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AIBU?

To ask about NHS funding for breast surgery?

130 replies

bluejeanswhiteshirt · 04/06/2015 16:44

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.

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bluejeanswhiteshirt · 06/06/2015 10:10

Klayden I completely understand why you said it and I appreciate that you were nice about it instead of assuming I want a 'free boob job' like some people.

I ended up crying in the GP's office and asked her if she agreed that they are deformed and she politely nodded and said she thinks a surgeon would be able to see why I wanted the operation. She's a great doctor and made me feel really comfortable.

I've looked at the pics on google too and most of them look good compared to mine. From the side I look like a boy with a golf ball under my skin on one side, and then a tiny nipple on the other. It really is awful to look at.

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bluejeanswhiteshirt · 06/06/2015 10:14

Bewildered the GP did mention hypoplasia and I've had a look into it and I'm almost certain that's what I have, and they are definitely tubular. I just have to wait and see now.

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FunkyPeacock · 06/06/2015 10:21

Hi OP
I would also like to apologise for my fairly abrupt and not very sympathetic reply on the first page of this thread
As the owner of A cups myself I'm afraid my default response to people seeking breastfeeding implants tends to be fairly negative but having googled tubular breasts I can now appreciate that there is a big difference between what I have (v small but 'normal' breasts) and what you are describing

good luck with getting NHS funding Flowers

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FunkyPeacock · 06/06/2015 10:22

Breasts implants not breastfeeding implants!

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wallaby73 · 06/06/2015 10:29

I don't think many pp know what tubular breasts can look like...it is classed as a congenital abnormality, and can be hugely uneven; as the OP describes, you can have nothing more than a large "bulb" on one side and as described, a much large "tubular" mass on the other side that bears little resemblance to a "normal" breast. Very distressing, and i can only urge you to gather your courage and ask. Regrds genetic testing. (And i am speaking from the POV of being treated for breast cancer right now) this is also worth asking; the genetic question lies in the characteristics of your mum's cancer, which you understandibly may not know (triple negative indicators suggest a genetic link a lot more than hormone positive tunours, for example) but it's a simple blood test . All the best xx

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OrangeVase · 06/06/2015 10:29

Irrelevant to OP really but I googled tubular breasts as I had never heard of them. And that's what I have got. I always knew they were droopy and used to wish, wish, wish that my nipples were not facing the floor. They are large - (34J). I spent my teens in misery but got used to them. My DP loved them and it never occurred to me that there was anything actually wrong with them. I got a good bra - changed my life.

So - mid fifties - I discover that they are "correctible!"

OP - your situation is different. Ask the GP. But don't underestimate the risks and discomfort of surgery - it isn't a quick fix. Flowers

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bluejeanswhiteshirt · 06/06/2015 12:17

No problem Funky and thank you for your kind wishes Smile

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bluejeanswhiteshirt · 06/06/2015 12:30

Thank you wallaby, I hope your treatment is going well Flowers

And thanks to you too Orange x

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DarrellRiversGlintingEye · 06/06/2015 12:58

I hope you get it sorted bluejeans - I don't think you're being unreasonable in the slightest, and I hope it all goes well for you Smile

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Sallystyle · 06/06/2015 13:15

I wanted some lipomas removed on the NHS. I am covered in them, all over, I lose count when counting them and they bloody hurt when I lean against them.

I was told I have no chance of getting any removed on the NHS as they are just cosmetic, even though they hurt! They also affect my confidence and during... intimate moments they hurt even more because touching me or putting any pressure on my body is painful. I know I can't get them all removed but some would help.

That said, I am really glad the GP is helping you. And I hope everything goes well. You deserve to have the operation and you are the kind of person who I think should certainly be allowed to get it done on the NHS.

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bluejeanswhiteshirt · 06/06/2015 14:53

Thanks U2, I'm sorry the NHS couldn't help you. I didn't know what lipomas were until I just did a quick google but I can imagine they are very uncomfortable. It was very nice of you to comment.

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bluejeanswhiteshirt · 06/06/2015 16:28

Just seen that the BMI requirements for my area are 18.5-25 and I think I'm roughly a stone over. Would I need to lose the weight before they grant funding or would I get a chance to lose it before the operation date? (if I was to be accepted) does anyone know?

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BewilderedAndAngry · 06/06/2015 17:55

Here you'd be seen at the clinic, they'd tell you (hopefully) that you meet the criteria apart from the weight and they'd get you back to the clinic in 3-6 months time to allow you to loose the weight in the meantime.
Having said that, even if your GP referred you tomorrow, if your area is anything like it is here, you've probably got months to wait before your first appointment so you could get on to the weight loss right now and save yourself some time later IYKWIM.

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Poppyred85 · 06/06/2015 18:47

I'm a GP and I don't think this would be funded where I work. Please bear in mind as well that having breast implants will make it difficult to ensure all the breast tissue is normal once you start having routine mammograms in the future.

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bluejeanswhiteshirt · 06/06/2015 18:56

Thanks Bewildered that's what I thought. I will start losing weight anyway because I wanted to shift the rest of the baby weight in any case and this gives me even more reason.

Poppy can I ask why it would be refused? Just curiois as to the reasoning and what to expect.

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bluejeanswhiteshirt · 06/06/2015 18:57

Curious**

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Aermingers · 06/06/2015 19:12

BlueJeans, it depends on what the Commissioners in your areas are like. I know at some tend to view different kinds of surgery more or less sympathetically depending on the culture of the trust and the kind of people the commissioners are.

I actually worked in the commissioning area of the NHS a few years ago. The place I worked at tended to be very sensitive towards breast implants for people with problems like yours. But they were very unsympathetic to people going through gender realignment surgery (that goes through the same application process), including breast implants involved with that. I suspect that might have changed in the intervening time.

A good way of finding out is googling to see if you can find information on previous decisions which have been made by your local trust. If you want to PM me who they are I can try and find out some info for you. I know what I'm looking for and where to look so it might be easier!

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Aermingers · 06/06/2015 19:16

Oh. And incidentally. The commissioners I worked with approved things many, many times which GPs said weren't even worth applying for.

It's not something that generates much income for GPs and it's hard to get them enthusiastic and engaged about it. Often they see it as a lot of work which they don't receive much return for. Plus they often rarely do them, so aren't really au fait with the procedure. So don't let ^ worry you too much!

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littlejohnnydory · 07/06/2015 21:06

As soon as I read your post I thought 'mammary hypoplasia'. The answer to your question is that nobody really knows whether you would be funded - all you can do is ask for referral and take it from there.

There are other issues to consider. Most nhs surgeons will want your family to be complete before undertaking cosmetic breast surgery as pregnancy can significantly change the appearance of breasts. It could also affect your breastfeeding future children depending on the surgery carried out.

Mammograms might be tricky later in your life if scar tissue / implants make it harder to detect changes. It will also be harder for you to detect changes in your own breasts.

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electionfatigue · 07/06/2015 21:29

You need to talk to your GP about putting in an Individual Funding Request to your local NHS Commissioning Group.

Just wanted to correct this - I am a GP and I sit on our local IFR panel. If your area has a PoLCE policy that covers this then it shouldn't go as an IFR request and will be triaged out before the IFR meeting. IFR panels are for cases that are not covered by PoLCE, or if you want something funded after a PoLCE refusal (very rare for that to be successful).

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bluejeanswhiteshirt · 07/06/2015 22:52

Hi littlejohnny, I've considered the issues you mention but I was unable to produce enough milk to breastfeed anyway so I honestly don't think I would be able to breastfeed in future even without implants.

And I'm obviously not an expert but surely a surgeon would consider someone who hasn't finished having babies etc. otherwise that would rule out surgery for a LOT of women with this condition?

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Fromparistoberlin73 · 07/06/2015 22:54

Not shallow at all op - but I fortunately for non urgent issues the NHS are --- well let's say the money is tight

Who not explore private costs in parallel and join a few forums ? Where there is a will - there is a way - can you save up over a few years ?

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Fromparistoberlin73 · 07/06/2015 22:56

I got a lipoma removed on the NHS (it was extremely unsightly ) but reading this I realise I was lucky Sad

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bluejeanswhiteshirt · 07/06/2015 22:57

electionfatigue my area does have a PoLCE from what I can see on Google. I think I meet the requirements other than BMI which I'm working on but obviously they'll be the judge of that.

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bluejeanswhiteshirt · 07/06/2015 23:03

I don't have any money coming in to save as I'm a single stay at home mum. I could possibly wait until my daughter reaches nursery age and then start saving but my GP agrees that it's more of a medical issue than a cosmetic one, obviously not urgent in health terms but a deformity nonetheless.

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