A woman has shared her struggles with enduring years of discomfort due to her breast size and her urgent desire for reduction surgery.
The woman from the UK expressed that her large breasts are significantly impacting her life, prompting her to seek a solution.
Melissa Ashcroft, 30, recounted the persistent issues she’s faced over the years and described the painful symptoms she endures.
During an appearance on the UK breakfast show This Morning, Ashcroft mentioned she realized she was ‘developing differently’ from her peers around the age of 14, despite having been relatively ‘flat chested’ during her early teens.
After discussing the matter with her mother, she was assured that this was normal, as her mother also had a large bust.
Ashcroft highlighted that the physical discomfort became severe around the age of 19 or 20.
She recounted, “That is just when it was getting ridiculous, the pains I was getting in my shoulders, I was getting cuts on my bra straps, I thought this can’t continue, this can’t go on.
“I’ve got a slipped disk because of it.”
Discussing her pursuit of breast reduction surgery through the National Health Service (NHS), Ashcroft shared with the hosts that medical professionals have informed her she must lower her Body Mass Index (BMI) before qualifying for the procedure.
She explained: “My BMI has got to be 27, I have got to maintain it for a year… I think my current BMI is 35 point something.”
She further explained that doctors require her to achieve a lower and safer BMI due to potential risks, such as blood clots and other complications.
When asked about considering weight loss injections to reduce her BMI, Ashcroft expressed concerns over potential side effects like thyroid cancer, especially given her underactive thyroid and a family history of tumors.
Due to the challenges she has faced in securing breast reduction surgery, Ashcroft considered going private and raising the funds herself.
She attempted to start a GoFundMe page to collect the necessary funds, but it was unexpectedly shut down after a few days, and she remains unsure why.
To pursue a private surgery, she estimates she would need around £13,000 ($17,309), having initially believed £10,000 ($13,314) would suffice.
At present, she is focusing on reducing her BMI through swimming while juggling her family responsibilities.