A teenager who is trying to save money for a much-needed breast reduction has revealed her chronic health problems.
Melbourne teenager Elizabeth Forbes has been waiting for a breast reduction for the past three years.
The 17-year-old told Daily Mail Australia that her breasts have grown around seven cup sizes since starting high school and are currently a 14HH.
She said her breasts have caused her chronic health problems, including neck, shoulder and back pain, ongoing skin problems and shoulder indentations.
“There are certainly a lot of health problems associated with it, such as back, neck and shoulder pain,” Elizabeth said.
“I also have skin problems because of the weight of my breasts on my skin. In the summer, when it’s hot, I also constantly get heat rashes.”
The 11th grader said playing sports and exercising was also out of the question because of her breast size.
“For me, running is not an option. I can’t run. I haven’t been able to play sports for a long time. I swim and walk, and that’s it,” she said.
Melbourne teenager Elizabeth Forbes (right) told Daily Mail Australia her breasts have grown around seven cup sizes since starting high school and are currently a size 14HH.
The teenager said she and her mother Sarah spoke to their GP about the possibility of having a breast reduction.
She explained that her GP had been “very supportive” despite the fact that doctors normally “turn away” minors and advise them to wait until they are 18 or even 25, in case of a second puberty.
“My mother and I have talked about this for a long time because it’s always been an issue for me,” Elizabeth said.
‘I’ve been told to wait until 18, but preferably 25 is when they want you to wait because then there is no chance of additional growth or a second puberty.
“But, like me, my mother decided that I was causing too much trouble and we were ready to go.”
Her mother described her daughter’s breasts as “debilitating” and “unsuitable for their size”, a view that was supported by Elizabeth’s surgeon.
“It’s hard to watch her struggle with things that other teenagers might find easier,” Forbes told Daily Mail Australia.
‘She has also received unwanted attention since she was too young and I can’t protect her from that.
‘It’s something he’s had to live with.
“Surgery isn’t going to change the world, but I think it will make a huge difference to the way she experiences and relates to her everyday life.”
Along with a growing list of health issues, Elizabeth said her breasts have severely affected her self-esteem and her ability to find clothes that fit her.
“As a teenager, I could never wear the same things as my peers,” she said.
‘I have to wear plus sizes because of my breasts and the plus size clothing industry is terrible, they don’t make clothes for teenagers.
‘Often when I buy clothes in my size, I realize they’re not something I want to wear.
“And the same thing happens in the summer, forget about looking for swimsuits. All the clothes they sell in my size make me look older.”
The surgeon told Elizabeth that waiting three years or more to have the surgery through the public hospital system would be “detrimental” to her health.
Elizabeth explained that her breast reduction is necessary for health reasons and is only covered by Medicare through the public health system.
However, he added that there was a minimum waiting time of three years for the surgery.
‘My surgeon said that waiting those three years could cause lifelong problems to my body, especially my shoulders, and waiting that long really shouldn’t be an option.
“It shouldn’t be that difficult to do when it’s a medical condition. It’s not just about plastic surgery or cosmetic surgery, it’s about my health.”
Elizabeth has started a GoFundMe to try to raise funds so that the surgery can be performed sooner through private treatment.
“I have finally decided to start the process to get a reduction and it is not cheap,” he wrote.
‘My breast is considered a medical problem, however, the reduction surgery is performed by private insurance.
‘I by no means expect to reach my financial goal, but anything helps.’
As of this writing, the GoFundMe has received 15 donations totaling $280 and has a goal of raising $24,000, which is slightly less than the total cost of the procedure.
Elizabeth added that the process of trying to get a breast reduction has shown her that the procedure is almost inaccessible to minors who need it for medical reasons.
Elizabeth said she is excited to have the surgery and be able to exercise freely and go shopping with friends.
She added that the process has shown how inaccessible the procedure is for those seeking breast reduction for medical reasons, especially in the case of minors.
“I’m very open about this topic and I really try to advocate for it to be more accessible,” Elizabeth said.
‘I have been contacted by many other young people of my age who have been completely blinded by doctors and told that they are minors and that they have to wait. But in reality, waiting can do much more harm.
“I think it’s very important for me to make people aware that this is a problem, because it’s not talked about much.”
According to the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne website, breast reduction surgery can be “performed at any age.”
However, the hospital cautions that the procedure is “best performed when the breasts are fully developed.”
