Has Simona Halep had Cosmetic Surgery?

With the big TV screens popped up all around the UK's major cities showcasing the nail biting action, it's hard not to be drawn in by the excitement of the Wimbledon finals. Even if tennis isn't your usual go-to for TV action on a weekend, there is definitely two things we should be celebrating:

Firstly, Wimbledon is ahead of it's times in the sporting world and has really set the tone for other sporting bodies. Since 2007, the Wimbledon championship has paid male and female competitors the same amount of prize money, unlike other sports, where the gender prize money gap still exists.

Secondly, we also NEED to celebrate the fact that a sporting champion has publicly opened up about having cosmetic surgery.

What Simona Halep Says

It's so important for people in the limelight to be open and honest about their procedures. Simona Halep, a respected tennis player and a role model to many, made the brave decision to talk publicly about having breast reduction surgery during this years Wimbledon Championships. By talking publicly, Simona, could have opened herself up to criticism from those who are against the industry, yet in recent press coverage her 'confessions' have been mostly praised and met with positivity and understanding for her reasons for breast reduction surgery.

"It was the weight that troubled me. My ability to react quickly, my breasts made me uncomfortable when I played" Said Simona.

When she was a promising young player the Romanian, now 27, felt her 34DD breasts were getting in the way of her sporting dream and affecting her physically. Despite receiving an initial backlash from fans, Simona made the informed decision to have cosmetic surgery.  After surgery Simona, underwent the healing and recovery process and slowly began to regain her strength and climb her way back up the tennis rankings.

Simona claims "I didn’t like them in my everyday life, either. I would have gone for surgery even if I hadn’t been a sportswoman."

What is a Breast Reduction?

Mammoplasty, also known as a female breast reduction, is an operation to reduce the weight and volume of the breasts. Many women can no longer cope with the physical strain that larger breasts can cause, or the associated discomfort.  During the breast reduction operation, fat, glandular tissue and skin is removed from the breasts, which are then shaped and the nipple/areola repositioned using dissolvable stitches (unless otherwise required).

Some patients find themselves experiencing physical discomfort such as back and shoulder pain and often struggle with physical activities and exercise, therefore affecting other aspects of their health. Many patients who are wanting to have breast reduction surgery become self-conscious of the size of their breasts, this can affect their mental health and put limits on daily life things, such as what clothing they wear.

If you want to learn more about Breast Reduction Surgery - click here!

Are perceptions changing?

This is a great step towards changing the perception of the cosmetic surgery industry, however, it still feels like we have a long way to go. Why is it deemed more socially acceptable for a woman to have cosmetic surgery if it's a reduction or reconstructive? But if a woman simply wants to have a breast enlargement due to having small breasts and wanting to feel more feminine and confident in her body, there still seems to be some sort of stigma around this?

Thanks to Simona's open and honest attitude towards her procedure, this has opened up a refreshingly different voice in the media about cosmetic surgery. People who undergo cosmetic surgery have many different reasons for wanting to have a procedure and cosmetic surgery really can change people's lives for the better.

Let's hope that more people in the public eye follow in Simona's steps and begin to start talking openly about having cosmetic surgery. Congratulations to Simona on her first Wimbledon Ladies Grand Slam title - now let's celebrate her successful victory and stop talking about her boobs!