Stacey Rusch Reveals She Had Breast Reduction Surgery: "It Was So Emotional" (EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS)
"I wanted to look like me again," The Real Housewives of Potomac newbie told The Daily Dish following her surgery.
Throughout Season 9 of The Real Housewives of Potomac, fans have gotten to know all about Stacey Rusch, from her interesting back story to her fabulous fashions. More recently, the Detroit native shared new details on her life as she revealed her decision to get breast reduction surgery.
"Most Housewives go bigger, but I decided to reduce the size of my breasts. I wanted to look more natural and more like me," Stacey revealed to The Daily Dish during an exclusive interview on December 13. "I am excited with this new body. I'm excited to look in the mirror and see Stacey again. It really is wonderful."
Why did Stacey Rusch get a breast reduction?
In her early twenties, Stacey began modeling. With that came numerous opinions from others about her body shape and size. "When I started to model I was told that I was flat-chested," she shared. "In order to have the perfect model body, in order for me to get more work, I was told I'd have to have fuller breasts. And so I [had breast augmentation surgery], and I was happy. I loved my body. I worked"
Everything changed, however, when Stacey had her daughter, Arabella, with her ex, Thiemo Rusch. "Motherhood changes everything," she explained. "Your relationship with yourself, your relationship with the world, your relationship with your body. Pregnancy and breastfeeding really allowed me to be amazed by my body and my breasts. I started to honor my body. I saw my body in a different way."
Stacey added that in trying to get pregnant again through "multiple rounds of IVF" and losing "multiple pregnancies," she further reassessed how she looked and felt.
"My body changed, my breasts changed...it was a lot," she revealed. "It took some years for me to finally admit that physically I really just wanted to get back to me. I just wanted to get back to who I really was, and I wanted to have a body and breasts that were for me; not for work, not for my child, not for a look. I wanted to look like me again."
Stacey Rusch shares before & after photos following her breast reduction surgery
While chatting with The Daily Dish, Stacey noted how happy she was to find a medical team at Austin-Weston that "understood [her] personal journey" and instilled confidence throughout the process.
"I was extremely nervous about having another surgery. I'm just not someone who takes surgery for granted," she shared. "I met Doctor [Robert] Sigal, [MD]. He's here in Northern Virginia. And meeting this man, talking to him, having multiple consultations, he has such a passion for his work and his clients and what he's built. It's palpable. You can see how much joy this man has for what he does."
She continued: "His team held my hand and prayed with me as I was going under. It was so emotional. And they were still holding my hand when I woke up. I've never experienced that kind of care. So I was just so happy with this decision."
Here, see Stacey before surgery:
And after:
Stacey Rusch reflects on her post-surgery results
Though the Virginia mom said her larger breasts "had a great run," she was happy to "get implants more appropriately sized" for her body frame.
"I've been recovering, but my recovery was fast," she shared about her post-op experience. "My entire family has pitched in to keep me comfortable and distracted. I'm feeling great."
Stacey added that though many women reduce their chest size due to discomfort, her decision to take on the cosmetic procedure was mostly about aesthetics.
"I think that's quite refreshing to hear for some people because bigger is not always better," she shared. "You should have the body that you love and the body that matches who you are on the inside. And I finally feel like I have that body. "
