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.

You’ll need to start saving your money, my love. My breasts sound like they were similar after losing 16st. I paid for a breast lift myself last January, it was £8k. No regrets.

Thank you so much. Do you know what I should say? I honestly have no idea what to say when I call up and ask to see the GP, I feel mortified at the idea of explaining my whole life story to the poor receptionist on the phone😟

I wouldn't say your female family members are experts on what other women's breasts are like. They aren't helping you with the things they say. And the surgeon was encouraging you to spend money. The whole cosmetic industry is built on insecurity.

Lots of women have saggy deflated breast after childbirth, even rather young women . We just rarely see such breasts in the media/ film which adds to insecurity.

Get measured for a well fitting, supportive bra. Wear it during intimacy, if you prefer.

If you are serious about surgery, visit a few for consultations. Look into finance plans or loans to fund it yourself.

See your GP and ask for a copy of the treatment access policy for your area or try and Google it. I don't think you'd qualify but it's worth a chat.

“Hello, I need an appointment with the GP about a breast related problem. Thank you”.

Say it's personal. Make sure you tell them about your psychological distress etc. they can apply for the funding but it's not a given you will get it.

the policies are sometimes called EBICS or POLCE so try googling that.

Here's one from London - I think it would come under breast augmentation and clearly wouldn't be funded (section 13.7) or breast lift (13.10) and also wouldn't be funded - basically only funded post breast cancer or trauma/burns.

https://intranet.northcentrallondon.icb.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/NCL-EBICS-Policy-v9.1.pdf

I will also point out, before someone comes along to suggest an individual funding referral (IFR) process, that you wouldn't get it via that route either as no exceptionality.

Sorry OP - I would ask your GP for a referral for counselling to help with your reaction to it and, as others have said, start saving.

You don’t have to explain anything to the receptionist if you don’t want to. Tbh, from your description, it sounds like any GP will be able to see what you mean by examining you.

@YYURYYUCICYYUR4ME posted a really helpful link. I would go along with points demonstrating your issues from that link. I wouldn’t be surprised if it took more than one GP visit either.

if your local icb doesn’t look like they fund it then the GP isn’t necessary at all but do fmd out beforehand so you can counter any reluctance.

If the local policy says not then I, as a GP, won't put the application in - waste of everyone's time. If it looks borderline then I'll give it a go.

It is very rare to get this kind of surgery on the NHS anymore even for mental health reasons. My friend is a consultant psychiatrist and said it was found that the patients distress would typically then focus on a different body part and an expectation would have been set up that they would have surgery to fix that. Its more or less been stopped now.

Firstly your breasts will likely fill out again in time, it isn't uncommon for women to have emptier breasts after breast feeding so give it some time. Secondly if you decide you still want surgery in future then you will probably need to pay for it yourself so start saving now.

Most women myself included have issues with their bodies and confidence after having children, if we all were able to get surgery on the NHS to rectify this the NHS would probably crash. Even women who have had cancer or need breast reductions due to sever back pain from large breasts struggle to get surgery.

But we could all kick up a stink, cry and say we need the NHS to give us cosmetic surgery for free to fix our mental health. We all live with things about our bodies that we hate, that trash our confidence. That doesn't mean that we should get to use NHS resources for this kind of surgery when people who need life saving treatment are waiting years and dying on waiting lists.

Thank you so much everyone truly for all your support and suggestions. I was so hesitant writing this thread in the first place for fear of hateful comments and back lash, but the amount of support and pure kindness has been so lovely. Thank you all🤍

With a b cup you must look pretty normal in any kind of clothing short of a triangle bikini?

Surgery won't make you look good naked, because the scarring is totally unpredictable. I had a breast reduction four months ago and I bloody love it but I'm 52 and don't care what I look like naked.

My scars are quite ropy, quite red and very noticeable. Also I have one boob bigger than the other, a common outcome of surgery. I have very limited sensation in either nipple. Again, common.

If my priority was feeling confident with a partner as opposed to wearing what I want, I'd stick to what nature gave me.

Unfortunately, I wouldn't get your hopes up when cancer patients are waiting or not even eligible for breast reconstruction after treatment in some areas.

Start a savings pot for if it's not going to happen.

It’s highly unlikely an elective breast reduction would push anyone awaiting life saving treatment down the list hence the warning that if the OP was successfully referred, had a surgeon agree to do the surgery and obtained funding she would still be in for a wait likely measured in years.

I accept that her description will be biased but she does sound like she’s experienced a dramatic change that hasn’t been solved by weight loss which is one of the recommendations (well done btw OP, three stones weight loss is an amazing achievement)

I honestly think you are far too young to decide you dont want any more children and you are so young to be breaking up with your last boyfriend having already had a child because of a perceived boob issue.

I dont think the NHS is for things like this and nor should it be. Really you need to put on some big girl pants hoike them up and start saving like mad if you really think this is going to help but the fact that you dont even know what to say to the GP makes me think you arent going to do that either.

Agree getting properly measured for a bra - recommend Bravismo who have seen and heard it all and will make no judgements. I am a size 8-10 but have 30FF boobs. Not my favourite part of my body because of the rest of me but I have learnt to accept it.

@Cornettoninja But it still uses NHS resources for what is ultimately a cosmetic procedure, her breasts are saggy they aren't causing crippling back pain. They may well improve in time, if she wants surgery then she should pay for it herself.

I anaesthetise on regular breast lists, I've done 1 case in 7 years, it's certainly not common but you can always ask for a referral if you meet criteria but I don't think it would be any time soon as such long lists for cancer at present. I'd be saving for private if was me, sorry!

@MairzydotesMairzydotes

Has it not occured to you that the OPs breasts are actually as bad as she's saying??? There ARE people who get extreme bad luck in these situations and she's one of them. Her breasts hang below her BELLY BUTTON and she can FOLD them!!!

Everyone saying that she should wait until she's finished her family - she can't have more children in this situation because the poor girl can't have sex

I had a breast reduction on the NHS when I was 18 (now 37) and it absolutely saved me - for mental health reasons!! Self-esteem is critical to a humans condition, and breast reduction is no more important that this surgery

OP - have you looked into crowd funding?

So bearing in mind that the NHS is on its knees with funding, bad management etc this should be a priority? Really?? In front of hip operations, knee ops, cancer treatments....

If I wanted something like this I would save up to get it done and I certainly wouldnt crowd fund. Can you imagine what sort of responses you would get from people.

I feel for you OP. I am in a similar situation due to a serious health condition. although it is possible in some areas to get breast reductions on nhs... don't think lifts are possible. I would suggest saving up to have it done privately.... in the uk. don't go abroad as there are so many horror stories!

With respect, 21 is very young to decide you don't want any more children. What if you had a relationship breakdown or, god forbid, were widowed and then met a wonderful partner when you were 32 who was desperate to be a Dad?

@Myhubbyisasweetheart So should I be able to have a face lift or a nose job on the NHS because my appearance affects my mental health negatively? What about botox or laser rejuvination for my skin or hair transplants for middle age men? Given that none of these things are available to all on the NHS I don't think a breast lift should be and it typically isn't. It is different if heavy breasts are causing physical pain but the OP isn't in that situation.

Anyone who is experiencing genuine mental anguish to the point that it's affecting their day to day life and relationships should absolutely seek help. We can't all truthfully say we need "cosmetic surgery for free to fix our mental health". For most of us, that would be an outright lie.