DOUBLE TROUBLE
I had a boob reduction from a 30KK to a D – then they grew back bigger than ever 8 years later
Plus, how to get breast reduction surgery on the NHS
A YOGA instructor underwent a second breast reduction surgery after her boobs started to grow back - and is now "terrified" they might balloon again.
Echo Elliott said her knockers were "bigger than ever" eight years on from her first op.
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Struggling with headaches and joint pain, the 28-year-old, from Birmingham, was left with no choice but to pay for a second surgery.
"It was the best decision of my life," she said in a video on Instagram, reflecting on the op.
"I think everyone can see I look lighter and happier.
"But I'm terrified they might grow back again."
Read more on boob jobs
Although regrowth after surgery is rare, it's not unheard of.
One US study found that one in five patients experienced some degree of breast regrowth, but the size increase was quite small.
Echo first resorted to surgery at the age of 21 to swap an extremely heavy 30KK bust for a D cup.
But her boobs started to grow back within just a few years, and by the time of her second op, they were "bigger than ever".
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A breast reduction involves removing a section from the underside of the breast. The nipple is also moved to a higher position.
Surgery can be offered on the NHS if someone is feeling very distressed about the size of their breasts or they're causing problems like back ache.
I got a boob reduction but didn’t want to forget my old breasts so got a fab mould of them made - meet my disco t****
Before going under the knife, Echo said she suffered from severe back and shoulder pain and was also self-conscious.
"It was like a constantly dragging sensation between my shoulder blades," she told the .
"It felt like my head was being pulled down.
"I didn't like leaving the house and didn't want to draw attention to myself. People just saw my boobs first."
The young woman found it hard to find bras and clothes that fit her large bust and small frame, so would often resort to baggy fitting jumpers.
Echo's first "life-changing" reduction was done by a private doctor in the UK after her NHS appointment was cancelled.
Four years ago, in 2020, she noticed her breasts were growing again, and the headaches and joint pain returned.
People just saw my boobs first
Echo Elliott
Echo said her large breasts were once again "affecting every part of my life, including my job", adding: "Everything just felt very, very heavy and uncomfortable."
She eventually decided to travel to Lithuania for her second breast reduction surgery after a student recommended a surgeon out there.
Although she didn't reveal how much she paid, she did suggest it was significantly less than what she would have forked out in the UK - where the op usually costs upwards of £6,500.
Echo said she would consider surgery again if they became "too big".
"But I'm also hoping, as I get older, I can make friends with my breasts a bit more," she added.
According to the Centre for Surgery, there are several reasons why some people see their boobs reemerge after having surgery to make them smaller, including hormonal changes, weight gain, and pregnancy.
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Former Atomic Kitten singer Kerry Katona has previously admitted that her breasts "keep growing back" after reduction ops.
Responding to a comment on Instagram about her breasts looking bigger, the TV personality admitted having gone under the knife twice - but keeps finding that her cup size just creeps back up every time.
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Who can claim on the NHS?
You might be considered for breast reduction on the NHS if you have problems caused by having very large breasts, such as:
- Back ache
- Shoulder or
- Skin irritation
- Rashes and skin infections under the breasts
- Grooves on the shoulders from bra straps
- Psychological distress, such as low self-esteem or
- An inability to exercise or take part in sports
If you're thinking about breast reduction to change your appearance, rather than for health reasons, you'll need to pay for it privately.
Even if you are eligible for a breast reduction, whether you can actually get one will depend on where you live.
The availability of breast reduction surgery on the NHS varies.
Some integrated care boards do not fund breast reduction surgery at all, and others fund it selectively if you fulfil certain criteria.
See a GP if you think you might be eligible for breast reduction surgery on the NHS.
They can check whether you meet the criteria of your local ICB and, if you do, they can refer you to a breast or plastic surgeon for an assessment.
Source: NHS
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