"I remember lifting my blanket and my chest looked flat. I was so excited. I don’t think you can quite understand the emotional and psychological impact unless you’ve lived it yourself."

When we asked women to explain exactly what it’s like to make the decision to have, and then actually have, a breast reduction, the overwhelming response was one of relief.

One likened it to having bricks lifted off your chest. Another said, before undergoing breast reduction surgery at 17, she felt like she was looking at a 35-year-old woman’s body, after breastfeeding, when she saw her reflection in the mirror.

While breast reductions and breast lifts may have been taboo a decade ago, more and more women are using the surgical procedure – which The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons Inc (ASPS) defines as reducing the size of overly large breasts – to take control of their own bodies.

In the 2017-2018 financial years, 11,886 individual breast reduction claims were made, the Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows. That number has increased by 1,289 from 2016-2017, and is more than 2000 greater than it was five years ago.

Women of all ages are getting breast reductions – the stats show the procedure is most common among women aged 45-54, followed closely by 35-44 and 15-24.

While we’re here and talking about our breast health, here’s a recap of some of the many shapes and sizes breasts come in – perky, saggy, uneven and everything in between. Post continues after video.

For the women we spoke to having a breast reduction, they felt they had always beendefined by their breasts. Their breasts entered rooms before they did, wouldn’t fit into the clothes they wanted to wear, attracted attention they didn’t ask for, and, in some cases, caused severe neck, shoulder and back pain.

They were also often the target of envy, something 24-year-old Alexia could never understand. Who would want to carry the physical and emotional burden of large breasts, literally, on their chest?

"I’ve always identified myself as being the girl with the big boobs, they were always envied and I never knew why… It took me a while to ask myself 'why should I suffer any longer purely because others like them/want them?,'" she said.

"My boobs had been part of my identity for so long, but I finally realised there was a lot more to me than my physical appearance and I should let people see who I truly am."

Breast reduction surgery is a major surgery. Even with Medicare, it’s expensive. The procedure, which removes excess breast fat, glandular tissue and skin in an effort to reduce the physical discomfort and emotional load of overly large breasts, may require a hospital stay and weeks of recovery.

Reading the stats and fact sheets is one thing, but what is itreally liketo have breast reduction surgery? What are the things women grapple with when making the decision, what are their fears and worries? And did they feel judged or conflicted about having a health procedure that still falls under the umbrella of ‘ plastic surgery ’, and the stigma that comes with that?

To find out, we asked seven women to share their experience of having a breast reduction. From an 18-year-old who just wanted to wear a backless dress at her formal, to a woman in her fifties who spent a lifetime being known for her boobs, these are their candid and honest stories.

Mackenzie's breast reduction journey at 18.

I was 17 when I went for my consultation and subsequent surgery. My story started when I was 12 years old and had an E cup bust, which further grew to a H cup. I decided to have the surgery because I wanted to. I didn’t feel like my breasts, which were very saggy and heavy, looked like a 17-year-old's. What I saw when I looked in the mirror was different, and that really affected me.

The surgeon explained that no matter how much weight I lost, my breasts would always look heavy and saggy. It made it hard for me to buy young women’s clothes, and exercise. My mum was the one who suggested getting a breast reduction to me. She saw that my breasts at their natural size didn’t suit me or my lifestyle and knew it was something I needed.

Everyone who I told loved that I was doing something for myself and didn’t see it as a vanity thing, but as self-improvement. My surgery was amazing, I loved my surgeon and couldn’t have felt better about my choice. Post-op, I had no pain, and I felt amazing, which is credited to me being young, fit and healthy.

I love my new shape and the surgery has my life so much better - I was able to wear a backless dress to my formal! I’ve never looked back as my new body has given me so much confidence. I feel younger and lighter; I have no regrets and am just so grateful to my family for supporting me through this journey. Young women should never feel ashamed for wanting a breast reduction, it isn’t a sexual thing, and it's made my life so much richer.

Amy's breast reduction journey at 33.

I am 12 weeks post-op on a BR/BL (breast reduction/breast lift). As an adolescent, I developed quite large, pendulous breasts. Being away at boarding school didn’t help as I played a lot of sport and didn’t have anyone to remind me to wear a proper sports bra (ideally two!) so this compounded the ptosis (droop) and the strain on my neck.

Throughout my twenties, I thought about a reduction but I really, truly wanted to get to a place where I could accept my body as it was. My mother had a breast reduction in her late teens and was firmly against me undergoing the procedure - she actually cried when I told her I was going through with it.

I was very lucky to have two friends who had undergone plastic surgery for different concerns; they were very supportive and understanding. Unfortunately, most other people I told scoffed at me and told me I was being vain. I don’t think you can quite understand the emotional and psychological impact of the situation unless you’ve lived it yourself.

Finally, at the age of 33, I was in a financial position to do something about it. I saw two highly recommended plastic surgeons who were thorough, patient and understanding. The procedure was straightforward, my recovery was textbook. However, psychologically it took a huge toll on me. No one tells you about the emotional roller coaster you go through during recovery! I found a lovely support group on Facebook that helped enormously, as did my lovely surgeon and his office team who were responsive and reassuring throughout the recovery.

Whilst I have no regrets, I’m still not 100 per cent happy with my breasts. I suspect I need to do some work on my self-love and self-acceptance, as surgery fixed my physical woes but not my mental ones, though it has helped to have lovely breasts at the end.

Lauren's breast reduction journey at 60.

I was a late bloomer as a teen, but then my breasts grew in my 20s. I was a size 6-8 with DD breasts, and I hated them as I get fed up with the attention, and how they impacted me physically as I'm a runner. I always planned on having a breast reduction, so I did at 40 after having two kids - it was purely for my sense of self and comfort.

I begged my surgeon to be a B cup, but he told me he would only do a D cup. I was happy with the result, but my breasts grew back in perimenopause, so I went back for a second surgery at 52. My partner and my girlfriends were supportive, but most men I knew thought getting a breast reduction was a weird thing to do (go figure).

I went to the same plastic surgeon twice, and I was in the hospital for two days and had two weeks off. I didn't have any issues post-op - I didn't experience any loss of sensation and the scars have faded. I was happy with except for the fact he didn't listen to what I really wanted. I wish I had been listened to by the surgeon, especially the second time around as I made it clear my family are all big-breasted, even after menopause.

My breasts have grown back to a DD cup, but at the time, I was happy to have less male attention and not to have men talk to my chest. I felt better about wearing certain clothes and some people told me I looked much thinner, which I loved hearing at 40.

I don't regret having the surgeries, but I'm now working with what I've got at 60 - I've realised the benefits weren't so important as I thought they were when I was younger.

Alexia's breast reduction journey at 24.

I was in two minds about undergoing breast reduction surgery for a few years as I've always identified myself as being the girl with the big boobs; they were always envied, and I never knew why; they were terrible to deal with. I would constantly suffer migraines and sore neck/shoulders/back throughout my day-to-day life, along with rashes and shoulder dents, especially when it came to playing soccer and exercising. It took me a while to ask myself "why should I suffer any longer purely because others like them/want them?".