To think I *do* need a breast reduction for medical reasons?

I recommend joining a facebook group called UK Breast Reduction Group. Lots of knowledeable women, many of which have had NHS surgery.

Op I think you need to return to your GP and discuss why you are not losing weight. I had a low thyroid and wasn’t eating much but the weight was just pilling on. Yes some people are in denial why they are not losing weight but at other times there is health reasons why

as for losing weight on your boobs I’ve lost four stone (Mounjaro) and gone from 36gg in to a 32 j. So very little weight has actually gone from my boobs but the extra fat around my back has so in more comfortable and I’ve always worn good fitting and correct size bras (can’t stress the importance of this enough)

I really feel for you ask to see another GP and request full blood tests as something doesn’t seem quite right and tell them you need help as you are in so much discomfort. Unfortunately we are too often fobbed off

I would definitely try to lose weight. I appreciate you probably don’t want to spend money on weight loss injections if you’re saving for surgery, but my friend who had a breast reduction had to have a BMI of 25 or less before they would operate. Your breasts really aren’t contributing the two stone to your weight that you claim.

All you can do really is cut back on everything or take out a loan.

If you post your income and outgoings on the money forum here, people are very helpful in suggesting how you can improve your situation.

I think pcos makes it as hard to lose weight as menopause, and I know myself that’s a total bastard.

I think the criteria for surgery is based on pain and chronic infections. It seemed to be for a girl I knew who got a tummy tuck on the nhs. It was because if the repeated infections and pain and she had to lose weight prior.

It took her four consultations (including with a psychologist to make sure she wasn’t doing this for some guy to make her more attractive apparently!!) and took six or eight years. I forget. But basically a long long time. She only got approved because of the infections. (She had been given a bad c section over a decade prior and it was an infected mess)

so if you do ask for a second opinion id make sure you’d lost a good few pounds prior so they can see you're determined. They won’t operate until you're under a certain weight for health reasons so you don’t die. She had to be under 12 st.

If the second doctor weighs you/you tell him youve lost x pounds since last gp spoke with you it’ll look good and that along with the repeated infections might convince them to proceed, providing youre healthy enough for an anaesthetic obviously.

losing weight will sort the rib pain. And the shoulder strap pain. I get that now Ive put on weight. My gut is also pushing the underwires into my armpits. I just need to lose weight. Sigh. Easier said than done.

I'm going to call mine the beasts now!!!!

Or a badly fitting bra. OP is perhaps too heavy but I’d be very surprised if beasts accounted for 6 stone.

With a 36 back you can be pretty overweight, I am. I eat approximately 1600-1800 calories a day yet don’t loose weight, I don’t use many calories to live it seems unfortunately. I get back ache from my breasts and my dr was clear, I need a bmi of 25 to be considered for reduction surgery on the nhs, they offered to refer for weight loss injections though

Look up the treatment access policy for your local area as this will detail the requirements to qualify for NHS treatment and will help if you know this when you go back to GP

I'm 'only' an E cup and I suffer back ache and sores - I can't even begin to imagine what life would be like with an M cup. I hope you can find a way to get a reduction

Your GP has done what they can by referring you to the funding panel. There are strict guidelines for quite a few procedures and your GP will have had to provide details of the reasons na for your referral . It can be a life changing procedure but I know that locally your BMI would have to be near normal and the panel would want some evidence of the impact I’m the problem is having on your life eg multiple surgery appointments with neck pain, osteopath or physio appointments etc. You could ask your GP what the local criteria are and work towards fulfilling them. The NHS is under strain but these guidelines for elective procedures have been in place for many years now. Your post seemed critical of your GP but they have no sway over this ; or at least they don’t in our area. There might be some scope for an appeal down the line but it may well come back with the same result. I’m very sympathetic by the way .

I used to work in a private hospital and it made me so sad when women came for reductions, their lives were blighted by their breasts, often living in constant pain and unable to work. Disgusting that the NHS won’t fund this tbh. I would definitely look into finance options. I’m so sorry you’re in this situation.

@Questionablmouse I don't onow if ot migjt help but my granny was a tiny lady with an enormous bosom. She always wore a long line bra and I think that helped. She was born in 1912 so decades before the NHS, let along breast reductions.

I definitely would exercise, little and often. Start with walking. It'll help strengthen your back and core muscles (alongside others) and improve circulation and flexibility. A great low impact form of exercise to combine with a healthy diet.

Just try a swimsuit that goes all the way up to neck? I think anything water based would be good for you as running and stuff must be painful for your breasts. I do hope they refer you to surgery at least at some point soon. If weight loss doesn't help. X

Sorry I know how hard losing weight is, so not meant as a fob off (I'm also five foot with big boobs) but the majority of breasts are fat tissue. You will lose a lot of size there if you get down very skinny. You'll still always have big boobs, but the back pain will lessen massively.

Could you try mounjaro or another weight loss jab privately? It seems a big surgery to me to pay a doctor to cut out fat and breast tissue from your boobs when there's a less invasive way to do it.

Ah, typo! That does make a difference. You’re still overweight, but nowhere near the same extent that your initial post implied. I think you’re still going to struggle to get a reduction on the NHS at the moment. As long as you are overweight they will use it as an excuse not to help you. You need to take all their excuses away.

Push push and keep pushing for this.

I had one for medical reasons but that was 25 years ago and I know that they have tightened the rules since then.

I was referred as my boobs were so heavy I kept getting lumps that had to be biopsied etc each time and it was at least twice a year. In the end my consultant said that the only way we could stop it happening was the surgery so he referred me. He said that the lumps were effectively scar tissue forming because of the weight, at least thats how I understood it.

It changed my life. The surgery was hard and the recovery took quite a while. I would say it was 3 months before I felt fully recovered, but it was worth it. I would recommend it to anyone who feels that they need it. And I lost just under a stone.

I feel you. Breast tissue is not fat, and doesn't go anywhere when you lose weight. I've lost 5 stones and have gone from 34j to 28hh, so still a bust measurement of 40 inches. Yes, this is much smaller than I was, as I have lost a lot of the fat around the breast tissue, but I think this is as small as it's going to get, now.

I also don't do wires. Have you tried molke? Step in, don't try to wrangle over your head...

But yes - go for a second opinion. And remember that a lot of surgeons don't think in cup sizes, they think in ml, as this is how they do augmentations. It may be worth doing a careful re-measure and try to work out what is fat and what is breast tissue.

I tried on the NHS for ten years. Met all the criteria. It even went to a voting panel. Had to go private in the end, did it on finance. I would be incredibly surprised if you managed to get one, and if you did it would not be any time soon. Fucks me off how other stuff is done on the NHS more willingly than this, but I won't go into it.

Massive boobs here. I have just lost nearly 4 stone and my back fat has gone a far bit and my boobs have gone down but not substantially. Gone from 38J to 36HH. But the change in look is considerably. Started at 16 stone now 12 stone.
I did the first 2 stone on 800Fast and I greatly recommend it, I still follow it, then MJ on 5mg now but am considering going up to 7.5 to get the last stone off.
For boobs and belly you need to limit carbs in my mind. No bread, potatoes or rice (I do have some in moderation but limit it completely). BMI have gone from 40 to 30. I am 5ft 3. I reckon my boobs weight 10bls. I do not ache anywhere near like I did before weight loss. I also do weights most days and take a collagen supplement. I am considering a boob reduction plus tummy tuck! Want to get the next stone off.
So weight loss needs to be your first goal. Try Michael Mosley's 800Fast. When you start struggling to keep it up take the weight loss injections (they are also anti-inflammatory so will help with aches and pains.

I had a breast reduction on the NHS for medical reasons. However, at the time of the appointment, I was overweight. I am 5’3 and weighed 12st, and was told I’d need to reduce my weight for the operation. I did reduce my weight, down to 9st, and whilst my breasts did reduce somewhat, it wasn’t enough to stop the pain. They were still abnormally large for my frame.

Keep going with your weight loss, and go back for a second opinion once you’re able to prove that your breast size is not a direct result of your weight. It’s life changing, and I hope you manage to get it xx

If you want this nhs funded, I think you need to get your BMI below 30 first.

This is good advice and I’d recommend the same.

Evidence that you are struggling to exercise due to the size of your breast too.

Get any pictures of you when you were a lower weight with same size breast to evidence your breast won’t shrink with weight loss.