Breast implants on the NHS, would i be entitled ?

[Littlemissnutmeg]

I'm 38, 39 next month and was told about a year ago that i'm in the early stages of menopause. I'm shocked as i feel that this is quite young and iv'e been feeling very down about it and have an anxiety disorder. I have always suffered from low self confidence and this menopause diagnosis has meant that my confidence has taken even more of a battering. I guess it's to do with the menopause, my breasts seem to have got smaller and saggier and it's really making me feel low. My husband loves ladies with large breasts so with my boobs shrinking i don't feel good enough for him. Also, since puberty, i have always had one breast a whole cup size larger than the other which i have always felt conscious of. Even with my pregnancies my breasts never evened out. As this is making me feel rather down i was wondering if my doctor would refer me to have breast enhancement on the NHS ? Has anyone been able to do this ? There is no way i can afford to go private.

Thanks Nutmeg

I so know how you feel with the anxiety though, I feel jumpy, on edge and paranoid, I know people must think how can the menopause affect you so much but if pmt sends some women crazy course menopause can!

I went on a mild anti anxiety med, I do think it has helped short term to get me through the rocky first few months, I have also tried HRT which helped, it isn't for everyone but do some research

I know some people would see me having ivf as a waste of resources as it isn't a god given right to be a mum, especially not through egg donation! But another poster made a good point, lets hope no one else had ever had a penny spent on them by the NHS wasn't deemed a life saving essential

Lauren x

Thank goodness many HCP's don't apply a hierarchy of needs based upon perceived 'worthiness' because the health care system is full of people who in one way or another have arrived there because of lifestyle factors or choices. They all need and deserve non judgemental help.

You always get some twat that does though.

And flaws in care are about so much more than cash and its distribution.

BTW my daughters Kypho-Scoliosis surgery was deemed 'cosmetic' by some commissioning bodies despite her 82% curvature and the fact that she would have been rendered breathing impaired and unable to have children by the time she was 30. Thank goodness not all did.

OP, my best friend had similarly tiny, rather droopy breasts following babies. She hated them and finally after lots of research had implants privately. (She didn't even investigate nhs).

Firstly, it was horrifically painful. The surgeon wanted to insert the implants under the muscle to create a more natural line. (I think that's correct). Anyway it was horrendous and her chest was black with bruising for at least two weeks. She was really quite ill with it.

Secondly, she doesn't really like them. They are much bigger than she anticipated. None of her old clothes fitted. Her whole body was altered. After two years she is more used to them but definitely dresses to disguise them rather than show off her new chest.

So, just saying be careful what you wish for. She was so sure she'd done her homework and was doing the right thing.

Sorry if that's not helpful.

That's ok. Actually my best friend had breast implants 4 years ago. She had always been flat-chested, a AA cup. The implants, which she paid for privately took her to a DD. They don't look natural and she hardly ever shows them off. She gets lots of back pain these days and she too, like your friend had loads of pain after the operation. I guess i have to learn to like my breasts and accept that at approaching age 40, they will never be like a 20 year olds. Hubby will have to like it or lump it!