Gastroschises, tummy tuck on the NHS

[Harrietparker]

So I was born with gastroschises and therefore have a huge scar on my abdomen and an absent belly button. This has always had a massive impact on my mental health and something I don’t talk about to anyone.
The scar itself causes pain and tightness sometimes which I have had several ultrasounds for growing up.
Would I be unreasonable to try and get umbilicoplasty on the NHS or would it not be a possibility. A “normal” looking stomach is something I’ve always dreamt of and would genuinely be life changing for me. Saving up to go private would take me years. Does anyone think the NHS would accept this. Thank you

Bump

I feel It would be worth seeing your GP and mention how this has always impacted your MH and can you be ask for a referral to a consultant/surgeon to discuss what can be achieved and what are the risks could entail.
Definitely worth pursuing,GO for it !

It’s definitely worth pursuing. I’m a children’s nurse, when I worked on a paediatric surgical ward we used to have teenagers come in for reconstructive surgery after gastroschisis repair. Good luck!

Thank you so much for replying. Can I ask, do their stomachs look “normal-ish” after please? I’ve read and it says NHS wouldn’t offer for cosmetic reasons. However the scarring does feel tight and I do get pain. But the psychological reasons are far greater. It really would be life changing. Makes me emotional thinking about it I’m praying!

Certainly neater and the belly buttons look amazing, I’d only have seen them immediately post-op.
The thing to remember is that your original surgery was life saving, appearance was not the priority. Also there will have been big advances in surgical techniques.

For some reason this made me cry 😢
It was life saving and I shouldn’t be so ashamed and embarrassed of it. I’m going to speak to my GP Monday. Fingers crossed! Thank you so so much for replying.

Best of luck Harriet ❤️