Rita Simons shares her first health update after undergoing breast reduction surgery to tackle lifelong battle with debilitating spinal condition

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Rita Simons recently shared a health update with her fans, letting them know she had breast reduction surgery to help with a painful problem in her spine.

The actress, who previously starred in EastEnders, revealed in March that she’s planning to have surgery. This is part of her ongoing treatment for scoliosis, a condition she’s been dealing with since her teenage years.

Simons had already quit drinking, eating sugar, smoking, and vaping to get in the best shape possible while dealing with her condition—a curved spine. However, her symptoms meant that traditional back surgery wasn’t an option.

The 49-year-old actress shared on Instagram Wednesday that she’s still recovering in bed but doing well after having a breast reduction performed by plastic surgeon Nigel Mabvuure at Christie Hospital in Manchester.

Just checking in after my surgery! I haven’t had much energy to do anything until today, so please excuse any delays in responding. I’m really tired, but I’m not in much pain – just a little uncomfortable, mostly just exhaustion.

I still really want to vape, but I’m determined to stay on track with my recovery. I’m already feeling good knowing this is helping my back, and I’ve lost a surprising amount of weight.

Simons posted photos taken before her surgery, showing the shape of her breasts through a relaxed-fitting sweater.

She shared photos of herself wearing a pink sweater, explaining it was taken before changing – and even with a minimizing bra – to give people a point of reference. She promised to share more photos later once she was fully dressed.

I’m amazed by how much lighter I feel now that the implants are out! I’m definitely not sharing any revealing photos, but even though I’m still recovering and swollen, I’m already incredibly happy with the results.

Simons has shared that the weight of her large chest has made her scoliosis – a condition she was diagnosed with at 19 – even more difficult to manage.

The actress revealed on Instagram that she’s having a breast reduction, sharing an X-ray of her spine to illustrate its natural curve.

‘It’s finally time to say goodbye to my massively annoying boobs,’ she wrote.

Simons also confirmed she had quit vaping in preparation for her breast reduction.

She explained that her back pain was no longer justified. She felt like she was clearing out things in her life that weren’t helping her – including her uterus, alcohol, sugar, and smoking. She decided that her breasts didn’t fit into that positive change either, and she wanted to have them removed as well.

I’ve been told that, given the way my spine curves with scoliosis and the overall condition of my back, surgery just isn’t an option for me. It’s a tough reality, but I’m focusing on other ways to manage things.

I have scoliosis, and honestly, it’s not something you ‘fix’. Instead, I’m completely focused on managing my pain and trying to slow down how much the curves change. There’s no cure for me, so we just work with what my body is giving us and make the best of it.

To be honest, beyond just feeling better, I’m really hoping this will get rid of the bump on my back and the prominent swelling in my chest. I’d love to see those go away.

I’m sharing this because adult scoliosis doesn’t get enough attention, and this is just one example of the challenges women with this condition can face.

‘I’ll keep you posted and as always Thanku for all the lovely messages!’ [sic]

In February 2021, the actress revealed she was experiencing significant pain due to scoliosis. She shares 20-year-old twin daughters, Jaimee and Maiya, with her former husband, Theo Silverston.

I remember her saying how much she absolutely hated her scoliosis. It was really getting her down, and she felt like nothing fit right anymore. She’d just had an X-ray, and she described her spine as a really pronounced ‘S’ shape. Honestly, she was in pain pretty much all the time, and it was heartbreaking to hear.

I exercise daily and I’m really thankful to have a home gym. Staying in shape is crucial when you have scoliosis, but it’s important to train correctly.

I work hard on exercises and physical therapy to manage the curve in my spine, and consistently doing them helps me stay pain-free, even when I train intensely.

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2026-04-08 19:08