VALERIE Bertinelli is speaking candidly about her experience with cosmetic surgery and the lasting impact it has had on her body image.
During a recent panel discussion promoting her memoir, Getting Naked: The Quiet Work of Becoming Perfectly Imperfect, the actress shared that her breasts were left “deformed” after multiple surgeries tied to implants she first got in the early 1980s.
“I mean, if you read the book, you’ll know that my boobs are deformed,” Bertinelli, 65, said during a recent 92Y panel discussion.
“I talk very extensively and graphically about how deformed they are.”
Bertinelli revealed that she underwent four surgeries in 2024 related to removing ruptured implants and addressing complications that followed.
“My boobs suck, but I’m not dating, so it doesn’t matter,” she said.
In her memoir, she explains that years of teasing about her chest influenced her original decision to get breast augmentation, writing that hurtful comments made her feel like her body was somehow wrong.
After her implants ruptured, Bertinelli had them removed, but the recovery process became more difficult when she developed an infection.
She wrote that one breast became badly discolored and swollen, leading to additional surgery. According to Bertinelli, doctors later placed a small implant under the muscle to help restore damaged tissue, though she says the results left her breasts uneven and misshapen.
Elsewhere in the book, Bertinelli also discusses trying Botox in 2019 and says she was unhappy with how it changed her appearance. While she noted that cosmetic procedures can be helpful for some people, she said the experience did not feel right for her.
Through her memoir and public appearances, Bertinelli is framing the conversation around honesty, self-acceptance and the complicated pressures women can face around beauty and aging.
Key Points
- Bertinelli underwent four 2024 surgeries after ruptured implants left her breasts deformed and uneven.
- She described infection, discoloration, then a small implant under the muscle to repair tissue.
- Her memoir and panel emphasize honesty, self-acceptance, and pressures women face about beauty.
Why They're In The News
Why This Matters
Bertinelli’s candid account highlights the physical and emotional risks of cosmetic procedures, confronting beauty standards and aging pressures. Her openness can destigmatize complications, educate others about surgical risks, and encourage honest conversations about self-acceptance.
