Ariel Winter’s estranged mother claims Modern Family star should not ‘flaunt’ breast reduction surgery scars

Winter's mother claims she should have waited before undergoing surgery

Ariel Winter at the SAG awards (Getty Images )

While the rest of the world lauded Ariel Winter for having the courage to display her scars from breast reduction surgery, there was one woman who was less supportive: her mother.

The actress, 18, underwent surgery to reduce her breasts from 34F to 34C after struggling with years of back pain.

Fans noticed her scars while Winter was wearing a low cut dress at the Screen Actors Guild earlier this year. Unfazed, Winter responded on social media with a message explaining why she would never be ashamed of her scars. She also penned an essay for Motto on her decision and described how she was sexualised from a young age because of her breasts.

“I grew into my body so young,” she wrote. “I was 13, 14 years old, and I looked 19. Suddenly, people didn’t want to talk about my job - they just wanted to talk about my cleavage.”

Winter became legally emancipated from her mother Crystal Workman shortly before turning 18, claiming she had subjected her to physical and emotional abuse. In an interview with Inside Edition, her Ms Workman strongly denied these allegations and claimed her daughter may have “conjured up stories” to further her career.

She also took a less positive stance on her breast augmentation. “She should never be embarrassed about her scars,” said Workman. “But what she shouldn’t do is be flaunting them and showing them to everybody.

“I am surprised that she did it so young and that the doctor did it for her so young - that she wasn’t at least 21 to fully develop.”

Representatives for Winter did not immediately respond to a request for comment but Winter appeared to address the comments in an Instagram post on Wednesday.

“To all those who have gone through challenges and someone has tried to tear you apart, even when it's someone you love, keep trusting in your own heart,” she wrote. “Build from your heart and know that every obstacle life hands you is an opportunity to show yourself how strong you truly are.”