Ariel Winter is only 17 years old. In an age — and at an age — when other celebrities are getting lip injections and other enhancements, Ariel Winter got her surgery for a very good reason.

At the age of 15 Ariel Winter’s breasts suddenly hit a growth spurt. While some might welcome that development, it got uncomfortable — even painful — for Winter.

“I was 15 years old with [size] F [breasts],” Winter told Glamour. “It’s like, ‘How do you navigate that?’”

Since Ariel Winter’s character on Modern Family is just now 16, the sudden increase in size even made it difficult for Ariel in terms of work.

“They had to hide it on Modern Family a lot,” Winter recalls. “Big sweaters, [or] strapping me down – which is fine – I understand that it doesn’t fit the character they have in mind. I understand that. But it was difficult to do that every day.”

Things got worse when Winter would step out to social events or on the red carpet.

“There was so little that I could wear that was age-appropriate,” Winter says. “I’d have to wear the dress that was super tight and formfitted everywhere because if I didn’t, it didn’t look good. I didn’t really have an option other than to wear fitted clothes. Everyone would [say], ‘Why is she dressing so mature? That’s so inappropriate for her age!’ I understood what they were saying. It’s not like I wanted to pick out those inappropriate dresses, it’s just that I didn’t really have another choice, or I was going to get ridiculed.”

“It’s hard when you’re a teenage girl and you already have a lot of ridicule and then you pile on more, and it’s kind of…it just gets too much,” she said.

to the people jumping all over Ariel winter for having breast reduction surgery, mind your business!! it's her body not yours!!!!

— tina. 26 (@nascarziam) August 14, 2015

So Ariel Winter decided to have breast reduction surgery. This was not some immature spur-of-the-moment kick. Ty Burrell, who plays Winter’s dad on Modern Family, emphasizes that Ariel is not like that.

“You know, I think the world of Ariel and just think that she’s just so grounded,” Ty Burrell said. “We’re very lucky. You have kind of a weird pride about all those kids as a TV parent. They’ve got their own parents and guardians, and they’re all very well taken care of, but you do have a sort of parental feel towards them.”

Now that she is a size more in proportion with how she feels she should be, Ariel Winter is looking forward to that red carpet.

“I’m just excited to try on all the dresses! Now I can wear all styles of dresses and all styles of things,” she gushes. “I don’t always have to pick the tightest, most formfitting dress I can find. I can pick something else and still feel good about myself.”

“It’s amazing to finally feel right. This is how I’m supposed to be.”

Ariel Winter 😍😍😍 pic.twitter.com/8TIdpKzwuo

— BABE WORLD (@BabeWorld1) August 6, 2015

why should ariel winter have to justify herself?

— lu (@heyits_Lu) August 15, 2015