The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants star Amber Tamblyn revealed that she underwent plastic surgery when she was only 12 years old in a New York Times op-ed over the weekend. 

Amber disclosed that she had ear-pinning surgery after children at her school in Los Angeles made fun of her because they 'stuck out like big butterfly wings.' 

radio 3 the essay child actress had the procedure done when she landed her first major TV role at 12 on General Hospital.  

'I'd often stare at myself in the mirror wishing my ears would lay flat against my head,' Amber, now 41, wrote. 

Amber, who considered herself 'a fiery young feminist who raged against the patriarchy' even as a child, opened up in the essay about her choices as a child and what she thinks about them today. 




The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants star Amber Tamblyn revealed that she underwent plastic surgery when she was only 12-years-old in a New York Times op-ed over the weekend





Amber disclosed that she had ear-pinning surgery after children at her school in Los Angeles made fun of her because they 'stuck out like big butterfly wings'





The child actress had the procedure done when she landed her first major TV role at 12 on General Hospital










Once Amber realized she was going to be open to judgement on TV, she realized she wanted to get the procedure done

'For years, my parents watched me struggle with private shame, though they understood I was a tough kid who could handle it,' the author and poet wrote. 



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However, once Amber realized she was going to be open to judgement on TV, she realized she wanted to get the procedure done. 

'But once I knew millions of people all over the world would be judging me on their television screens, not just on a playground, that knowledge changed everything for me,' Amber continued.

Her first role was on the soap opera, which she starred on as Emily Bowen from 1995 to 2001.  

The House actress also wrote, 'I grew up a child actress in the sexualized spotlight of the entertainment industry.' 

She went on to openly discuss her three decades working with agents and directors and how she was told to 'stay as young as possible for as long as possible.' 

The Joan of Arcadia actress goes on to discuss the new body horror movie The Substance starring Demi Moore, which explores the astounding pressure of aging in Hollywood. 

Amber, who is married to Arrested Development actor David Cross and shares one daughter with him, doesn't believe that plastic surgery is bad and called it a 'deeply personal choice.' 




'I'd often stare at myself in the mirror wishing my ears would lay flat against my head,' Amber, now 41, wrote in the NYT op-ed 





Amber posted the essay on Instagram and her followers supported her finally sharing her story in the emotional essay










Instagram commenters called the Two and a Half Men star's op-ed 'brilliant, 'gut-wrenching' and 'outstanding'

Amber posted the essay on Instagram and her followers supported her finally sharing her story in the emotional essay. 

Producer Carri Twigg said that she 'gasped at the devastating truth of it all.' 

Other Instagram commenters called the Two and a Half Men star's op-ed 'brilliant, 'gut-wrenching' and 'outstanding.' 

On X (formerly Twitter) the response was much the same, with followers praising her vulnerability and calling it 'direct and impactful.' 


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