When 17-year-old Lydia Musivi, walked into Kenyatta National Hospital, she was anxious and withdrawn, avoiding eye contact with anyone.
Her discomfort stemmed from a rare medical condition — her overgrown breasts, which together weighed 20.86 kilograms.
According to Dr. Benjamin Wabwire, the lead surgeon who headed the medical team that performed the life-changing procedure, Musivi confidence was restored almost immediately after the operation.
“I could see that she was doing everything possible to avoid talking to anyone, especially when faced directly. She was a young girl suffering as much psychologically as she was physically,” Dr. Wabwire told The Star.
“After the procedure, I noticed a dramatic change. When I visited her in the ward, where she stayed for two weeks, she was smiling, willing to engage the doctors, and could sustain conversations,” he added.
Dr. Wabwire, who heads the Department of Specialised Surgery and serves as a Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon at KNH, said that before the surgery on September 22, the medical team spent several days counselling the girl and her family — explaining the nature of the operation and the changes she would experience afterward.
“Due to the excessive weight she carried on her chest, she suffered chronic back and neck pain,” he explained.
“The stigma and shame associated with her condition also caused deep emotional and psychological distress. She even complained of persistent skin irritation and itching.”
The groundbreaking 11-hour
procedure has given the teenager a new lease on life after nearly two years of
suffering from gigantomastia — a rare disorder that causes excessive and rapid
breast growth.
Wabwire said the girl breast mass took up much blood in her circulation system, hence the anesthesia team had the difficult job of managing bleeding, and ensuring that the system do not shut down given the drastic change in her body weight.
He said the procedure was a first one, and that when he looked through literature, there are only two such cases but of adults with advanced age.
Her ordeal began about 18 months ago, when Mueni's breasts began to enlarge abnormally.
The condition led to chronic pain, severe skin infections, and deep emotional trauma.
The weight of her breasts — accounting for approximately 37 percent of her total body weight — made walking and standing nearly impossible, forcing her to drop out of school and abandon her dream of becoming a teacher.
On September 22, a multidisciplinary team of Kenyan and South Korean specialists performed the complex reconstructive surgery that transformed her life.
Dr. Wabwire described the procedure as more than a medical success — it was “a restoration of a young woman’s dignity and future.”
“Our team at KNH proved that with world-class skill and compassion, we can overcome even the most extreme medical challenges,” he said. “We are not just treating conditions; we are transforming lives.”
Joel Lessan, the Deputy CEO of KNH, said the success of the surgery demonstrates that the hospital is staffed with world-class medical talent capable of handling complex cases locally.
“While equipment remains a challenge, our human resource capacity and strong administrative goodwill have enabled KNH to serve the nation with dedication,” he said.
“This is not an isolated case. KNH performs groundbreaking procedures every week. If you visit here on a Friday, you’ll find many similar stories.”
Lessan added that the Social
Health Authority fully covered the cost of the procedure.
"The family found relief because they were not asked to pay even a cent. SHA paid all the bill and this procedure is quite expensive. It could cost between Sh2 to Sh4 million. This should dispel all the misconception out there that the insurance is not working," he said during an interview at his offices.
Instant analysis
The surgical breakthrough shows that the public facilities can actually work if given enough support and necessary investments.
