Celebrities are expected to look flawless from head to toe, so it no longer comes as a surprise to hear about the cosmetic procedures they undergo on their face and body.
When it comes to boob jobs, the usual assumption is that it refers to augmenting the chest. However, there has been a rising case of female personalities doing the opposite, for various medical reasons.
Breast reduction, medically known as reduction mammaplasty, is a plastic surgery technique that involves removing fat, breast tissue, and skin from the breasts.
Meanwhile, breast explant is the surgical procedure that removes silicone or saline implants.
PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) explores the experiences of nine celebrities who have undergone one of these procedures and have found it to be personally rewarding.
BREAST REDUCTION
SHARON CUNETA
During the virtual media conference of the film Revirginized on August 4, 2021, lead actress Sharon Cuneta got candid about altering a body part of hers.
"Nagpunta ako ng Amerika, 'di ba? Tumaba ako pero konti lang, may lumiit sa akin. I had my chest reduced," she revealed. "I didn’t have implants. It was all natural, but it’s all skin and fats and so I had it reduced."
The 57-year-old star also shared that a breast lift procedure was done to complement the reduction process.
Read: Sharon Cuneta umaming nagpabawas ng boobs sa Amerika
ERIKA POTURNAK
Ina Raymundo's firstborn, Erika Poturnak, got the support of netizens when she announced a life-changing decision in July 2022.
The social media star revealed on TikTok that she had chosen to go under the knife to have her breasts reduced. "Happiest day of my life," Erika wrote in the caption of her TikTok video.
Read: Erika Poturnak undergoes breast reduction surgery: "Best decision of my life"
ANGELINE QUINTO
In August 2020, singer-actress Angeline Quinto came clean to PEP.ph about going through various cosmetic operations, including breast reduction.
Angeline explained, "Medyo nahihirapan na din po ako pag ASAP. Siyempre, every Sunday po kaming nasa ASAP. Dumadating po kami sa point na sobrang fit na yung gown sa katawan ko, pero pagdating dito [sa dibdib], mahirap."
Her breast size was reduced from a 36-inch Cup D to a 36-inch Cup B.
Read: Angeline Quinto retokada beauty without apologies: "Proud retokada here"
CLAUDINE BARRETTO
Even before welcoming Santino, her son with then-husband Raymart Santiago, in 2007, Claudine Barretto already felt antsy about getting her body back in shape as quickly as possible.
This is why two months after giving birth, she was already set to undergo liposuction and a breast reduction procedure with Dra. Vicki Belo.
Dra. Belo explained, "Kasi nga, hindi siya kumportable kasi medyo malaki and she has scoliosis. Yung likod niya sumasakit."
Claudine expounded, "Yung bust ko kasi ngayon masyadong malaki, 'tapos yung likod ko sobrang liit kaya ang laki ng taba sa gilid. Tapos nahihirapan na ako sa laki niya."
Read: Claudine Barretto admits hubby Raymart initially nixed breast reduction
BREAST EXPLANT
ELLEN ADARNA
In the breast implant removal category, celebrities have shared their reasons behind the decision to get their breasts back to their original form.
For her part, Ellen Adarna frankly wrote in May 2022, "I had my implants removed...
"Goodbye breast implant illness i can now breathe properly—goodbye chronic back pain, fatigue and [brain] fog. It was fun while it lasted.... The End."
Read: Ellen Adarna had her breast implants removed; shares Derek Ramsay's reaction
AJ RAVAL
VIVA actress AJ Raval became the talk of the town on March 30, 2023, when she uploaded a photo of herself holding up a pair of silicone implants.
Looking back, the 22-year-old actress admitted, "Hindi po ako nag-iisip that time. Na-excite po ako masyado."
On eventually deciding to have her implants removed, she explained, "Before kasi, hindi naman ako nako-conscious sa boobs ko. Pero ever since na ipinalagay po, dun po ako nag-start na ma-conscious."
Read: AJ Raval denies blind item about actress who experienced ruptured breast implant during taping
RICA PERALEJO
Rica Peralejo opened up about her realizations regarding breast implants, which she had when she was just 18.
"When I look back, I'm so regretful about it because I opened up myself to what was an otherwise not present danger to my body," she said in a vlog.
But the former actress was quick to clarify, "I am not judging those who have implants, but I did not study this when I had it before, na may implications talaga siya sa iyo. My breastfeeding had issues, and I don't know, I will never know if taking out implants has an effect on that."
Read: Rica Peralejo reveals why she had her breast implants removed; regrets stint as a sexy star
MICHELLE MADRIGAL
In a 2019 YouTube vlog, Michelle Madrigal discussed her decision to get a breast explant surgery.
"At that time, I just did it for vanity and I really thought it could fix my insecurities back then," she recalled of her decision to get breast implants in the past.
A year after the breast explant surgery, Michelle celebrated her big decision by posting a commemorative post with the caption: "I have never felt so empowered and confident even with my smaller breasts.
"Clothes fit me better and I am able to move freely. My body feels healthier since my implant removal."
Read: Michelle Madrigal has her breast implants removed: "They no longer serve me."
PHOEMELA BARANDA
TV host and model Phoemela Baranda talked to PEP.ph about how she got her breasts done in the past, which she eventually reversed.
"Actually, the first one kasi is mga five, six years ago… It’s just that medyo mataba pa yata ako noon. I had it, a smaller cc [volume] lang, no other reason, gusto ko lang ng smaller cc," she shared.
She kept repeating that the decision to go through all her body enhancements were up to her, and was never up to the doctors inivolved.
Confirming the explant rumors in 2010, she said, "Oo, kasi para pumayat ako ulit… iyon lang, pero it’s all my decision."
From 34-inch Cup C bustline, Phoemela's breasts are now measured at 34-inch Cup B.
READ MORE:
- Andrea Torres says she never thought of having breast reduction surgery
- Has Pia Wurtzbach considered undergoing breast reduction?
- Will Aiko Melendez undergo breast reduction?
*This story originally appeared on Pep.ph.
Minor edits have been made by Cosmo.ph editors.
