I hated my massive 36J boobs that dangled ‘down to my stomach' – but had to go abroad for risky op as no one would help
A MUM with massive boobs dangling "down to her stomach" was forced to travel over a thousand miles for a risky operation when no one would help.
Zara Armstrong, 39, flew to Lithuania and forked out £4,000 for breast reduction surgery - after years of mental and physical suffering.
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Despite regular appointments with her doctor for back aches, she claims she was refused an operation to reduce the size of her 36J cup breasts by the HSE, Ireland's national Health Service.
In an interview with The Sun, she spoke of her turmoil leading up to the "life-changing" surgery and why she wishes she could have had it sooner.
She said: "I was constantly hunched over because they were so heavy. My back was always sore, I was at the doctors all the time and had to take strong painkillers.
"I had to get massages done on my shoulders after for a bit because I was tense from being hunched over."
The psychological trauma, however, was sometimes worse than the physical pain, with many of her formative years spent trying to cover her assets.
She said: "I was so self-conscious all the time. Just really insecure. When I was younger, probably 13 or 14, I used to tape them down.
"I found women were worse than men. People would be talking to me but I knew they weren't really talking to me.
"On holiday, I would constantly be looked at with people commenting: 'Oh my God, your boobs are big'.
"I was put on anti-depressants over it because I was so self-conscious and anxious."
Finding clothes to fit her small frame and big bust also proved a logistical nightmare and she was often forced to buy tops that were 10 sizes too big.
I was left with saggy, bowling ball boobs after kids so got a 'Lithuania lift' for £6.2K - now I have my 24-year-old perky breasts back
Women seeking breast reduction surgery on the NHS might be covered if they can prove other options, such as wearing professionally fitted bras, have not worked.
They may also be considered for treatment if they can prove their breasts are causing undue mental or physical pain. But the criteria is dependent on where you live.
According to Dr. Mantas Kievisas, a plastic surgeon at Nordesthetics clinic where Zara was treated, patients often must prove "exceptional circumstances" to be treated by public healthcare providers.
"They must endure long waiting lists, and often face outright rejection, forcing them to turn to private care," he said.
I was sick of my 28Gs so went to the 'booby doc' for a reduction – I had to wear 'heavy duty' bras & was in so much pain
By Claudia Jackson
A WOMAN has opened up about her choice to get a reduction after struggling with her 28G breasts.
Siff Haider discussed her surgery on The Dream Bigger podcast, and admitted that people don't realise how hard it can be.
The entrepreneur and podcast host explained she wanted a breast reduction for years before she finally went through with it.
"It is very impractical to do regular things with boobs that size, quite frankly," she said.
Running and working out required "heavy duty" sports bras, and Siff experienced shoulder, back and neck pain, all because of her chest size.
"I was just always sore in my upper body and I was just kind of done with it," she said.
But with private surgery in the UK costing up to £10,000, many women have chosen to go abroad to undergo the life-altering operation.
For Zara, the thought of going under the knife abroad was "scary" because of being so far from home.
But the operation "couldn't have gone better" - going from a 36J cup to a more manageable 36D.
She is now encouraging women to take the leap if the NHS or HSE refuse them an operation.
She said: "It's life changing. I just feel like a completely different person.
"I've got a new lease of life and I'm so much happier and I just wish I had done it years ago and not been so afraid."
Two kilos removed from breasts
Since the operation, when two kilograms were removed from her breasts, Zara's confidence has sky-rocketed.
So much so, she even has plans to come off her antidepressants.
She said: "I'm not hunched over now. I can straighten my back and my shoulders.
"I'm so much more confident. I went away last September and I was able to put a bikini on and not be afraid or wear a little top and not be self-conscious.
"I could wear it and nobody even looked - it was great. I was no longer nervous about going out or anxious about being stared at."
Mater Hospital said: "The Mater Misericordiae University Hospital's priority is to be at the frontier of compassion, concern and clinical care for all our patients and their families.
"The Mater Hospital cannot comment on individual patient cases for confidentiality reasons.
"Maintaining a patient's confidentiality is not only an ethical requirement of the hospital, it is also a legal requirement as defined in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) along with the Data Protection Acts 1988-2018.
"When a patient or family makes personal information public, this does not relieve the Mater Hospital of its duty to uphold patient confidentiality at all times.
"If any patient has any concerns about the treatment they received at the Mater Hospital, we encourage them to get in contact either by phone, email or letter.
"We are committed to listening and learning from our valued patients' experiences to constantly improve the services we provide."
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