A WOMAN dubbed the claims her breasts got three sizes bigger after she had botched £7,382 liposuction on her stomach – and apparently, they are still growing.
Elaina St James was happily sporting a DD-cup prior to her surgery, which targeted fat cells to give her a more toned appearance.
Elaina St James surgery targeted fat cells to give her a more toned appearance[/caption]
She revealed that her stomach lipo that made my breasts inflate[/caption]
Elaina is a 58-year-old woman who lives in North Carolina[/caption]
But the 58-year-old was stunned when she noticed an unexpected side effect.
In the months following the “botched” surgery – which left her stomach looking “lumpy” – Elaina’s chest inflated so much that the content creator was forced to overhaul her lingerie wardrobe to accommodate the changes.
The cougar is now a 36G cup size – but this could increase further.
“I thought I was going crazy at first,” said Elaina, who boasts 430,000 Instagram followers @elainastjames.
“I asked my doctor if it was possible that the liposuction was causing my boobs to grow.
“I couldn’t think what else it could be, as I hadn’t made any major changes to my lifestyle.
“I was shocked when he immediately confirmed my suspicions.
“The doctor explained that when fat cells are removed during liposuction, sometimes the body compensates by kind of inflating them in other areas.
“Apparently, it’s not that uncommon.
“I couldn’t believe it.
“I was blessed with naturally large breasts, so it wasn’t an area I had ever wanted to enhance.
“I had no idea this was even possible.”
A 2007 study shared in the US’ National Library of Medicine found that nearly half (48%) of participants reported an increase in their breast size following liposuction of the abdominal wall.
Elaina, who hails from the Midwest but currently lives in North Carolina, opted to go under the knife after years of feeling self-conscious about her stomach.
I had been wearing a DD cup size for years but suddenly they weren’t fitting right
Elaina St James
She said: “I started out in this industry as an older woman, so I always had a ‘mom bod’ – but I just didn’t feel comfortable being in front of the camera all of the time with my stomach out.
“Diet and exercise weren’t making any difference in terms of toning it, so I started looking into liposuction.”
Elaina explored different options before choosing to go with a large, national provider with “great reviews”.
But she felt dismayed with the finished look.
A few months later, she looked at options to get the lipo revised.
That’s when she noticed the bizarre weight fluctuation to her chest.
Elaina explored different options before choosing to go with a large[/caption]
Elaina paid another £7,382 to get liposuction with a second doctor in February 2025[/caption]
She had been wearing a DD cup size for years but suddenly they weren’t fitting right[/caption]
Elaina said: “I wasn’t gaining weight anywhere else but I noticed my bras were becoming too tight.
“I had been wearing a DD cup size for years but suddenly they weren’t fitting right.
“I was overflowing.
Women’s bodies fluctuate all the time, so it took a while for me to register the change
Elaina St James
“I knew it was weird but I was so busy with moving and being a mom, that I didn’t think too much about it.”
More self-conscious than ever, once she was settled in her new home, Elaina paid another $10,000 to get liposuction with a second doctor in February 2025 – 16 months after her first procedure.
This same physician confirmed that the first procedure had triggered her breasts to grow.
Elaina said: “They haven’t stopped growing since.
“It’s crazy.
“I now wear a 36G bra and with larger cup sizes you have to pay more for the brands that cater for them – so it’s expensive having to get a whole new set.
Do breasts get bigger after liposuction?
Plastic & Aesthetic Surgeon Dr. Leonard Josipovic shared that it isn’t uncommon for breasts to appear larger after lipo.
It’s not as strange as it sounds. When you have liposuction, fat cells in the treated area, such as the stomach, are permanently removed. But your body still has fat cells in other places. If you gain weight after the procedure, those remaining fat cells can grow larger.
Since the treated area now has fewer fat cells, weight gain may show up more in other parts of the body like the back, upper arms, face or even the breasts.
Breasts are made up of both glandular tissue and fat. The amount of glandular tissue is influenced by hormones, age and genetics, while the fat content can change depending on your overall body composition. So if someone gains weight after lipo, it’s entirely possible that some of that fat gets stored in the breasts, making them look fuller. It’s not that fat has physically moved from one place to another, it’s just that your body now stores fat differently.
Liposuction is a contouring procedure, not a weight loss treatment. If someone keeps their weight stable and sticks to a healthy lifestyle after surgery, fat won’t suddenly shift to strange places.
But if weight is gained, it will show up in areas that weren’t treated – and that can include the breasts says Dr. Leonard Josipovic.
“It has cost me $450 to get new everyday bras that fit my new size.
“I’m hoping I don’t grow much more, because it gets to a point when boobs become too big to manage.”
While she isn’t overly thrilled with the unexpected side effect, Elaina’s new look has proved good for business.
She said: “It’s not the worst thing in the world to have big boobs – especially in my line of work.
“Men love it.
She isn’t overly thrilled with the unexpected side effect[/caption]
Elaina values having a “natural aesthetic”, she is pleased with her new look[/caption]
“Some of my fans even spotted the increase before I did.
“Women’s bodies fluctuate all the time, so it took a while for me to register the change.
“I started getting comments that my boobs looked bigger.
“I thought it was just because my stomach was thinner, giving the illusion of a larger chest – but they turned out to be right.”
While Elaina values having a “natural aesthetic”, she is pleased with her new look – including the unexpected changes.
She added: “There’s a lot of pressure to look good for women at every age and I’m all for it if you want to address insecurities.
“I remember getting comments saying I should do some sit-ups, put down the pizza or even go on Ozempic before having liposuction.
“I feel really confident in my body now and I’m embracing my new breasts too.
“Although I didn’t intend to get a boob job, I’m definitely not complaining!”
What are the risks of getting surgery abroad?
IT’S important to do your research if you’re thinking about having cosmetic surgery abroad.
It can cost less than in the UK, but you need to weigh up potential savings against the potential risks.
Safety standards in different countries may not be as high.
No surgery is risk-free. Complications can happen after surgery in the UK or abroad.
If you have complications after an operation in the UK, the surgeon is responsible for providing follow-up treatment.
Overseas clinics may not provide follow-up treatment, or they may not provide it to the same standard as in the UK.
Also, they may not have a healthcare professional in the UK you can visit if you have any problems.
Source: NHS
