AN INFLUENCER who only has one boob due to a rare condition has revealed why she rejected a free NHS boob job.
Becca Butcher, from Yorkshire, has Poland Syndrome which means one breast is significantly smaller than the other – her right one is a D cup, while the left is an A cup.
The now 26-year-old spent her teenage years convincing doctors to take her condition seriously, before receiving her diagnosis at 18.
“I was 13 years old when I noticed that my breast wasn’t growing at the same speed as my other one, but was constantly dismissed by doctors,” the social media star explained.
Even now, she finds herself having to educate doctors on rare conditions.
In 2014, Becca refused a free NHS boob job to enlarge her left breast to the size of her right one because she wants to encourage women to love the body they are in.
She said: “Growing up, I never saw anyone with a chest like mine online or in the media and I hope that nobody else ever has to feel that lonely in the future.
“I don’t feel the need to change my body, although I’m not against other people having the surgery if they need it.”
Poland syndrome is a birth defect characterised by an underdeveloped chest muscle and sometimes short, webbed fingers on one side of the body.
The condition is more prevalent in men, with famous sufferers including TV host Jeremy Beadle and formula one champion Fernando Alonso.
I also tried to stimulate growth by hitting myself in the chest repeatedly
Becca Butcher
Like any teenager, Becca was self-conscious during puberty, an experience only made worse by having one boob.
She was cruelly teased at school, with her classmates horribly telling her she would “never find love” and that “no boy would ever want her”.
“I used to pad my bra with socks to make my small boob look bigger and tried restricting my large boob with small bras to make it look smaller,” she explained.
“I also tried to stimulate growth by hitting myself in the chest repeatedly after hearing how male soldiers in the war grew ‘man-boobs’ when their machine guns would hit against their chest all day.”
She has since begun sharing her experiences online and has a following of almost 13k people on Instagram.
“I use my social media platforms to raise awareness and normalize the conversation around breast asymmetry to break the taboo.
“I think inclusivity and representation is so important and hope to see more women like me shown in the media in the future,” she said.
Becca, is also now engaged to fiancé Kyle Officer, who she said accepts for who she is.
“Kyle often says he loves me for who I am. He’s proud of my campaign to raise awareness about Poland syndrome and says I am brave,” she previously told the Sun.
“I’d refuse to date anyone who thinks someone with perfect breasts is their idea of beauty, it’s just so superficial,” she added.
POLAND symptom can range in serverity and can become obvious at birth or not noticed until puberty.
Signs of Poland syndrome include:
Source: Kids Health
