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Valerie Bertinelli Opens Up About Her Breast Surgeries and Body Image Struggles
Actress Valerie Bertinelli has spoken openly about her complicated relationship with her body, particularly her breasts, during a candid chat with Drew Barrymore about her memoir Getting Naked. Bertinelli did not shy away from describing her breasts as “deformed,” a result of multiple surgeries she underwent in 2024.
“I mean, if you read the book, you’ll know that my boobs are deformed, and I talk very extensively and graphically about how deformed they are. I had four surgeries in 2024,” Bertinelli explained.
Barrymore, initially skeptical, responded with, “How bad can it be?” To which Bertinelli humorously mimicked opening her blouse, prompting Barrymore to admit, “Oh yeah, that’s bad.”
Bertinelli praised Barrymore’s honest reaction, saying, “I love her honesty. It’s like, I can trust this woman.” The two friends shared a lighthearted exchange, with Bertinelli admitting, “My boobs suck, but I’m not dating, so it doesn’t matter,” and Barrymore quickly adding, “Yet.”
The 65-year-old actress revealed that she had always felt unhappy with her naturally small breasts and decided to get implants in the 1980s. However, the results were more dramatic than she had intended, and she often felt embarrassed by the change.
Following a serious fall, Bertinelli had surgery to remove her old implants and replace them with smaller ones. Unfortunately, shortly after, she developed a severe infection.
She described the experience: “I began experiencing discoloration and swelling, and I felt dizzy. By nighttime, I was running a fever of 104 degrees.”
Her doctor removed the implants and surrounding tissue, but the infection caused her breast to cave in, leaving what she called a “crater.”
Bertinelli is now preparing for one more surgery to even things out. Despite the physical and emotional challenges, she maintains a sense of humor about it all.
“Me and these guys,” she said, gesturing to her cats, “are the only ones looking at my boobs anyway, but I don’t care because I can’t see without my glasses on… I’ll have to date somebody who can’t see.”
With characteristic wit, she closed by saying, “Anyway, those were my boobs. Anybody want to date me? It was so serious I just had to find the humor in it.”
Bertinelli’s openness highlights the often hidden struggles many face with body image and medical complications, reminding us of the strength found in vulnerability and humor.