My breasts grew so big in a year I need a 10-hour, 22-pound reduction — it's due to a super rare condition
A 22-year-old Brazilian woman has a new lease on life after surgeons removed 22 pounds of excess tissue from her breasts in a grueling 10-hour operation.
Thaynara Marcondes' chest had ballooned to an extreme size in just a few months, triggered by a rare and debilitating condition recorded in only a handful of cases worldwide.
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4 Thaynara Marcondes underwent breast reduction surgery last October.
Instagram / @thay_marcondes01
Marcondes, a teaching student, documented her journey on social media. She'd always worn medium-sized shirts — until her breasts started growing at an astonishing rate of 750 grams (1.65 pounds) per month.
She quickly outgrew her wardrobe and eventually had to turn to custom-made clothes when even plus-size options couldn't fit her chest.
'I couldn't even wear a bra anymore,' Marcondes told local outlet G1. 'One day, I tried on eight shirts and none of them fit. I ended up freaking out.'
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Her aunt was the first to raise concern, but Marcondes brushed it off — until strangers began to take notice.
'I started going out on the street and people were staring and pointing,' she told CNN Brazil. 'Once I went to the supermarket and people even started to think I was stealing products and hiding them in my breasts. Then I got worried.'
The growth soon took a toll on nearly every part of her life. In social media posts, Marcondes said her oversized chest made everyday tasks nearly impossible and left her with intense back, neck and shoulder pain.
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4 Gigantomastia can lead to chronic pain and posture issues.
Instagram / @thay_marcondes01
'It really bothers me. It's hard to cut my toenails, put on my sneakers,' she said in a social media post. 'I can't run, and I stopped going to the gym because of my back.'
At times, the pain was so severe she needed a wheelchair to get around.
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Doctors initially feared cancer, but Marcondes was ultimately diagnosed with gigantomastia, a rare condition where the breasts grow excessively and uncontrollably, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Only about 300 cases have been documented around the globe.
The condition can strike randomly, but may also be linked to puberty, pregnancy, medications, obesity, autoimmune disorders and even hormonal imbalances.
4 Finding well-fitting and comfortable clothing was challenging for the young woman.
Instagram / @thay_marcondes01
While some cases progress slowly over years, others — like Marcondes' — can escalate in a matter of weeks, with some women jumping several cup sizes in just a few days, Healthline reported.
Along with pain and poor posture, symptoms may include numbness in the nipples, infections or lesions under the breasts, and psychological struggles like anxiety, depression and body image issues.
In some cases, medication can slow the growth, but many patients require surgery. In severe or recurring cases, doctors may recommend a full mastectomy.
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At their biggest, Marcondes' breasts weighed about 26 pounds. Though there's no direct conversion between breast weight and bra size — the weight can be carried differently from person to person, and breast shape varies — one Virginia plastic surgeon estimates the following:
C cup: 1.1 pounds each
D cup: 1.7 pounds each
DD-E cup: 2.2 pounds each
DDD-F cup: 2.6 pounds each
4 Marcondes crowdfunded to afford her breast reduction surgery.
Instagram / @thay_marcondes01
Marcondes underwent breast reduction surgery on October 25, 2024, and was discharged the next day.
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She raised $7,200 in donations to afford the procedure — and says it was worth every penny.
'I look in the mirror all the time and think, 'Wow, I look so beautiful!'' she told CNN Brazil. 'Sometimes I even cry looking at myself because I still can't believe I did it.'
But the operation came with sacrifices: Marcondes lost all sensation in her nipples and will be unable to breastfeed.
While Marcondes says she finally feels free, doctors have warned her that the tissue could grow back in the future. She will continue to be monitored moving forward.
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