Need to know
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A Florida woman who once wore a G-cup bra had her breasts reduced dramatically after giving birth
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Cameron “Cam” Light opens up about his decision — and why he has zero regrets — in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE
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“I didn’t know how much I had normalized over the years,” says the 30-year-old
A Florida woman, who once wore a G-cup bra, had her breasts dramatically reduced. She documented the entire journey on Instagram, and she’s now speaking out about her decision — and why she has zero regrets.
Cameron “Cam” Light says she started experiencing problems with her breasts when she was a teenager. “I started feeling my discomfort in high school,” she tells PEOPLE exclusively.
“In college, I was overwhelmed by their weight. I remember crying in my freshman dorm bathroom to my then-boyfriend-now-husband at 18, explaining how uncomfortable I was,” she continues. “They were heavy, they hurt, and they didn’t feel like mine. I wanted a cut so badly, even then.”
Light, 30, says she had her first breast reduction consultation in her early 20s, but several reasons kept her from having the surgery at the time — including the high cost of the procedure, and being told she wouldn’t be able to breastfeed the children afterward.
“I didn’t want to wait, but I had a lot of work against me,” she recalls. “The cost was prohibitive for a long time. I still wasn’t sure if I wanted kids. Plus, the younger you are, the higher the chance you’ll want another child.”
Light says she and her husband finally decided they wanted children, and she eventually gave birth to a son. At that time, however, the discomfort caused by her breasts only increased.
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In a candid Instagram post, Light revealed that her bra size measured 42 G.
“They only got heavier and shorter after pregnancy and breastfeeding, over 10 pounds heavier and hanging near my belly button,” she tells PEOPLE.
Light, who was studying to become a midwife at the time, tells PEOPLE that she still has a long way to go before she finally has surgery.
“I was dreaming of the day when I was in school so I could have surgery. Before that I was weighing a possible second pregnancy, but we finally decided to have a baby,” she recalls.
Finally, years after his initial consultation, Light began researching surgeons and finally found the right fit.
“She was smart, kind and supportive of my goals,” says Light, her surgeon, Dr. Describing Emily Giles. “She knew how small I wanted to go and gave me her best tips on how to get there. There was never any pressure to make one decision over another, and as a provider, that gave me the confidence to move forward.”
Granted by Cameron Light
Light — who also owns Amaze Games, a small business escape room and board game lounge — had the surgery in January, “after 12 long years.”
She says she decided to pay for the procedure out of pocket instead of trying to go through her insurance, because she wanted complete control over the outcome. (“I wanted to go as small as possible,” he explained on Instagram.)
“Insurance companies dictate the procedures they allow and how much they charge. I didn’t want some random person telling me what I could and couldn’t do with a permanent decision for my body, so I saved the money and did it myself,” she adds.
Light said she has zero regrets about her decision to have the surgery. “I feel more like myself than I have in years. The relief was immediate,” she says, adding that she immediately lost 5 pounds. from her chest.
“I snore less, my heartburn is completely gone, and I don’t gasp for air when I stand up because the weight is finally off my lungs and diaphragm. I still have a long way to go to correct the damage the weight has done to my body, but I’m looking forward to that journey,” adds Light.
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“I didn’t know how many years I had normalized,” she still says. “They were an ever-present annoyance that I got used to…constant adjustments, planning weight-supportive outfits, cutting my arms in public, not looking at me wearing too many bras to feel a semblance of support while working and exercising…the list goes on. It all became normal for me.”
Light’s advice to others about breast reduction surgery? She recommends meeting with multiple providers until one finds the right fit.
“I wanted a doctor who listened to me and didn’t try to change my mind or make me bigger than I wanted to be ‘proportionate’. Amputations are life-changing surgeries – it shouldn’t be something you do with people you don’t trust,” she says.
Light adds that it’s okay to “mourn” an old body, even if someone is 100% sure they want surgery.
“I’ve always loved my body, even when it didn’t fit what I wanted. I celebrated it with my friends before the surgery, with a boob-voyage party in my backyard and bra burning,” she recalls.
Granted by Cameron Light
Light also says she worked with a therapist before surgery to make sure the transition went as smoothly as possible.
“I just felt pure joy when I woke up after the surgery, and I attribute a lot of that to the emotional work I did before the surgery,” she says.
Read the original article on People
