Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has made global headlines with a historic medical achievement, a successful 11-hour surgery that removed 20.86 kilograms of breast tissue from a 17-year-old girl who was suffering from gigantomastia—a rare condition characterized by excessive breast growth.
The complex surgery, performed on September 22, 2025, gave the patient, Lydia Musivi, a new lease on life after enduring an 18-month ordeal that left her physically incapacitated and emotionally distressed.
The teenager had reportedly lived with the condition for 18 months, and it had led her to leave school, as walking and even standing up straight had become a struggle.
The operation was led by Dr. Benjamin Wabwire, Head of Specialized Surgery and Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon at KNH, with support from a multidisciplinary team.
The operation, hailed as the largest procedure of its kind worldwide, has been described as a milestone for Kenya’s medical community and a triumph of skill, compassion, and innovation.
What is Gigantomastia?
Gigantomastia is a rare medical condition characterised by the excessive and often rapid growth of breast tissue, either in one or both breasts and is always non-cancerous. The condition can cause significant physical and emotional distress for those affected.
It can be puberty-induced, where the rapid growth occurs during adolescence; pregnancy-induced, due to hormonal changes; drug-induced, by medications or most commonly, idiopathic, which means there is no identifiable cause for the excessive growth.
Lydia has since been discharged and is recovering at her home in Mwingi, Kitui County. Doctors say her prognosis is excellent, and she is expected to return to school in January 2026 to resume her studies.
The patient’s mother, Naomi Mutwenda, described the family’s long struggle to find help.
“I watched my daughter disappear under the weight of this illness. It stole her confidence and her future. We felt hopeless until we were referred to KNH from Garissa County Referral Hospital,” she said. “The team saved my daughter’s life. They didn’t just treat her; they gave her back her future.”
Dr. Wabwire emphasized the human impact of the operation, noting that it symbolized more than surgical excellence. “This was more than a surgical success; it was the restoration of a young woman’s dignity and future.”
