A woman who developed a cyst on her spine after her breasts grew to a size H cup has opened up about her life-changing decision to get a breast reduction.
Renee Smith, 24, an events coordinator from Midland, Michigan, had to start buying bras in elementary school and was already a DDD cup by the time she finished high school. Her breasts continued to grow, and she went up three cup sizes in roughly two years.
‘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, achy shoulders, and neck, which progressed into sharp shooting pains, as well as divots in my shoulders from bra straps.’
Renee Smith, 24, from Midland, Michigan, underwent a breast reduction last year. She went from an H cup to a D cup
Renee (pictured five months before the surgery) had constant pain in her lower back, shoulders, and neck due to her heavy breasts
The event coordinator showed off her transformation on TikTok, where she share before and after videos of her chest
Renee hired a chiropractor and physical trainer to help with her back pain, and she even tried losing weight in an attempt to shrink her breasts. To her horror, her chest continued to grow larger, despite her losing eight inches off her waist.
‘I was so frustrated that I was putting in all of this work at the gym, seeing results, but my breasts were getting bigger,’ she said.
In the fall of 2021, Renee was admitted to the emergency room because the pressure on her back was making it difficult for her to breathe. An MRI showed that she had a cyst on her lower spine that was pushing against her nerves.
‘I started talking about it with my personal trainer and my chiropractor, and they both kinds of came to the conclusion that maybe my back pain was coming from the weight of my breasts,’ she explained.
Renee (pictured in January 2015) had to start buying bras in elementary school
They suggested that the cyst may have formed due to the ‘trauma’ her breasts caused to her lower back.
With a referral from her doctor, she scheduled a breast reduction consultation with a plastic surgeon in March 2021, but due to high demand, she had to wait until December of that year before she had the surgery.
Renee paid $1,000 out of pocket for the procedure. The rest was covered by her health insurance. During the operation, surgeons removed 660 ccs (cubic centimeters) from one breast and 760 ccs from the other.
‘Almost all of the tissue that was removed during my reduction was in fact, glandular,’ she said. ‘I had almost 3.5 pounds removed of glandular tissue.’
Renee, who went from an H cup to a D cup, said she instantly felt like she ‘could breathe easier after the surgery.’
‘I literally felt like a whole new person,’ she explained. ‘For some women, working out and living a healthy lifestyle does decrease your breast size. For me, none of that mattered.’
Renee’s surgery also included a breast lift, and she is thrilled with the results.
‘My breasts were taking over my whole upper body. All of the room in my tops were just filled with boobs,’ she recalled. ‘[Now] they are perkier than ever. I feel like I finally have the body I deserve to have.’
She used to have trouble finding clothes that fit her large chest, but after her surgery, she invested in a whole new wardrobe. She donated and sold more than 100 of her old tops and dresses that no longer fit.
Renee (pictured after her breast reduction) said she instantly felt like she ‘could breathe easier after the surgery’
Renee marked where her breasts were in an old T-shirt before her surgery (left), and then showed how much they were lifted after (right)
Renee, who is known as @reneensmith on TikTok, has been candid about her journey on the platform and has shared a number of before and after videos that have earned thousands of views.
‘That looks so much more comfortable!!!! Congratulations!!’ one viewer commented, while another added: ‘You looked beautiful both ways but now you are literally glowing.’
Renee said she started to share more and more about her journey on TikTok because she knew she ‘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,’ she said.
‘I want people to know that they have someone who supports and loves them if they are interested in pursuing the surgery.’
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Breast reduction surgery is a type of plastic surgery that aims to reduce the size and volume of breasts. It is typically performed to alleviate physical discomfort or emotional distress caused by overly large breasts.
The procedure involves removing excess breast tissue, skin, and fat to achieve a more proportionate and balanced breast size. Recovery time varies, but patients are typically advised to avoid heavy lifting and strenuous physical activity for several weeks after surgery.
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