To ask about NHS funding for breast surgery?

[bluejeanswhiteshirt]

I posted on here a while ago about wanting a boob job and had a very positive response. Please don't judge me for the title of this thread as I'm sure it will stir up a lot of attention but I would like to hear people's experiences and opinions on this.

Basically I have a teenage boy's chest with tiny bulbs where my breasts should be. My left breast has zero breast tissue and my right breast is roughly 3 cups bigger (but still there is barely any breast tissue and they are tubular.

I'm not just some dumb girl who wants to look like Katie Price, my breasts are actually deformed NOT small. My mum died of breast cancer so this is a serious subject for me.

Thank you.

[bluejeanswhiteshirt]

LEM that would be ideal

Thanks for being so helpful and understanding everyone. I really don't want to be compared to that girl who had a boob job on the NHS a couple of years ago because that story really angered me, especially when my mum was suffering so much. I don't want to be a glamour model, I don't want men to gawk at me, I just want to have breasts.

[rambunctious]

I had breast enlargement surgery 5 years ago and i was fortunate enough to be able to pay for it myself.
I was less than an AA cup and the consultant, at my initial appointment, said that I had a medical need for the surgery. I didn't investigate that route - as I said, I was able to pay myself, but perhaps that gives you some idea.

It WAS five years ago, though, so I take others' points about the NHS tightening up now.

[flashheartscanoe]

Go to your GP. I have had a mastectomy due to breast cancer and i was offered any procedure I wanted after. I went for a simple reconstruction. There is no reason why you should not have a similar choice in your situation.

[M00nUnit]

I know exactly what you mean OP - I never wanted a huge pair or men gawking at me, I just wanted to be a "normal" size. Now since I've had a boob job (only 270ml each side so not very big) I never feel self-conscious about my chest. I hated being flat but now it's a non-issue. It was worth every penny of the £2,500 it cost me (4 years ago). Good luck whatever you decide to do!

[Pantone363]

Life is to short to be miserable about something which can be fixed.

There's no harm in asking the GP OP. Good luck!

[KurriKurri]

I think you might well be eligible for NHS funding, certainly worth asking. I would get the results for the BC gene done first then armed with that info, ask if you can see a plastic surgeon.

I can tell you my experience if it is at all helpful. I had a breast reconstruction last year after a mastectomy. They used tissue from my stomach (there are various options all of which you would need to talk through with a consultant - they can do implants, or transplant tissue from you stomach, bottom, or back)
It is a very big operation, the BMI thing is partly to do with reducing the risks if you have to be under GA for a long time (my op took 10 hours, and I was in hospital for a week afterwards.) They are very strict about you not being overweight. Implants are a simpler op I believe but not suitable for everyone.
The plastic surgeons were amazing - so supportive and kind, and it has made a huge difference to my life and my confidence.

The main thing is to arm yourself with all the info you can so you can ask all the right questions. I would have thought that your GP should at least refer you to a plastic surgeon, and they will make the decision over whether you are eligible for funding, certainly no harm in asking, I hope you are successful

[bluejeanswhiteshirt]

I could cry at the thought of taking my top off in front of the GP if I get an appointment tomorrow, it's going to be awful. They're worse than what you could ever imagine. I remember being rushed to hospital in an ambulance when I was 20 due to gallstones, the paramedic lifted my top to put the sticker things on my chest and I could see the look on her face and I was mortified even though I was losing conciousness due to the pain. And again when my DD was placed on my chest when she was born, obviously it wasn't my first thought but I was still very aware and self concious and that really upsets me looking back because it should never have been an issue. I'm rambling now.

[Babyroobs]

It's od how some people get help and not others. A few years ago a colleague of mine had a breast reduction on the NHS. In all honesty her breasts were only slightly on the large side, I have seen others whose breasts are hugely disproportinate to the rest of them, but this colleauges were not like this at all. I have never been so amazed as when she told us itwas being done on the NHS.

[Petallic]

The NHS did used to offer implants for tubular breasts. I had the same thing and when I saw a plastic surgeon (private consult) she said she could also do via the nhs and could refer me, but the wait would be about a year. I was 18 and impatient so got myself into a tonne of debt to have it done privately. But this was +15 years ago so the rules may have changed. Good luck OP at your appt with yr GP.

[Golfhotelromeofoxtrot]

Babyroobs- I imagine it would have been back related, you have no idea of her medical history.

Good luck OP. Be brave. Short term discomfort, but at least you'll start to get an answer.

[BMW6]

Sorry OP but I think the NHS should not pay for breast augmentation. I can see the case for breast reduction, because of the issues with bad backs.

I wish there was a system where one could meet half or more of the cost, so you get the op but pay for at least half of it.

I am really not unsympathetic - but the NHS was not ever set up for this and cannot possibly afford it.

FWIW I was born with a deviated septum ( my nose is rather like Stephen Fry's). NHS has done two ops to open airway on one side, but not to straighten the nose - that would be cosmetic.

[bluejeanswhiteshirt]

I understand what you're saying BMW but I feel like I at least deserve the chance to see whether it would be possible and if it is then I'm definitely going to go through with it. Sorry if that annoys people but if you had my chest then you would understand.

[Flowershower]

I have had surgery on the NHS for problems exactly the same as this, although in my case it was because one breast was scarred and much bigger post breastfeeding. I was wearing mastectomy bras because I had literally no boob on one side, just a flap of skin with a nipple and a c cup on the other. My surgeon did lipofilling because I didn't want implants. It worked really well for me, but then I had lots of skin, as the flat side had been stretched so much whilst BFeeding. Go and talk to your GP, it took me ages and I was so embarrassed about my body that I wouldn't go swimming, wouldn't let my husband see me naked etc. The results are incredible - it took two lots of lipofilling which was bloody painful but I look normal again. I don't have perfect tits, but they are vaguely the same size and I can buy bras again.

[floatyjosmum]

I've had breast surgery on the nhs for similar reasons. I spent a number of years being told that they don't have to look the same and lots of people have different size breasts etc until a female relative saw me getting changed and said that wasn't normal! (Made me feel great!!)
I saw the gp who referred me to the breast clinic and the surgeon agreed to the op at that appointment and it was done 6 months later - this was in 2006.

What I would warn you is that implants do not have a definite lifespan and if you paid for your own they may only have a 3 year guarantee however on the nhs they will deal with any issues. I developed contracture which is painful and had to have them replaced - had a different surgeon who to be honest made them look awful so I went back to the original surgeon - so do check out the surgeon and what technique they use - I've had lipomodelling and although more painful it does seem more natural.

My bmi would have been low the first time but is now 32 and this wasn't an issue

I would say it's worth getting it checked out and see what your options are. However it may be that you are offered surgery following your genetics tests anyway.

[maddening]

Do you mean just surgery to repair the breast without breast tissue - which imo is fair enough on NHs.

Equally if you were suggesting the removal of your other breast due to family history of breast cancer with reconstruction of both breasts that again would be fair enough on NHs imo as if would correct the deformed (as in no breast tissue present ) breast and remove/ reduce risk of breast cancer.

[bluejeanswhiteshirt]

Flowershower that's great to hear, I'm glad you're happy with your boobs again. My left one i just a flap of skin with a nipple and my bra rides up because there's nothing to even slightly fill it.

I don't mind waiting even if it's a year or 2 away, just knowing that it can be sorted will keep me going. I'm interested in the fat transfer option and I have enough on my bum to make 5 pairs! But serioisly, thanks for sharing your positive story, I hope I can do the same.

[bluejeanswhiteshirt]

Seriously**

[bluejeanswhiteshirt]

To be honest I think I have zero breast tissue in both but the right one seems bigger because the glands or ducts became swollen when I tried breastfeeding. It was so sore at the time and honestly looked like I had a really fat sausage stuck to my chest because there was just the milk there and no breast tissue.

Ideally I would like to remove what ever miniscule amount there is and either have implants or another method to fill the gaps up. I'd be happy with very small boobs, as long as I have boobs.

I'm feeling confident now I know people have had it done, tbh I'd be surprised if they say no and I'm very pessimistic usually so you can imagine how bad it is.

[bluejeanswhiteshirt]

Made an appointment for 4pm today. Wish me luck!

[rambunctious]

Good luck!

[bluejeanswhiteshirt]

Thanks rambunctious. I'm in the waiting room now and feel like I'm going to either pass out, cry or be sick. Hopefully, if any, it will just be the second one.

[bluejeanswhiteshirt]

GP thinks I'm a likely candidate and has applied for funding.

[OurGlass]

Great news, so happy for you xxxx

[rumbleinthrjungle]

I had the opposite problem to you in that at the age of 17 I was a 32K, and if there had been anything larger I'd have been in that. My experience was that some hospitals/surgeons are more helpful than others and it's worth trying a couple of opinions. They were considering on the grounds of being so large it was a deformity/body image issues/neck and shoulder pain rather than cosmetic. In the end my local hospital were unwilling and I gave up for some years, then had it done privately at around the age of 30 after talking to a couple of different surgeons.

Best thing I ever did. Huge, huge, huge impact, physically and mentally. Although when I came around after the op it was to a worried surgeon breaking it to me that what he'd taken out of my breasts was literally 8lbs of cysts. Samples of which had been taken to the lab for urgent testing. Thankfully they were benign, but no one I saw in all that time, including my GP, ever thought to look into medical reasons why my breasts had formed that way, taken samples, checked my hormones. If they had it would definitely have become seen as a medical problem and not a cosmetic one. You may find it helpful to steer them in that direction - has their been any investigation into why and what's going on? That adds evidence that helps.

If you do want to talk to a few other people a lot of different plastic surgeons will offer a free or very cheap initial consultation. I spoke to three before I found someone I trusted. A lot of private hospitals also offer instalment payment plans if you talk with them.

As for shyness - I was the same but please don't worry or let that hold you back. They are very professional, they do this all the time and they're aware that this is hard and used to helping patients through it. They also do incredible jobs with reconstructive surgery, I put it off for years being afraid of the scarring. Now I look and think - what scars? The skill of that team was incredible.

[wootle]

And people wonder why there are insufficient NHS resources to provide proper care/ treatment for those suffering life threatening illnesses!

Get a job, save up and pay for it yourself.