Actress Ariel Winter suffered in silence with extreme pain before deciding to undergo breast reduction surgery last year (15).

The Modern Family star went from a 32F to a 34D bra size and while she explains her decision was partially due to comments made about her appearance, the physical pain was the deciding factor.

"Being a 5-foot-tall girl and having extremely large breasts is really ostracising and excruciatingly painful," she tells People magazine. "But I didn't really express how I felt about that."

The 17-year-old goes on to explain she felt disparaged by comments made about the way she dressed, adding, "I'd just be wearing something anyone else could wear, but I'd read comments saying, 'She dresses inappropriately'."

Following her surgery, Winter was surprised how supportive friends and fans were and now she's confident about speaking out, in the hope her story will help others.

"I think it will be the only (cosmetic surgery) I'll have done, but I'm extremely happy with the decision I made," she continues. "It's important to talk about it because there are young girls suffering like I did. But there shouldn't be a stigma about it."

"It was an instant weight lifted off my chest - both literally and figuratively," she adds. "There's a confidence you find when you finally feel right in your body."