Nhs breast lift? Anyone had one?

[rosygirl14]

Hi everyone, the title says it all. Has anyone had a breast lift on the nhs?
I understand the NHS is completely stretched to capacity and underfunded, but I know in some cases people have been granted one.

For some context - I’m 21 years old. I had a baby a year ago and due to pregnancy, breast feeding and weight gain / loss I have been left with what I can only describe an elderly woman’s breasts.
They are so embarrassingly awful. My breasts hang well below my waist, I can pull them outwards and fold them. When sitting they hang below my belly button. My nipples hang directly at the floor, and in bras all you can see is all the excess wrinkly skin at the top. I was a D before, and now I can barely fill a B cup.
My mental health has been affected by this so much, it’s ruined my relationship, and whatever self esteem I had left after having my son. I’m so depressed by the state of these and ashamed my body is this way at 21 years old.

Open a savings account. Put money in it. When there is enough, get surgery or therapy for self-acceptance. We all have shit boobs post pregnancy. This shouldn't be on the NHS any more than gender surgery should be. It's totally optional. People can't get cancer treatment (or reconstruction afterwards) because they're so overwhelmed with other actual medical problems FFS.

You would need to Google the policy in your local area
eg
https://www.derbyshiremedicinesmanagement.nhs.uk/assets/Clinical-Policies/Clinical_Policies/Cosmetic/cosmetic/Breast_Uplift_(Mastopexy).pdf

I have no experience of this kind of surgery on the NHS but I’d be very surprised if you were eligible.

what I would say is that a year isn’t long. My boobs lost a lot of volume when I stopped breastfeeding DS1 but it did improve after a while. Your body will still be changing and they could well come back.

You probably won't be eligible until you finish your family, if at all.

Highly unlikely you will get it on the NHS l would imagine. It’s quite common for pregnancy to trash them. There is a good chance they will improve after a time -mine did after about 9 months. Or you can pay to go private but not much point if you are going to have more children

I wonder if the was what Nye Bevan had in mind when creating the NHS.

I’m sorry OP I understand it’s having a massive impact on you and I’d feel similar. However the nhs very very rarely funds cosmetic procedures at all these days even if having a MH impact. At our practice there is a special form you can complete for breast augmentation but the criteria are strict and basically state you must have a physical health complication which requires correction. You can speak to your GP and ask to submit a form just in case but be prepared for disappointment. I would save yourself or ask for referral for MH support.

Even if it shouldn’t be offered, in some cases it is and has been (in reference to several old threads on here) hence why I asked. I expected a few comments like this, hence why I said I'm more than aware of the current state of the NHS but I wanted to ask anyway before I approach my GP and get laughed away.

I also know jurisdictions will have different criteria's, policies and obviously will be more overwhelmed/underwhelmed.

This is not a case of ‘shit boobs’ from pregnancy. This is a case of an extremely awful, life affecting issue. I have consulted with cosmetic surgeons who have agreed and told me as such. Therapy will not change a part of me that needs surgical treatment.

I don’t know why it seems to be an issue for you, if someone I knew / didn’t know had an operation on the NHS that would massively improve their self esteem and quality of life I’d be all for it. Anyone with utterly awful body issues which has affected deep parts of their life and become such an issue will understand where I’m coming from.

I work in the NHS waiting lists for medically needed surgery and tbh in general everything is a complete state so I can’t see how this kind of surgery would be done currently on the NHS

But like a lot of things. It used to vary between post codes.

I’d be saving up to go privately.

This is so lacking in empathy it's untrue. Did you actually read OP's description? This isn't what most women are dealing with after having babies. At all. And especially not at 21. If we accept that women need breast reconstruction after a mastectomy for MH reasons, I can't understand why the snarkiness and unpleasantness towards OP here.

Of course life-saving treatments should always be prioritised by the NHS and we all know it's in a dire state after decades of strategic underfunding but dismissing OP's genuine distress so unkindly is awful, even if you don't agree that her issue should be funded.

I approached my gp for a breast reduction as I have horrific shoulder pain, continuos infections under my breasts amongst other problems.
In our area (Sunderland) you have to be finished having children. A certain breast size, not over a certain weight and be at this weight for at least one year.
My gp did agree to the referral but I was knocked back after her as my weight was slightly over. I'm now working on my weight and minting it whilst putting a small amount of money aside every month.
Youse need to ask your gp what the referral rules are in your area.

Thank you for the lovely responses and advice. I’m not having any more children. My son is 14 months old and hasn’t been breastfed for a year now. I was told they would fix themselves in following months after breast feeding but they have got worse. I was also told that by losing weight (back to pre-pregnancy) would help this so I lost the three stone. They’ve obviously got even worse. I went from a DD to now barely a B cup and even that is all extra skin. I visited a cosmetic surgeon who told me I have very little breast tissue and a lot of excess skin which is just fabulous and that these are the worst breasts he’s seen for my age and quoted me 7 grand!

Try some collagen supplements. As I've lost weight mine have also got worse and my shoulder pain has got worse. If you do managed to be referred the waiting list in our area was 5+ years. So I thought in that time I may be able to save up and pay for it myself.
I was also told breastfeeding would give me my breasts back. It did not haha

I agree that you should probably start a saving fund.

I think if you did get as far as being considered for surgery you would have to demonstrate your need with a history of mental health support for the issue and/or a history of medical issues caused by your breasts such as fungal infections or other damage. if your GP is sympathetic it’s worth starting a savings fund anyway because as you’ve said, you’re in for quite a wait.

I'm sorry that your body has been so dramatically changed by pregnancy, it does that to most of us but yours does sound at the high end. Try to work on your confidence in spite of this. You grew and now raise a child. That’s nothing to be sniffed at.

Op, please find meaning in your life beyond perky boobs.

Sorry, I know it sounds harsh, but you must - to live a fulfilling life - shun the parts of the media, society etc that tell you that you must look a certain way to be happy or have purpose.

Unfortunately I can't see doctors accepting that you won't have more children when you're so young. And even if funding were available, they wouldn't do it at this stage because there's a high chance the same thing would happen all over again should you decide to have another child in the future. You can't say at that age that you're family is complete. I thought that once but actually went on to have a second child fifteen years after my first.

I do sympathise. I got pregnant with my first at nineteen and got stretch marks everywhere including the top of my arms and the back of my knees. My body hasn't recovered nineteen years on.

The reason I started this thread was because my mum suggested I approach my GP to ask about funding as she can see the toll it’s taken on my mental health. I know it doesn’t seem important or extreme as it’s deemed cosmetic, and of course they are much more important operations that are needed but aren’t granted especially for women who have unfortunately had cancer or medical issues with their breasts. I am aware of this.

But the fact is, it’s affected my life so severely it’s ended my relationship with my child’s father as I cannot bare to undress in front of him, have intercourse as I’m so ashamed. I can’t wear anything that’s not completely covering every inch of my upper body. I can’t even take my son swimming or went out doors at all in the summer as I’m so embarrassed to be seen. Female family members have commented and said they have not experienced what I am or breasts are in the same state as mine. And this is 40 year old women who have had several children. Not 21 years old with one child.
I would understand if I was older or had more children but I’m not. I’m still very young and the fact this issue is so severe is what is affecting me so much. I am saving up but with the inflation rates each year from cosmetic surgeons I’d possibly be fighting a losing battle.

I don’t suggest this lightly but it might be worth investigating how much a reduction would cost you abroad. You’d have to research options very deeply and seek lots of advice from others who’d used any service but you might find the cost is lower and more achievable. It would still be in the thousands I expect.

I’ve tried googling the policy in my area but nothing comes up. I also sent an email to the NHS patience services weeks ago enquiring about this (I called a number and they provided me with the correct contact email) and I haven’t had a response. My area is West Sussex. Does anyone know how I can go about finding this? I’m very reluctant to approach my GP before I know if this is even a possibility. Thank you x

I think PP have been harsh in their responses, OP. It's very clear that this is impacting your mental health and your latest update confirms that. Definitely see your GP to see what help is available for you.

I’ve tried this also. Several overseas surgeons have turned me away after consultations as ‘apparently the risk is too high’ of me developing some skin condition due to how much excess skin I have. I managed to find one surgeon but he wanted 9 grand and he was highly recommended from Brussels!

Gently, though - of course a cosmetic surgeon is going to tell you they're 'the worst he's ever seen'... so you'll sign on for his £7k procedure.

From the NHS website
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/breast-reduction-on-the-nhs/

If you Google "west Sussex, breast surgery guidance" or "west Sussex, cosmetic surgery criteria" and similar phrases you should come up with their guidance. If your area is blacklisted for cosmetic procedures (as many are) there will be no work around sadly. It would still be advisable to wait until your family is finished though or you'd require the surgery multiple times, breast surgery isn't a minor procedure.

Looks like you'd qualify under 'psychological distress', OP. Now make that GP appointment.