Valerie Bertinelli has candidly shared details about her body image journey and a series of breast surgeries while promoting her new memoir this month. The 65-year-old former Food Network star engaged in a revealing conversation with host Drew Barrymore at the 92NY venue in New York, coinciding with the release of her book titled Getting Naked: The Quiet Work of Becoming Perfectly Imperfect on March 10.
Graphic Revelations About Breast Deformities
During the event, Bertinelli did not hold back when discussing her physical struggles. She explicitly stated, 'If you read the book, you’ll know that my boobs are deformed, and I talk very extensively and graphically about how deformed they are. I had four surgeries in 2024.' The actress and television personality added with a touch of humor, 'My boobs suck, but I'm not dating, so it doesn’t matter.' Barrymore quickly interjected, emphasizing that Bertinelli is not dating 'yet,' lightening the mood of the serious topic.
A History of Surgical Procedures
Bertinelli's memoir delves deeper into her long history with breast augmentation. She initially underwent a boob job in the late 1980s, which she described as something she 'liked for a little while and then started to hate.' In a pre-release interview with People magazine, she explained that weight fluctuations over the years left her feeling dissatisfied, remarking, 'I felt like they were down to my belly button. I was like, "I just want my small boobs back."'
This desire led her to have the implants removed in 2024, but the procedure was followed by severe complications. Bertinelli recalled developing a serious infection that required additional surgery. 'The look on my doctor's face when he finally saw me made me think, oh s**t, I guess I should have come in earlier,' she said. 'He took everything out [the implant and the surrounding tissues] and then my breast became infected and started to cave in on itself. It became a crater.'
Ongoing Medical Challenges and Personal Acceptance
The star noted that she still requires one more surgery to 'even them out,' describing it as an ongoing ordeal. Despite the physical and emotional toll, Bertinelli has found ways to cope with humor and acceptance. Referencing her cats, she joked, 'Me and these guys are the only ones looking at my boobs anyways, but I don’t care because I can’t see without my glasses on... I’ll have to date somebody who can’t see.' She added, 'Anyway those were my boobs. Anybody want to date me? It was so serious I just had to find the humor in it.'
Public Displays of Body Positivity
Bertinelli's openness extends beyond her memoir. In December 2024, she posted a mirror selfie on Instagram wearing a black bra and underwear, captioning it with a message about body acceptance. She wrote, 'At some point I will talk about the madness my body has been through this year. But right now every lump bump wrinkle and saggy part of me just feels acceptance and simple appreciation to be standing in front of a mirror in a hotel bathroom in downtown Manhattan ready to color my roots late on a Monday night.'
This aligns with her broader message about vulnerability. In November 2025, ahead of her book's release, she expressed online, 'It may feel like a scary experience letting it all hang out, physically and emotionally, for everyone to see (and judge), but for me, that’s the point.' Her journey also includes a brief romance with writer Mike Goodnough in early 2024, which ended by November of that year, adding a personal layer to her reflections on dating and self-image.
Through her memoir and public appearances, Valerie Bertinelli continues to advocate for embracing imperfections, turning her painful experiences into a narrative of resilience and self-love that resonates with many facing similar struggles.
