Bristol Palin underwent her ninth breast reconstruction surgery earlier in 2023, and the 32-year-old public speaker recently opened up about how the weight she's gained since has affected her confidence level. During a Q&A session via her Instagram stories, held on Sunday, September 10, a fan asked why Bristol hadn't been as active on social media.
The reality television personality replied, "I’ve been pretty MIA for a year — I stopped taking my Adderall Rx and had those two surgeries within the last year — I gained some weight and it definitely took a toll on my confidence."
“I honestly didn’t feel like posting anything," Bristol continued. "I also just enjoy my privacy much more the older I get.”
She then went on to explain her history with the cosmetic procedure. Via her Instagram, the daughter of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin opened up about why she's had to have so many surgeries over the years.
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“I got a breast reduction when I was 19," she began. "The doctor in Alaska cut me clear across and it caused a ton of muscle damage, tissue damage, a ton of scar tissue. I think I’ve counted 9 surgeries since then. I’ve had implants taken in, taken out, just a ton of stuff.”
She then revealed that due to her implants being a little lopsided, she had to get another surgery to recorrect them. Now, looking back on that procedure, she believes that it probably wasn't necessary.
“I wanted to get smaller implants so I went in for that and it ended up being a huge surgery and [my doctor] had to go back in January and do a complete revision,” she continued. “But a lot of cosmetic, breast type surgeries because of that botched breast reduction when I was 19.”
Her ninth breast reconstruction surgery served the purpose of correcting her initial reduction surgery that went south. “I’ve had previous surgeries trying to correct that initial damage of muscle tissue and terrible scaring. The whole situation has honestly made me very self-conscious my entire adult life. Praying that this is the last surgery needed.”
“I hate being a whiner but it kinda does put a setback/pause on life and that’s why I’ve been fairly MIA — trying my hardest to stay positive, hype myself up, and remind myself that I have so much to be thankful for," she shared. "I’m healthy, fully capable, and this is just an inconvenience cause things could always be way worse.”
Bristol has three children. She shares her eldest son, 14-year-old Tripp, with her ex-fiancé Levi Johnston. She shares 7-year-old daughter Sailor and 6-year-old daughter Atlee with her ex-husband Dakota Meyer.