced,” she explained.

“I also couldn’t wear lots of clothes that I wanted to because they wouldn’t fit my chest … so I felt like I was missing out.”

After the surgery she was ‘delighted’ but three months later her breasts started to change. Picture: Jam Press

By her early 20s, Bethanie had decided to get a reduction to help her career and improve her confidence.

With the help of her parents, she paid $13,000 for the surgery at Cool Springs Plastic Surgery, which took place on July 12, 2019.

“I was so nervous because I had never had surgery or been under anaesthesia before, but I was equally as excited,” she said.

“The doctors were so wonderful and I love them all.

“They made me feel very safe and taken care of, so that helped a lot with nerves.”

After the procedure, she was very pleased with her new 34C sized breasts but faced a long recovery.

“Most people don’t seem to have as bad of an experience as I did after surgery,” Bethanie said. “My surgeon told me I must be much more physically sensitive than most people.

“They had to give me extra medication just to be able to walk, sit down and stand up.”

After several weeks of terrible pain, which Bethanie said at times felt like “my skin was ripping apart”, she was finally able to move around as she normally would.

Eventually, Bethanie was back to working in productions again and it was on set of a theatre production when she realised the reduction may not be permanent.

“Three months after my surgery, the seams of my dress busted open when we tried to zip it right where my chest was.

“For a couple weeks before that, I could feel it getting tighter in the chest but not in my stomach, so I just ignored it.

“As months went by, they just got bigger and bigger until, after roughly nine months, they were pretty much back to the size they were before.”

Within 9 months they were back to their original size. Picture: Jam Press

Plastic surgery websites warn breasts can “grow back” after surgery, though it is rare.

Bethanie said she was told all of the risks of having the surgery – including that they could grow back – but was reassured that it was unlikely.

“I was aware it was possible, but I never thought it would actually happen,” she explained.

“Your body is going to do what it wants to do and sometimes you just can’t help it.”

The dancer – who has an underactive thyroid – added she takes medication that “really messes with my hormones”.

“It’s very possible that they grew back because of my thyroid,” she said.

Now, two years on from her surgery, Bethanie says it has changed how she feels about having a large chest.

“I’m not as embarrassed of them anymore as I was when I was a teenager because I’ve learned to accept my body the way it wants to exist.

“They do still inhibit me from wearing certain clothes and they do hurt my back again, but not nearly as badly though now that I don’t wear bras.”

It is possible for breasts to grow back after a reduction but it is rare. Picture: Jam Press

However, it did cause her to reconsider how much dancing she was doing.

“I decided to focus on singing now more than dancing because they grew back and, honestly, that may be the one good thing that has come from this process.

“I am still a dancer and most likely will continue to work as a dancer, but I’m now so thankful that I’m just as much of a singer too.”

Even after her experience, she is considering having the operation again at some point in the future.

“From what I was told, I would have to wait a long time before I could get another one.

“I honestly don’t know if I could go through it all again though. If I decide to have kids in the future, I definitely think I would get another one when I’m done having kids.”