Symptoms explained as woman has boobs so big she can’t even play with son
A 24-year-old mum says the size of her breasts have left her in constant agony because of a condition called kyphosis.
Charlotte Innes' 32HH/I breasts, which together weigh around 5kg, cause such bad back pain that she struggles to sleep, exercise or even sit on the floor to play games with her child.
With it feeling like she's 'constantly wearing a weighted vest', the Bristol mother has been refused NHS-funded breast reduction surgery five times.
Her problems worsened after pregnancy in 2021, when her bra size increased from 30FF to 32GG before later growing further.
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Charlotte says the pain intensified in 2025, experiencing episodes so severe they 'took her breath away'.
An MRI scan in November 2025 revealed she had developed a condition called kyphosis.
What is kyphosis?
According to the NHS, kyphosis is a 'hunched or rounded upper back. Sometimes your shoulders may also look rounded'.
"You may not have any other symptoms if the top part of your spine is only slightly curved. If the curve is more noticeable or gets worse, it can cause back pain and stiffness," the health service explains.
"If you have a severe curve in your spine, it can cause more serious problems, such as very bad back pain and difficulty breathing."
Kyphosis is often caused by 'bad posture or a problem with the structure of your spine'.
"It can also sometimes happen after a spinal injury or as a result of conditions like arthritis and osteoporosis," the NHS adds.
Charlotte said: "The MRI scan showed that my spine was a complete 'S' shape - it was completely out at the top and then right in at the bottom.
"The doctors said that my back problems are a result of the size of my breasts."
'I've got the body of a 90-year-old'
5ft 4in Charlotte said the NHS has refused her breast reduction surgery five times since September 2025.
Because it would cost around £8,500 to have the op privately, the stay-at-home mum says she will be putting in a seventh appeal if this one is refused.
She claims the NHS have told her that her appeal has been refused due to her providing 'insufficient evidence'.
Charlotte, who now has to wear a brace while at home to help support her spine, said: "It's gut-wrenching hearing it come back that you've not supplied enough evidence.
"I put on the last appeal that I was in so much pain that if it wasn't for my son then I would seriously consider not being here because it's a ridiculous amount of pain for feeling like you're not being heard.
"It feels like you're being passed from pillar to post just for no one to help.
"100 percent I'll put in a seventh appeal if this one is refused - I'm not giving up yet."
A spokesperson for the NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board said: "The ICB has a robust and evidence-based process for considering exceptional funding requests, which aims to promote consistency, fairness and equity in funding for specialised, non-standard treatments.
"Our approach is detailed in the policies available on our website.
"Requests are carefully considered by the ICB's exceptional funding team through a screening process, with some cases also going to a panel which meets monthly and is made up of GPs, public health and patient representatives."
The criteria for having a breast reduction on the NHS
The health body explains that you may be able to have a breast reduction on the NHS if other options have been exhausted, and you have health problems caused by having very large breasts.
These include:
- back, shoulder or neck pain
- skin irritation under the breasts
- grooves on the shoulders from bra straps
- low self-esteem or depression
- not being able to take part in sport or exercise
The NHS adds that 'the size of your breasts, your weight, your general health and if you smoke may also be considered', but the exact criteria for having the op can differ depending on where you live.
Anish Vij