My breast implants are failing after 25 years

[Knackeredboobs1972]

I'm 51 and had implants privately after my late grandma left me some money. I'd had a terrible time in high school up to early 20's when I finally got the chance to afford it. I was ridiculed at school for having no boobs and this absolutely destroyed me. It affected my mental health so much I was unable to go on holiday for fear of my partner seeing someone's boobs on the beach, watching TV with him was stressful, life was very difficult and as a result I attempted suicide twice. Shortly after that I inherited the money and had surgery. I also had counselling. It changed my life. I'm happy with my body and have been for years.
But obviously they don't last for ever. They have been dimpled and lumpy for years. I've ignored it as I do not have any money to get them taken out or replaced. They are getting worse and worse and I'm terrified they are causing damage. What do I do? I'm up to my eyes in credit card debt and bills already. I work 2 jobs, as does my partner. There is no way I can get thousands to sort this out.
Would the nhs ever sort this out or do I just have to live with this.

No. But should the tax payer pay to rectify cosmetic surgery? Sounds like the NHS has enough to spend money on tbh.

shop around - my surgeon had one price for doing in his London hospital and a cheaper price for doing it in outer London.
its the hospital costs which are the most expensive.

No of course they don’t, but the OP knew 25 years ago that they would need replacing. This hasn’t come as a shock. They don’t last forever. Say if they cost 4k to put in, it doesn’t take a genius they may be the same to take out, plus the fact it was 25 years ago and everyone has gone up.

Why should the NHS pay for something she was told would need replacing? Of course the NHS do non life threatening surgery, day in, day out. But you can’t compare a hip replacement to removing fake boobs for goodness sake.

I'm quite surprised that those on this thread who have had implants didn't know they have a shelf life. I don't have implants and even I knew implants needed to be replaced or removed eventually. Makes me wonder what the surgeons are or were telling young women having this surgery

The NHS pays for all sorts of things that are self inflicted - 10% of the NHS budget goes on t2 diabetes for Gods sake. Why should this be any different? Yes ideally OP would fund it herself, but the NHS steps up all the time because the alternative is needless suffering and death.

Would you go down the loan route OP?

Most - if not all - clinics work with loan companies for reasonable repayment plans.

They always mention this during correspondence and at consultations.

I can't get a loan because I already have one alongside some other debts. It's a shit situation to be in as I understand the nhs is not great but if my implants are putting me at risk I feel I deserve them removing. I am not asking for replacement. That would be ridiculous. I didn't think about this in my early 20's as I was so fucked in the head and grateful that I had finally managed to afford surgery. Rightly or wrongly 25 yrs later this is what has happened and I either keep ignoring it until my tits are even worse than they are now or I have them removed. If a GP could tell me I am not in any danger 100 % I would have no issue in keeping them and living with how damaged they clearly are.

@Knackeredboobs1972

Could you make an appointment to see your GP next week, OP?

What he/she says will at least bring a certain clarity to your situation.

I had mine removed and not replaced. Had them in for 12 years, was in my 30s, was very flat chested before and I prefer my boobs after! The stretched skin I think gives the illusion of bigger boobs and they aren’t too saggy or hideous!! I was so terrified of what they’d look like coming out, but in the end it was the best decision. Don’t be too afraid of what they’ll look like- they might look surprisingly good!

It's not as simple as that though is it? She chose to have something done when she was vulnerable and now needs medical help to sort it out. Where do we draw the line saying NHS shouldn't help, people who get injuries doing extreme sports, people with acrylic nail infections or eyelashes, people who eat badly or take drugs, sepsis due to piercings or not looking after contact lenses, I know someone getting a corneal transplant due to the latter and God knows what other issues we could all have due to our choices. We don't get to say who does and doesn't deserve help if they need medical help, NHS is not as judgemental as the people on this thread thank God for all of us who may have inadvertantly impacted their health (sunbeds or sunbathing anyone?) but yes of course no replacement implants is a given.

I'm thick as mince - I had no idea breast implants had a shelf-life.
Good luck OP I wish you well x

This is a whole other argument isn't it, you could argue people who smoke, are obese, those who take drugs etc don't deserve treatment as it's self induced... where do you draw the line.