Angelina Jolie’s former breast surgeon, Dr. Kristi Funk, is applauding the actress for the powerful way she now speaks about the scars from her preventative surgeries—calling them symbols of survival rather than loss.
In 2013, Jolie revealed she carried the BRCA1 gene mutation, which significantly increased her risk of developing breast cancer. At the time, doctors estimated her risk at 87 percent. Determined to take control of her health after losing her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, to cancer, Jolie underwent a preventative double mastectomy. The procedure reduced her risk to under 5 percent. She later chose to have her ovaries removed as an added safeguard.
In a recent interview with French Inter, the Oscar winner described her scars as “a choice,” explaining that she sees them as evidence of strength. “I’ve always been more interested in the scars and life experiences people carry,” Jolie said. “I’m not drawn to the idea of a perfect, scarless life. My scars remind me I made a decision to do everything possible to stay alive for my children.”
Dr. Funk, who performed the surgery, responded on Instagram with heartfelt praise. “I was her surgeon. I created those scars,” she wrote, adding that hearing Jolie refer to them as a “choice” reflects a profound healing journey. According to the physician, scars are not disfigurements but visible reminders of courage and second chances—something she believes Jolie embodies fully.
