Nhs breast reduction advice

[Gaggle2]

Hello. Just wondering if anybody has successfully made it through to nhs reduction surgery.

I'm currently a 30GG and a size 10. BMI is well within healthy weight and GP has referred me to the surgeon.

My main issue is my neck and shoulder pain. I've had scans and x rays and they have said it's nothing skeletal. They're just in constant spasm from strain (didn't say definitively from my breasts but it definitely is). I also have chronic breast pain. Most under my arms and around that area but sometimes all over. Sleep is a nightmare as there is no comfortable position. I also get rib and chest pain from bras. They're professionally fitted I just have a small back that's trying to hold up my awful breasts. Basically what I'm asking is.....does anyone know what will happen at the surgeon. Is there a way I can word these issues to make it more likely to get the go ahead.

Hi. SIL has one. Just be honest. Tell them how it daily affects your life and mental wellbeing

Just to mange your expectations, you won't get it on the nhs. I'd be literally amazed if you did. My friend is 30K and a size 10. GP appealed it twice and it was a no. I managed to get one on on the NHS but this was 14 years ago now

They just don't do them and there's really nothing you can say to persuade other]wise.

By all means give it a go as you've got nothing to lose but don't raise hopes at all

My friend had hers done on the NHS but it was a few years ago.

I had one on NHS but it was 12 years ago. Don't know if they still do. Having said that, I had to push for it. GP originally said no, but I asked again. When he said no again I insisted on a referral which he did. Surgeon immediately said yes.

They do do it on the NHS. A client of mine has had it done recently

I had one in 2015 on the NHS. They were quite strict on BMI. I was a size 10 and a 32GG. To be honest I was expecting to be rejected but I was honest about my posture problems and the low self esteem I had about my breasts and I got it. It was painful for a few days but now all totally fine. I have put some weight on recently so they are a bit bigger but they were uplifted so don’t hang by my bellybutton. I can now buy swimsuits from the peg of any shop and that feels amazing after having to buy £65 swimsuits from Bravissimo!

Hi Gaggle My dd had one just 2 years ago on the NHS. So there's every chance you will too. Don't be disheartened...it can be a long process. My dd got one on the 3rd appeal. The gp just wasn't wording the referral correctly and on the final attempt even got her bmi wrong.
I think once you've seen the actual surgeon it's only a matter of time till you get your surgery.
My dd didn't get to see the surgeon until funding by the nhs had been agreed.
She is loving her new boobs and did as soon as she woke from the anesthetic. 2 years later and she is walking upright and has no back pain.
Good luck op

Some CCGs allow it, some don't. You can probably find out if yours does by googling your area and 'low priority procedure list'.

When they do, the criteria is usually what you've listed, above G cup, within BMI, evidence of musculoskeletal pain that can't explained by something else.

Thank you all. So a couple if days ago I got a copy of letter for my gp to say the doctor hadn't shown in her referral that I was fitting any criteria it also said that if the doctors decides I meet the criteria they can approve funding without the CCG's approval But I've already got my surgeon appointment this week anyway. I'm confused but fingers crossed it goes well. I'm just going to tell them about everything. My bmi is 22.5 at the minute but it's usually lower ( I'm having a lazy couple of months lol). I have spend 15 years thinking I need to just accept that I'll always have neck pain. That breast pain and rashes are just my cross to bear. Thank you all so much for your replies. Does anyone know what the surgeon will do? What sort of examination ?

I actually saw a specialist nurse first rather than the surgeon. She asked me lots of questions and was particularly interested in whether I had finished my family. She weighed and measured me and then took photos. I wasn’t prepared for that and it was awful. They don’t show your head so you can’t be identified but I hated mine so much that no one except my husband ever saw them. The nurse said a team of surgeons and other people would then see the photos along with all the other evidence gathered to make a decision. I was contacted the next month and given an appointment with the surgeon and then had the surgery about 6 weeks after that. From initial GP appointment to surgery it wasn’t even 6 months.
As I said earlier, I didn’t expect to get it at all as the GP had said she was happy to refer me but didn’t think they would do it. I am in Scotland so don’t know if that makes a difference. Good luck!

I was turned down - 30J and bmi of 24, 29"
Waist etc. Depends on your local trust.

Thank you so much for this advice. So I'll probably see a nurse. Mine don't look terribly bad. They're not overly saggy and very full. I had an mri and ultrasound and they said they are very dense with very little fatty tissue . Don't know if that makes them heavier or not. I just really don't care about appearance ( although I could live without the constant sexual harassment) I just need the pain to stop. I'm also worried that I have no rash at the moment and they will take that to mean I never get them. Your op was so quick. That's amazing.

I don't want to scare you, but a friend of mine had it done a few years ago and they grew back.

This is good news, if the letter was from the CCG and they said that if you meet the criteria they don't need to ask funding, it means that they do fund it. From what you've written here, it does sound likely that you would meet the criteria as these are normally cup size, normal BMI range and evidence that you've seen a physio and try to deal with the back/neck pain before.

That's great. Thank you. The actual wording of the letter is " there is nothing in your origin letter to show the patient meets this criteria. We suggest you perform an assessment against the criteria mentioned. If the patient meets all of the above you can refer without the CCG's approval".

I feel much better for hearing from all of you. I had no idea this was even an option
. doctors have just given my pain killers or told me to attend physio before. But I guess now I've done all of those for years they're suggesting new options.

Sounds positive to me 👍🏻

So tomorrow is the day of my appointment. I'm so nervous. I have no rash underneath at the moment so will have to hope they believe me . I'm wondering how much they actually examine you.

Good luck for tomorrow Gaggle

Don't worry about the appointment. You will have to undress and probably be given a gown, however you will have to to be topless when being examined. They'll measure you too. It's all normal stuff to them. I'm sure the staff will put you at ease immediately.

Remember that it's a means to and end.

How exciting for you....

Thank you. I'm starting to worry. Think "maybe they're not really very big" or " they're not as bad as others I've seen". I really hope the nurse/doctor is understanding.

OMG ....stop worrying. They've caused you a lot of problems for quite a while. It's perfectly normal for you to think this way.
I know my Dd had the same problems and worries.
She had around a kilo taken from each boob during her surgery exactly 2 years ago.
She had 2 appointments at the hospital then a few weeks later got a phone call asking if she could come in the following week for her surgery.
Her friends had a happy new boobies party for her a few weeks later. The day after surgery she was home and so very pleased with her new boobs she didn't stop lifting her top up. After being so self conscious for years this was a real boost for her.
Hopefully you'll be showing yours off very soon.
Now...stop worrying and get yourself to your appointment. I want to here all about it later

So.....I'm back. Surgeon didn't even want to hear anything I had to say . Just said " that's what got you here so you don't need to go over it agaib" but she said it in a nice way lol. Then she examined me, read my letter from the CCG and said she'll confirm with them whether we've got funding. Then said I'll have another appointment on 4 week where they will have made a decision . Asked what size I would like to be and that she thinks a full C cup would be right. Then off I went to the photographer. How does that sound to everyone ? Positive. It initially seemed positive but now I'm not sure

It's all down to whether you meet the criteria. Have you been told what it is for your local ccg? I would find out so you are prepared.

Sounds pretty positive to me....don't think that they'd bother wasting the surgeons time if there wasn't a very good chance for funding.
My dd's surgeon was fantastic and had a great sense of humour...he told her whilst I was there with her that he could sort her boobs out but he couldn't find her a bf.
She went for a c cup.
Fingers crossed...this time next year you'll have new boobs and will be well and truly over the surgery and all healed.
I have before and after pics of my dd. I'll see if she's ok for me to share them with you.

I've met the criteria and she photo copied the letter they sent my gp saying if j met the criteria they could refer without the CCG's approval. She is going to confirm I have funding. She said come back in 4 weeks and bring my diary. She didn't weigh it measure me . Just examined me and said how heavy they were. Said she'll meet with her colleagues and let me know

WOW....That's amazing.
I bet you're so excited.