Cat Burns has expressed her “overwhelming relief and happiness” after undergoing breast reduction surgery.
The singer-songwriter and the Celebrity Traitors star spoke out on social media about the procedure, having struggled with body image issues since she was a child.
- READ MORE: Cat Burns discusses her Mercury Prize nomination, shares advice for surviving your early 20s
“I’ve always struggled with my boobies since they arrived on my chest at like 12, they caused me so much pain when exercising and I deeply hated the oversexualisation it brought,” she explained (via BBC News).
“I tried so many different ways to work with my body and wear different bras etc but I thought while I’m young and healthy and by the universe’s grace [I] am able to go through with this surgery, I want to love my body going into the next part of my life!”
Burns shared the update along with a photo of her in a hospital bed. She told her followers that she “had a big fat cry” once she saw her mum, sister and girlfriend.
According to the NHS, Breast reduction is “a major operation that can help make your breasts feel smaller, lighter and give them a better shape”.
The website notes that women may be eligible to have the surgery on the NHS if other options, such as wearing professionally fitted bras, have not worked, or if the patient suffers from health problems caused by having very large breasts.
These issues can include back, shoulder or neck pain, skin irritation under the breasts, low self-esteem or depression, and more.
Burns released her second album, ‘How To Be Human’, last October. She described the project as being “very honest” and “very vulnerable”, telling fans that she wrote it when “going through grief and heartbreak”.
At the time, Burns pushed back her UK headline tour to April 2026, saying that she was “taking care of [her] wellbeing”.
“Touring is incredibly demanding mentally and physically, and I want to make sure I’m taking care of my wellbeing so I’m in the right headspace to give you the show you deserve,” she wrote. “When I step on stage, I really want to feel my best and give you a night that feels worth every moment of waiting.”
‘How To Be Human’ marked the follow-up to Burns’ Mercury-shortlisted debut ‘Early Twenties’. Speaking to NME in 2024, the singer spoke about why she thought the latter had captured people’s imagination.
“I think it’s a great album and there are a wide range of song topics,” she said. “People can reminisce. It’s got a nostalgic feel to it. I think it’s alright – it’s a good album!”
Opening up about the period of her life that had inspired her to write, Burns told NME: “There are just so many firsts: first love, first heartbreak, I had so many diagnoses. I’m excited to go through the next part of my life and have not so many firsts! I can just exist a little bit.”
Burns made it to the final episode of The Celebrity Traitors in November. That same week, she went to Number Five on the UK albums chart with ‘How To Be Human’ (via Official Charts).
