To think I *do* need a breast reduction for medical reasons?

[Questionablmouse]

I have absolutely enormous, heavy boobs. Last time I was measured (which is a couple of years ago now) I was a 36M. I'm five foot tall and while I'm overweight I used to be very active.

Now I have constant back, neck and shoulder pain so bad I was prescribed strong codiene, have stopped wearing underwired bras because even the properly fitted ones from Bravissimo were leaving my ribs in agony, and have to be extremely careful to keep underneath perfectly dry or I get sores. I can't sleep on my front without pillows under my chest and I feel like I'm suffocating on my back.

I had an appointment this morning with my GP and she was pretty dismissive, told me to exercise more to lose weight (I'm trying, but it genuinely feels impossible because I'm in so much pain even in a sports bra). I bought a bathing suit and tried swimming- my boobs escaped by the end of one lap on front of a packed pool which was incredibly embarrassing. I've lost almost two stone recently and my boobs haven't changed size at all.

I just want them gone and feel like they're smothering me! I wish private was an option but it's out of my reach unfortunately.

I'm going to call mine the beasts now!!!!

I think pcos makes it as hard to lose weight as menopause, and I know myself that’s a total bastard.

I think the criteria for surgery is based on pain and chronic infections. It seemed to be for a girl I knew who got a tummy tuck on the nhs. It was because if the repeated infections and pain and she had to lose weight prior.

It took her four consultations (including with a psychologist to make sure she wasn’t doing this for some guy to make her more attractive apparently!!) and took six or eight years. I forget. But basically a long long time. She only got approved because of the infections. (She had been given a bad c section over a decade prior and it was an infected mess)

so if you do ask for a second opinion id make sure you’d lost a good few pounds prior so they can see you're determined. They won’t operate until you're under a certain weight for health reasons so you don’t die. She had to be under 12 st.

If the second doctor weighs you/you tell him youve lost x pounds since last gp spoke with you it’ll look good and that along with the repeated infections might convince them to proceed, providing youre healthy enough for an anaesthetic obviously.

losing weight will sort the rib pain. And the shoulder strap pain. I get that now Ive put on weight. My gut is also pushing the underwires into my armpits. I just need to lose weight. Sigh. Easier said than done.

I would definitely try to lose weight. I appreciate you probably don’t want to spend money on weight loss injections if you’re saving for surgery, but my friend who had a breast reduction had to have a BMI of 25 or less before they would operate. Your breasts really aren’t contributing the two stone to your weight that you claim.

All you can do really is cut back on everything or take out a loan.

If you post your income and outgoings on the money forum here, people are very helpful in suggesting how you can improve your situation.

Op I think you need to return to your GP and discuss why you are not losing weight. I had a low thyroid and wasn’t eating much but the weight was just pilling on. Yes some people are in denial why they are not losing weight but at other times there is health reasons why

as for losing weight on your boobs I’ve lost four stone (Mounjaro) and gone from 36gg in to a 32 j. So very little weight has actually gone from my boobs but the extra fat around my back has so in more comfortable and I’ve always worn good fitting and correct size bras (can’t stress the importance of this enough)

I really feel for you ask to see another GP and request full blood tests as something doesn’t seem quite right and tell them you need help as you are in so much discomfort. Unfortunately we are too often fobbed off

I recommend joining a facebook group called UK Breast Reduction Group. Lots of knowledeable women, many of which have had NHS surgery.

I have a bmi of 19 and HH boobs. some people just have big boobs regardless of weight so advocating weight loss isn’t always the right advice.

I agree. I have a BMI of 20 and have 32G boobs.

However, OP has stated her weight and she is overweight. Although she doesn’t appear to be completely sure how tall she is!!! 😆

I've just got a new phone and I'm apparently crap at ryping on it! 😆

Could you try private and see if they offer a monthly payment plan to stagger the bill?

There is no way you will get approval on the NHS unless your BMI is 27 or less. Even then it’s a postcode lottery and a lot of trusts never approve it. You can do a google search for the criteria for your trust which may give you a better idea. Some people travel abroad where the costs are much less - I think £2k in some places. I understand how you feel. I’ve lost nearly 5 stone. I’m 4ft 10. My boobs have gone from a 38G to a 30J!!! I am having to pay privately but am fortunate that I’m old enough to draw a pension soon and use some of my lump sum. There’s a Facebook page UK Breast Reduction Group that you may find useful.

It’s about losing weight for surgery not to reduce the amount of boob necessarily

Too be honest loosing weight will not massively reduce your breat size now that it's gotten bigger. Advice, always wear bra with your sports bra. Sports bras are not designed for bigger boobs. It's does not work!

OP I really feel for you. I have 34GG and they are a nuisance. I would keep persevering with the weight loss before any risky surgery. It sounds like the diet is working for you but slowly, which is fine! However, when I lose weight I don’t lose much off my chest so it may be that you will require surgery in the end. Personally I would rather avoid it if I could.

I would also take some light exercise, walking, for mood and general health.

I would also say to PPs who find bras painful to use boob or bust to find your size. If you are wearing the correct size it shouldn’t be painful.

I agree, losing weight doesn't have a huge impact. In my case the weight will come off everywhere else except my boobs. I can have concave bum cheeks and still have E cup boobs.

Hey OP - sorry you are struggling. I’d make an appointment at your GP to discuss your struggle to drop weight. To be in that amount of a deficit and to be over 100kg there must be something wrong, either an underlying issue or you are eating more that you realise, and are very sedentary.
My best friend has recently lost 25kg (WLI) in her journey to reduction surgery. NHS isn’t an option for her so she is looking at a pathway to private. I know you say that’s out of reach for you, but if it would be life changing could you look at options on how to reach that savings goal.

@Questionablmouse heres where you need to be assertive and really advocate for yourself.

Get a second opinion. Find a sympathetic GP who can work with you on what you should do.

You are doing all the right things and it sounds like this operation is needed. Good luck.

Definitely shop around for an opinion keep going to different GPs and pester them, do not leave without a plan. If they can’t fund reduction they should definitely prescribe weight loss injections. You need to be really clear like you are here - this is the impact on my life, I cannot spend my whole life on addictive pain killers, this is not reasonable, we need a workable plan. And ‘eat less move more’ is not a workable plan given I am in constant pain.

good luck x

It won't do any good to pester GPs if the secondary care services say she doesn't fit criteria. GPs can refer all they want, doesn't mean the referrals get accepted.

I do agree that the GP may be able to help with weight loss, if the OP wants. Though I think there are criteria for prescribing weight loss injections too.

I was fitted by Bravissimo. Wires just plain hurt because there's so much weight in my boobs. Now wearing Molke bras but the band is giving me the same rib pain which is agony (genuinely - work sent me to a&e the first time because it was left sided and so bad I couldn't stand up straight)

This is what I'm finding. I've lost inches off my hips but my boobs are exactly the same size.

And for those frothing that the OP needs to lose weight and her boobs will significantly reduce, from the other side of things: I’m slender. I’ve gained 13kgs in pregnancy (21% increase in weight) and I have not had to change my bra.

I don't understand why previous posters are so obsessed with your weight.

I've lost 10 stone and my boobs are as big now as they were before. I've lost a lot of inches on my band size, but that's it. I was a H cup before and still am now.

However, if you need to meet BMI criteria, I'd recommend paying really careful attention to food you aren't logging. Things like butter on toast, oil you cook with etc as it can be hundreds of calories.

Yeah l had an endless history of chronic back pain and it was suggested to me by a senior physio. I think that’s what swayed it.

You can't be an H cup now if you were an H cup before and you have lost inches from your under bust. The cup size is a direct comparison of your under bust measurement and your over bust measurement. If your breasts have not changed size, then your cup size has gone up and your back size has gone down.

The reason posters are advising OP to lose weight is so that she will be approved for surgery, whether that’s NHS or private.