COMING round from her operation, Siarra Lutton was thrilled to have the chest she had always dreamed of.
After years of struggling with her appearance, she had taken a decision that to this day still leaves strangers aghast – voluntarily removing her breasts altogether.
Siarra Lutton always craved a more masculine physique and made the decision to have her breasts removed Credit: Jam Press/Siarra Lutton
But she has faced brutal trolling, with haters telling her she’d been better off dead Credit: Jam Press/Siarra Lutton
Siarra voluntarily underwent surgery because she hated the way her chest looked.
The 30-year-old disliked the way clothes fit on her body and craved a more “male physique” – but does not identify as male.
Siarra, who has over 150,000 followers online, where she often shares details of her operation, says it not only shocks some viewers but leaves them so enraged they send her horrifying messages.
“I really struggled with the way my chest looked in clothes and the way I looked at myself without clothes,” the remodelling consultant says.
Siarra craved a more ‘male physique’ Credit: Jam Press/Siarra Lutton
Siarra underwent a double masectomy with nipple grafts Credit: Jam Press/Siarra Lutton
“When my could no longer hide my breasts, I used a binder but eventually just realised if I don’t like something about myself I have free will to change it.”
Siarra argues that she doesn’t need to identify as another gender in order to want a flatter chest.
“I craved a body that was more tailored to a male physique, however I don’t identify as male,” she says.
“I don’t have to identify as to live without a chest and be shirtless.
“I just want to make decisions that bring me happiness no matter how it looks to others.
“So I had a double mastectomy with nipple grafts done.
“My surgery was covered by , due to medical reasons.
“But if I would have paid out of pocket, it would have been $7800 (£5,800).
“As for the reactions I got – think of the worst thing someone can say to you and it’s been said millions of times.
“From telling me I ‘should kill myself’ and ‘the world would be better off if I was dead’, to I’m a ‘mentally ill disgusting human’, to they ‘can’t wait till when I end up in hell’.
“I used to focus heavily on the bad when this happened to me and it really hurt at one point.
“Every man on the internet thinks the only way to be a woman is to have breasts.
Siarra (pictured with her brother) said her own family and friends have been very supportive Credit: Jam Press/Siarra Lutton
She says the procedure has changed her as a person Credit: Jam Press/Siarra Lutton
“It’s comical because it doesn’t make me any less of a woman by removing them than it would if I made them bigger.”
Siarra, who underwent the major operation in 2023 and hails from Nashville, , says her own family and friends have been very supportive.
She says: “My mom took care of me after surgery, and my brothers are very supportive.
“My dad called me after the operation and said I have ‘better pecs than him now’.
“My grandma looked at me recently and said, ‘When you first said you were removing your boobs I was like why in the hell would she do that?’
“But now she says, ‘You look so damn good and you look more like you honey, I love it’.
“I was over the moon when I looked in the mirror for the first time.
“It felt like coming home to my body.
WHAT ARE MASTECTOMIES AND WHY DO PEOPLE GET THEM?
A mastectomy is surgery to remove one breast whereas a double removes both. It is usually done to treat breast cancer in women or breast cancer in men.
Sometimes you may choose to have a mastectomy to prevent breast cancer if you’re at high risk of getting it.
Mastectomy top surgery is available to transgender people who are transitioning from female to male.
A small number of women, like Siarra, choose to have top surgery while still identifying as female. Their reasons may be for comfort, pain relief or self expression.
In the UK it is sometimes available on the NHS to those who have diagnosed gender dysphoria but it is more commonly paid for privately as it can have a waiting list of several years after referral.
In the US top surgery access varies from state to state and by age. Over half of states ban it for minors but Blue States like California, Massachusetts and New York shield laws that protect out-of-state prosecution.
“I cried and have never felt more grateful to be myself and living in the time and space that made those dreams come true.”
Siarra says the procedure has led to her being far more comfortable and has not hindered her life at all.
She says: “I feel 100 per cent more comfortable in my body now and I wouldn’t change a thing.
“I walk outside without a shirt on, go to the beach without a shirt, the , have traveled to other countries and been topless.
“I am comfortable with who I am and comfortable making other people uncomfortable by seeing a bare chest on a woman.
“I wouldn’t regret this decision a day in my life.
“The surgery has not affected my life at all.
“My partner met me before I got the surgery and we started dating almost a year after I got it.
“It’s never been a topic of conversation.
“I am so confident in my body now it changed me completely as a person.
“I feel so powerful and more like myself every day.”
Although she gets plenty of hate online, Siarra now focuses on the positive messages she gets instead – of which there are far more.
She added: “I was sharing my story online to help others who may be internally struggling like I was.
“I couldn’t wait to talk about it.
“Instead, it went the wrong direction and broke me, but now I don’t give one single hell what anyone says.
“I have thousands of unread messages in my inbox of people thanking me and telling their story.
“It’s okay to make decisions that benefit yourself and it doesn’t have to make sense to anyone else.
“I live with confidence.
“The world will eventually adapt to my decisions.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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