Has anyone had a breast enlargement on the nhs in the last few years

[nobreasts]

Hi I have no breasts
It's impacted my bf of my children
I am healthy on the lower end of BMI
Have no breasts
GP in agreement
Have had babies so not particuarly a sex dissorder
Genuinely no breasts

Very upset

Have asked for an enlargement with nhs but Gp said he's never encountered and unsure how to go further thru this with NHS

Any advice appreciated

I don't imagine these days you would get it on the nhs. In the past you may have been able to get it but with the nhs on its absolute knees I think there is little to no chance.

If money is the issue I think some places offer monthly payments (effectively a loan) although I know that isn't even achievable for some.

It's a cosmetic procedure and won't be available on the NHS. NHS is, generally, only for functional/life-saving surgeries. I say generally, because I had maxfac surgery 10 years ago which wasn't technically functional or life-saving but I met the criteria for a free surgery anyway.

Sorry @nobreasts but the only women I've known to get breast implants on the NHS got them as part of the breast reconstruction surgery after breast cancer.
I'm afraid that you're going to have to save up and go private for your cosmetic surgery

Why do you think the NHS is going to give you cosmetic surgery?

Is it just cosmetic?

If you've already had your children & not suffering any issues from it, I don't think it'll be on NHS (or shouldn't be, anyway!)

Depends on your local policy - they are sometimes called EBICS or POLCE.

For example, if you live in North Central London, it would only be done after breast cancer or trauma/burns. https://nclhealthandcare.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/NCL-EBICS-Policy-v9.2-2.pdf

In South Tees they can be done for tubular breasts or very little breast development https://www.southtees.nhs.uk/services/plastic-surgery/borderline-referral-protocol/breast-procedures/#augmentation

so you need to google the policy for your area

Thanks for this I did wonder if it was reconstruction

And I'm not going to justify why just explain it's caused considerable extensive mental health issues and extensive eating issues
And I meet the parameters for the no breast tissue diagnosis (can't recall name)

I am querying whether this is already available to me through the NHS which I contribute to.

Thanks

This is most helpful thank you very much

So in tees I would qualify

I will look for these policies

The NHS wouldn’t give me a breast reduction despite my spine being damaged.
What makes you think they’ll give you cosmetic surgery?

The NHS would not fund this, it's cosmetic.

You will have to fund it yourself.

You'd get it if you were a man claiming to be a woman. Sadly, women who are distressed by their bodies not being visibly womanly are ignored.

not always. for example, that South Tees policy I quoted doesn't cover gender reassignment.

It can be. My husband's friend had this done around five years ago - like you OP she was completely flat chested and it was offered as it was hugely affecting her mental health.

Not sure I agree with it but it can happen!

You wouldn’t get it in my local trust, or the neighbouring ones.
surely the first step for you and your gp would be to check local guidelines…

In some places you might qualify but I’d expect quite a wait and a long process to get to the surgery stage. Post code lottery.

I was the same and was told the NHS no longer have the funds for cosmetic surgery. I'm not sure if it's dependant on area, but it sounded like a blanket statement. I ended up taking out loans and going private. Good luck x

There was a woman in the news a few years ago. Josie something. She had breast implants down on the NHS.

He couldn't find the guidelines we don't have policies on our trusts website dedicated to this

I can see on their policy in general of covered procedures that they only cover for breast cancer reconstruction

I am so upset with how I look it's seriously impacting me

It's true sadly about the gender dysmorphia

I was able to rule out being intersex because I've had babies so I can't be that hormonally out of sync

Thanks all I will continue my research into best cosmetic surgeons in my region as I cannot face going abroad to try to save money, sounds really unpleasant flying and being abroad in that condition

Anyone who can't see my perspective I just think you're lucky to not experience what I have

I don't even go swimming I'm so insecure

This.
I had to pay 6.5k, where men get it for free 🙄

She is such a bad example of why you would have them done
I feel so irrritated reading her articles

I wonder if I went to a neighbouring trust is there a way to have it done, eg London

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2364692/amp/Josie-Cunningham-5-000-breast-implants-NHS-wants-YOU-pay-remove-them.html

If the NHS can give her breast implants then why can't they give them to you?

Wouldn’t the first port of call be mental health services? I’m sure you’ve explored this route but surgery seems a very quick jump. Most people I know who got implants sorely regretted them later.

I think it depends on the individual trust, a friend has Poland syndrome and she had implants on the affected side and a lift on the other on the NHS.

I think that’s quite a selfish perspective. Many of us have battled hard and long from eating disorders- between anorexia, binge eating, bulimia. I have missed being in pictures with my children, functions for school, holidays because of worry for looking too fat.

Surgery isn’t the answer- it’s the middle man and gate keeping for some serious mental health issues. Best of luck to you x

It's not selfish at all and it's not your place to say

Surgery absolutely changed my life. OP I went through MYA and would highly recommend x