Raven-Symoné shares the difficult story behind her 15-year-old breast reduction surgery

Raven-Symoné recently shared her personal journey with breast reduction surgery, which she underwent as a teenager, reflecting on its impact and the pressures of growing up in the entertainment industry.

On a recent episode of her podcast Tea Time with Raven & Miranda, co-hosted with her wife Miranda Pearman-Maday, the 38-year-old Disney star opened up about her experiences in the spotlight and the immense pressure to meet beauty standards. Symoné revealed that at just 15 years old, she had her first of two breast reduction surgeries, a choice heavily influenced by the adults in her life.

“I went from a triple D all the way down to a B. Someone said I needed to do it in order to get a show,” she shared, noting that her father had strongly encouraged her to undergo the procedure.

Alongside the breast reduction, Symoné also opted for liposuction to address body image criticism. “I was like, ‘Yeah, if I get lipo, will people stop calling me fat?’ And so, I got a twofer,” she explained.

The Cosby Show alum admitted that undergoing the surgeries as a minor came with its challenges, including significant complications. She experienced a seizure after waking up from anesthesia and continues to cope with the physical aftermath, including scars and lingering scar tissue. “I have scars. I still have scar tissue to this day,” she said.

Symoné added that even after her surgeries, she faced persistent scrutiny. “I gained weight after and had to, like, go back for a quick little, like, [get] a little bit more out ‘cause [my breasts] were still too big for others’ feelings,” she recalled.

Looking back, Symoné reflected on how much attitudes toward body image have shifted over time, noting the positive strides made by the body positivity movement. “There’s this beautiful embracing of the body now that I didn’t get as a young girl,” she said.

This candid revelation highlights the unique challenges of growing up as a young star under intense public scrutiny. Symoné has previously spoken about the pressures she faced while performing as part of the Cheetah Girls.

In a 2017 People interview, she recalled being told that she was “too big to be doing an hour and a half concert” while touring with the group. “I was like, ‘I still did it! I was on tour forever because it’s not about your size, it’s about what you have to say, if you can sing or dance, and performing,’” she said.

She also addressed discussions about her body image during her time on That’s So Raven. In a 2024 appearance on The Bright Side Podcast, Symoné confirmed there had been conversations about digitally altering her appearance on the show.

“There’s this really interesting thing you can do with film, when you’re in television, and you can stretch the film. So if you’re wide and you stretch it long ways, you look skinnier. And, there were talks about that,” she explained.

Symoné’s story offers insight into the pressures young performers face and the long-lasting effects of those expectations in the entertainment industry. Her openness underscores the ongoing challenges of body image and self-perception, particularly under societal scrutiny.

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