Woman Goes Viral on TikTok for Sharing ‘Life-Saving’ Breast Reduction Story. See Before-and-After Photos (Exclusive)

In May, Amy popped up in the feeds of over 25 million TikTok users with a video that documented the dramatic results of her breast reduction. The attention it got surprised her.

It was “completely out of this world,” Amy, 24, tells PEOPLE exclusively over Zoom.

Amy, a psychology student and health administration worker who lives in Brisbane, Australia, tells PEOPLE that a breast reduction was on her mind for “most” of her life. She explains that her chest started developing when she was around 14 years old and grew rapidly from then on.

Everything about the size of her breasts weighed her down emotionally and physically for about a decade.

Not only was she struggling with chronic back pain, but job interviews and outings with friends turned into moments “shrouded in being insecure about how large my chest was,” she says.

“As much as I would wear minimizer or sports bras to try and squash [my breasts] down, there was no hiding them. I felt like they were all that people would see when they would look at me. It was something that held me back.”‘

Additionally, undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) “exacerbated everything,” and it got to a point where she needed her partner’s help to get dressed and shower.

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Her physical and mental health worsened in 2020, when Amy’s struggles with anorexia and habits of binge eating and purging resulted in feelings of body dysmorphia. “It became very difficult to be able to look past my breasts,” she explains, adding that her 4′7″ frame amplified how she felt about her appearance.

So, it was around age 18 when Amy finally took steps towards getting a breast reduction. She weighed her options of seeing private doctors (which would cost her up to $20,000 in Australian dollars) or to get the surgery done for free through Australia’s public health care system (according to the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care’s website, breast reductions can be covered by Medicare if it is performed for medical reasons).

Going through government insurance was eventually what Amy worked toward, but her referral was rejected four times. “I just kept sending it in because my condition was deteriorating.”

Eventually she qualified, but still had to wait a year to consult with a surgeon, and after another two-week postponement from her original surgery date, Amy was finally set to go with her “life-saving” operation on April 7, 2025 — and with no upfront costs (she says “everything,” from her visit and her hospital stay to the use of the anesthetist and the surgery itself, were financially covered).  

For her surgery, it was planned to take her from an H cup to a D cup and do a nipple lift to reshape her breasts. She would also have about 3 lbs. of tissue removed.

“I felt this real sense of just peace. Pain finally coming to an end,” Amy recalls of how she was feeling before going under the knife. Though nothing prepared her for complications with the clotting medication she had to take after the operation.

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“I was constantly vomiting, so they started giving [the medicine] to me intravenously. It’s not fun right after you’ve had surgery on your chest. The first few days [after surgery] were definitely quite painful, and the sensation felt very tight and compressed.”

When she got over the hump, Amy describes her recovery as “far better than I expected.” She went on bed rest, accomplished daily tasks with help and began walking up and down her driveway by day four.

Amy is now around 10 weeks post-op and is feeling like she has a “new lease on life.” Not only have the physical symptoms subsided, but she’s enjoying the simple pleasures of having a smaller chest now.

“I went bra shopping for the first time [post-surgery] and it was crazy because I got a bra for $5 when previously every single bra that I had bought was at least a $100,” she says. Shopping for clothes has become a more enjoyable experience, too. “I am so excited by fashion and clothing now. The biggest thing is, I look in the mirror and I feel like a human being again.” Earlier this month, she had also posted a TikTok video of her trying on her “dream dress” with her new chest.

In sharing her story, Amy hopes to create an uplifting community for women with similar journeys while also working toward growing her social media platform, something that she had felt “self-doubt” about prior to her surgery.

At the same time, she’s also had to learn how to handle unfriendly — and sometimes crude — commentary. Although “that just doesn’t faze me,” she says. “Because my life is so much more full and exciting. My happiness isn’t based on the fact that I used to have really big boobs.”

For now, she’s set on enjoying her new life, which by the way, doesn’t include anymore cosmetic enhancements, “unless there’s something else medical that comes up. There’s real beauty in just being who you are.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, The Alliance for Eating Disorders provides a fully-staffed helpline at 1-866-662-1235, as well as free, therapist-led support groups.