Will the NHS consider breast reduction now my symptoms are worse?

[ButterflyLounge]

I’ve had the last straw. I am exhausted. Im on the verge of tears.

I have pain in my lower sternum constantly from the weight of my bra wire, if I’m not wearing a bra my boobs feel heavy and horrendous and they’ll be sore by the end of the day, the skin at the top tugs.

Sleeping is a nightmare, I can’t remember the last decent nights sleep I got. If I sleep on my front I wake up with the most agonising back ache ever. If I sleep my my back they fall and tug to the sides and my kids end up squashing them and elbowing them.

my bra straps just bloody hurt, all of the time.

and to put the cherry on top, I did a lot of tossing and turning last night and I’ve woke up today with what I think is a pulled muscle in my tit.. every step I take sends a shooting ache through my boob, everytime I twist or move too. It’s horrible and I can’t take it anymore I just want rid of them honestly 😭

for reference I’m 30 years old, am a 34J, size 14-16, 5ft. (I know I need to lose some weight and they won’t even consider me until I have) but I was an E cup at 14, I was a GG when I was still in size 8-10 clothes and hated them back then.

I was 18 when I was told no by the NHS. I’ve since had two children and husband has now had a vasectomy. Surely.. just surely they will consider me now?!

It will all depend on where you live, different NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICB) have different criteria - your Gp can tell you the specific criteria for your area.

Most ICBs criteria will require you to be within a specific BMI range, non smoker & generally otherwise well, this is to ensure that it’s specifically the excess breast tissue causing you the pain and not for example Fibromyalgia, obesity, arthritis etc.

Thanks for your reply. I’ve been reading up on this this evening.

I’m a none smoker, could definitely exercise more but my job is 2.5 hours of constant movement and tidying so I’m not completely sedentary at least. I 100% need to lose weight and do count as obese according to BMI. But, the weight of my boobs really throws it off, because even losing weight my boobs don’t really change 😭

Sounds tough.

No idea on the reduction but I was similarly those sizes when younger. Then until quite recently a 36JJ at a size 16. Lost 3st with Mounjaro, now a size 12 but they are still a 32H.

Anyway. I sleep in soft bras or yoga bras and would be very uncomfortable otherwise. I also have a range I wear at home or even out sometimes. I would never be without some kind of support. I even find them too heavy when in the shower.

In general I'm quite comfortable and although I used to want a reduction, I feel pretty good these days as I am. Happy to recommend some softer, comfy but still supportive bras, if that would be helpful.

I really sympathise, especially as you have children as well and it’s somehow worse when you short of stature as you just feel dragged down even with an industrial bra.

I think it does skew your BMI as when I hit my ideal weight the fancy body fat scales I had still showed my body fat as obesity levels and my BMI was at high range of normal. Also I only went down one cup size
which was just bloody insulting really.

Maybe worth going back to GP again and asking to be re referred and for some help with weight loss while you are waiting for your appointment.

Have you looked into going private?

Both me and my mum have absolutely massive tits and we're short too. My mum got all the way to the planning stage and then the board said no, after numerous consultations with surgeons who recommended going ahead to improve her life.

I have hypermobile spectrum disorder and the weight of my breasts dislocates my arm, I can't even get a bra on, I just keep getting sent to and fro physio with them saying it's hypermobility there's nothing we can do and sending me back, in pain, with limited mobility in my arm, crippling back pain, neck pain, migraines. I hate looking at them as they look so disproportionate to my body, nothing fits, and I can't afford the massive tit tax on bras for anybody bigger than an F cup, even if I coild get those bras on.

I've been to my GP twice and they've sympathised but they've said it's just not enough and it doesn't matter how well they put the case forward, it will be rejected as it just isn't in the ICB budget.

If I didn't already have raging debt, I would get tits on the tick. If you can, I would recommend that is what you do.

Please! I’ve been looking for soft comfy bras for ages and just can’t never find one that isn’t choking my ribs, or my boobs fall out through the front!

I'd do it privately if it's that bad. Even if agreed you will becon a waiting list

I unfortunately just can’t afford private and likely never will 😮‍💨

This only goes to an H but fits quite large so worth a go.

Ultimate comfort bra from bravissimo

Pretty bralette from bravissimo

I used to buy Decathlon longline yoga bras in size XXL, super comfy. Can't see the same one on sale now, but they may have something similar.

I've heard very good things about Boody and Molke, but haven't tried either brand personally.

Another soft one from Curvy Kate, I haven't tried myself

Curvy Kate also do amazing reversible swimsuits without underwires. Highly recommend.

I quite like the bralettes from here for around the house
https://www.reign-studio.com/

I don't know, but keep asking!
You can't be very overweight if your band sized 34.
I hope you get somewhere with it.

Can you take out a loan to go private? It will be worth every penny.

i had it done in my 20s, went from
a 34J/K to an F, normal BMI. They have increased a bit 20 years later but the big difference is the shape. They were ‘tightened up’ and even 20 years later they remain in that position. They barely move when I take my bra off. This means I don’t really feel the weight of them and haven’t had any pain in 20 years.

It’ll be the best decision you’ve ever made, good luck.

Mine are a similar size, so commiserations.

Things to try:

Molke bras. I haven't worn wires since 2019. I'm around a Medium Mega but measure following their instructions.

Silicone bra cushion pads from Amazon. Have only just got these but they're helping my sore shoulder divots where decades of bras have worn grooves in my shoulders.

Tit tax lol
Love it
😂

You need to lose weight OP, bottom line.

I had a BR many years ago. I went from 11st 7 to 9st 10, had my BR from a GG to an E, lost a further 1.5 stone (now 8st) and am now a C/D.

weight is a factor, like it or not.

im 5’4 for reference.

you dont need to exercise to lose weight but i have done the last 1.5 stone through calorie counting and walking.

Most trusts won’t consider it now, we wouldn’t where I work there just isn’t enough money! I am a 36kk I buy from curvy kate/ flitelle/bravissimo and have swim suits from bra stop.

Looking at the criteria here you should be able to get it done but it seems that it varies from area to area:

https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/cosmetic-procedures/cosmetic-surgery/breast-reduction-female/

If you were 18 when you last asked they probably wouldn't do it because of your age. Definitely worth going to GP, laying it on thick and saying how much it affects your life (and also say your ability to exercise - it's much easier to move with smaller boobs and of course exercise is good for your wider health).

Get the criteria for your area and work through to make sure you meet them all. Some judicious exaggeration may be necessary.

I think it's outrageous that it isn't routinely done. The smaller your boobs are, the better for your overall health. Once again, something that would easily be done for men.

It may not be the advice you want to hear, the things that improved my life were low carb boot camp to loosing weight and a really well fitting bra from the no tape measures

https://www.rigbyandpeller.com/en-gb?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=RP_Google_Search_UK-EN_Branded_Brandname&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19772374519&gclid=CjwKCAjwu53SBhAhEiwAJzSLNoY4nBewYX6uF2AopFRXCL-sr7sj5YOFPDtegjfsj5YqL7YMg3tdwBoCbIYQAvD_BwE

Hi. I was approved for a NHS reduction this week, so don’t lose heart, it can happen. I think your chances are definitely higher post kids (and post menopause too but I know that’s not what you want to hear!).

fwiw my impressions of eligibility were:

no point in even asking if you can’t tick every box on the list. This might mean keeping records. Receipts from specialist bras shops. Copies of weight loss certificates (slimming world etc) or other proof of weight loss. If there’s a maximum bmi, when you hit it, take a photo of your scales as some commissioners insist you maintain a certain bmi for a year or so.

once you do meet every criterion, go to the GP. I got the impression that as long as you can show you meet the criteria, your GP will refer you. Mine didn’t even look at my boobs 🤭

once I got in to see the consultant, I got the impression that the most important thing was how they fall. My boobs end a couple of inches above my waist and the consultant was very interested in how long they were; measured them and everything! It also seemed to matter that my nipples point entirely down; my boobs have literally no lift of their own. At 32 H and 5’1” that’s not funny. I guess it makes it more likely that my claims of back pain were likely to be true. Oh, I think she also eyeballed my shoulder grooves, which are very marked.

i kept expecting the Spanish Inquisition (even though no one does - one for the 80’s kids, there!) but it never came. Maybe the fact that my boobs unfurl rather than release had something to do with it…I got the impression they all thought “bloody hell, look at those” but were far too polite to say so. Anyhow, there was no questioning, just a scary sketch of the operation (reduction, lift and moving/reduction of nipples) and a tearful gibberish of thanks by me.

there are 4000 - 5000 breast reductions on the NHS annually. I will keep my fingers firmly crossed that you get one. Happy to try to answer any questions you may have. Big love.

Can I ask which trust this was?

I had a similar experience with expecting the Spanish inquisition and a lot of hoops to jump through for bariatric surgery.

Really all I had to do was go to the GP and say here's what I've already tried, here's a chart of my fluctuating weight, here are the receipts for my weight loss injections, here's my clock ins for my gym membership and I was referred to tier 3 weight management. On my introduction call with tier 3 weight management the nurse asked what my overall goal was and said looking at everything I have done I would qualify for the bariatric pathway if I could commit to 6 months of weigh ins and specialised bariatric dietary counselling.

I honestly expected at least 2 years of tier 3 weight management and a lot of hoops and judgement but it was really easy to get on to the bariatric pathway. I had previously asked in a different city under the same trust and was told pretty much not to bother pushing for it, with the gap of covid in between requests.

Ooh I don’t know the trust but it’s the north east if that narrows down the commissioning body

edited to say, hello, @Jimmyneutronsforehead! I’m one of the ones you inspired on the WLI thread! Good to see you!

Hello ❤️