Ex-Hollyoaks star Stephanie Waring revealed that she had her breast implants removed on Thursday due to ‘debilitating’ menopause symptoms.
The actress, 47, who starred in the Channel 4 soap from 1996 to 2024 as Cindy Cunningham, shared an update from her hospital bed ahead of the surgery.
Speaking in an Instagram video she explained how despite there being ‘nothing wrong’ with her implants, she wanted to get ‘rid of anything foreign’ in her body after starting the peri menopause at age 43, and going through menopause at 45.
Stephanie explained: ‘I’ve gone through an array of debilitating symptoms and I just feel like I need have a fighting chance of feeling like me again.
‘So unfortunately I have to say goodbye to these [implants]. If someone is going through the same thing just know that you are not alone.’
She captioned the post: ‘Today I did something I’ve been thinking about for a long time. After 14 years, I had my breast implants removed.’
Ex-Hollyoaks star Stephanie Waring has revealed that she has had her breast implants removed due to ‘debilitating’ menopause symptoms
Speaking in an Instagram video she explained how despite there being ‘nothing wrong’ with her implants, she wanted to get ‘rid of anything foreign’ in her body (pictured before)
The actress continued: ‘This decision wasn’t made lightly it’s something I’ve sat with for a while. I’m not here to tell anyone what they should do with their body.
‘I’m simply sharing what felt right for me, especially after going through early menopause and feeling like I’ve been fighting against my body for too long.
‘I can’t say exactly what changes I’ll notice yet but I know this is a step towards giving my body a break, simplifying what it has to carry, and starting fresh.
‘If you’re curious about explant surgery, I’ll share more when I’m ready. For now, I’m resting, healing, and letting this next chapter begin.
‘I’m now home and recovering well. Thank you to everyone at Pall Mall Medical ..shoutout to Diane!’
Back in 2023, Stephanie said she ‘screamed and begged’ for help after being diagnosed as perimenopausal.
The actress was struggling so much as her body made the transition into menopause that she ‘couldn’t cope’ and believed that death would be the only way to relieve her pain.
She told The Sun: ‘I was crying all the time. I came home one day and my partner was out and my kids were with their dad.’
Stephanie explained: ‘I’ve gone through an array of debilitating symptoms and I just feel like I need have a fighting chance of feeling like me again’
She captioned the post: ‘Today I did something I’ve been thinking about for a long time. After 14 years, I had my breast implants removed’
Back in 2023, Stephanie said she ‘screamed and begged’ for help after being diagnosed as perimenopausal (pictured in 2023)
Stephanie continued: ‘I just remember being on the bathroom floor screaming and begging someone to help me. The doctors were saying they couldn’t do anything at that point and I couldn’t cope any more.
‘I didn’t want to harm myself but I just remember thinking maybe not being here would be the only way to make it stop.’
She added that her symptoms started around the time she had started a new relationship and explained that even though it should have been a ‘really happy time’ for her, she ended up losing sleep over her health for almost a year before seeking medical help.
Stephanie said she would be awake until around 3am every night which led to ‘brain fog’ and exhaustion as well as her vision ‘starting to go’.
Stephanie – who has played the role of Cindy Cunningham on Hollyoaks on and off since 1998 – was given a number of options including HRT but eventually opted for a Mirena coil.
The coil releases progesterone and an oestrogen gel after being applied to the skin.
She went on to say that after the coil she found that her anxiety went ‘through the roof’ and wondered how her new partner put up with her due to her ‘explosive’ behaviour.
The star then started to experience an itching sensation all over her skin that felt like bugs crawling all over her. It was diagnosed as ‘debilitating’ pruritus.
It was discovered that her hormone levels were wrong which in turn led to her difficult symptoms.
