Brest Reduction on the NHS

[AzzaMc]

I am 48 and have fully gone through the menapause which did make me lose (some much needed) weight. However, I have started 6 months ago partly to deal with mental health problems by exercising 5 times a week, so now I am a healthy BMI. The problem I have is that I have not lost any weight from my breasts which currently measure 36 HH. As a result I have chronic back pain which my GP provides strong painkillers for but doesn’t seem to be on board with having them reduced. I have not been in a relationship for 3 yrs now because I am so embarrassed by the size of my breasts, not only that but I get chafing underneath which often bleeds and I have to shower 3 times a day as they do start to smell quite unpleasant. This is making me utterly miserable and I was wondering if anyone has had any similar experiences and if they managed to get the reduction surgery on the NHS. I do have private medical insurance but it doesn’t cover “cosmetic” surgery, but I don’t want this done for cosmetic reasons, it’s so I can reclaim my life as a woman who wants to be in a loving secure relationship and at the moment I would not even entertain the thought of going on a first date.
Any feedback /experiences or ideas would be much appreciated.
Many Thanks.

Sounds like a fungal infection, get yourself some Canesten cream and it'll clear it up. This can happen with any size breasts so not just because you're bigger.

The chafing is a fungal infection called intertrigo. It's very very common.

Canesten cream twice a day, keep under boobs as dry as possible with as much bra free time as possible. It really works.

Criteria for NHS bra reduction is very very tight so I would not get your hopes up.

There's a brilliant, long running thread for ladies who have had or would like breast reduction. It's not cheap to go private, I paid 8k in Scotland but if this is in any way an option you could consider (finance? Sell something?) then you would absolutely find it life changing.

Funding is normally accorded due to back pain. You most likely a referral to physio first to assess posture etc... They won't fund to the infection, unless no cream helps and certainly not for the cosmetic, mental health issues.