does anyone have experience/ knowledge of breast implants on the NHS?

[CrushWithEyeliner]

I suffered from PND and depression before that. I am obsessed with how childbirth / BF has left my breasts, they are really awful and it is compounding my depression. Don't really want to hear from people who think this is wrong, don't really want to justify it or explain in depth about my history of depression/self esteem problems.

I knew a girl at work who has implants on NHS she didn't seem to have depression so I am a little confused. I also have many girlfriends who have had reductions on the NHS with no problem. I just wondered how it all works, what the first step would be and if anyone has actually been successful in doing this.

thanks x

netdoctor says: Yes, it is possible to have breast implants on the NHS, but it is not easy and it can take a long time to arrange.

The key issue is whether or not this problem is affecting your mental health, which you say it is.

The NHS will not pay for cosmetic breast enlargement (or reduction), but it will if a psychiatrist agrees that there is a substantial risk to your mental health from the problem. There should be a clear route of referral for this locally.

Ask your GP for a referral for consideration of this procedure on the NHS, on the grounds of your mental health.

Good luck!

thank you - so it is possible..
Will this in any way affect my DD or SS get involved if they think I am so severely depressed because of it?

I have no personal experience of this, but I don't think it would affect anything like that, no. Your problem/depression is focussed on your boobs, and (am making assumptions here, feel free to correct me!) probably affecting your sexlife/relationship- that has nothing to do with your children or your parenting skills.

Look at it this way: if you had had an accident and had a disfigured face and were depressed because you wanted it fixed, no-one would assume you were a bad mother because of the depression.

The only thing I'd say is that if as you say, your thoughts around your breast size have become an 'obsession'; then a psychiatrist may want to refer you for therapy to deal with the obsessional thoughts, rather than recommending you for a boob job. There are other body image disorders that the'd also have to rule out of the equation first.
I can understand your thoughts around your boobs though, mine were never huge to begin with, but the life has been sucked out of them post bf'ing I do however console myself with the knowledge that my dc's benefitted from this, even if my boobs didn't!!

Thank you for your feedback guys
It is a difficult one - I am not superficial at all but they have literally disappeared and it is making me feel awful. I will go to docs next week.

i think you need some counselling.

Crush did you see This Morning yesterday? there was an item about a new breast increase procedure nicknamed "The Lunchhour Boobjob"

They do it via local anaesthetic. They numb the boob then make a small entry point underneath (it's only a small hole) they inject more anaesthetic into the breast, and then into the same needle they put some filler, the same stuff they plump up people's lips with. They inject it in to the part of the breast you need it in, and the effects are instant, and really natural. Takes about half an hour, costs about £2,800 and is supposed to be painless during, and not too sore afterwards.

They showed you a woman getting it done, she had lost some weight and her boobs felt empty. They injected 1oz of filler into both breasts, into the part above the nipple where it was flattest. They plumped up really nicely, you could definitely see the difference, although they looked really natural. The surgeon said he could add more filler than that though, it's just she only wanted to fill her old bra again.

The major downside to this procedure is that the filler naturally dissolves over time so it generally only lasts two years, BUT I think it's also a benefit. No operation in ten years to remove an implant and leave you with empty boobs.

I think it's fairly new so I doubt it's available on the nhs yet but thought I'd mention it anyway, it's a LOT less invasive.

Just wanted to say I totally understand why you would do this, maybe I'm not being neutral enough for MN but I say go for it, life's too short to be constantly insecure over something you can change. I need mine hoiked up (didn't wear a bra for years in uni, they're on my knees like bags of blancmange) and if I ever get the chance to get an uplift, I'll jump at it! hth and good luck. x

Crush, i would be very dubious about this tbh. NHS or private. I would probably qualify for a reduction but i wouldnt want to go through surgery. Not relevant to you really. Are you sure you have your depression licked, because you are obviously still having some self esteem issues. It would sit better with me if you were sitting there saying, coorr, i really fancy bigger breasts, but you are saying that it will make your life better if you have them. Maybe there are ways you could boost your breast size without surgery. Your doctor could maybe advise on this - for me, i find plenty of cream cakes and chocolates did the trick. After i had DD i had gallstones and couldnt eat anything, i mean, anything! I lost two stone in eight weeks and my breasts turned into empty shopping bags, i hated them. Ive put all the weight back on and more, and im loving my boobies. It might just be that they need some time to recover. Definately worth talking to someone about it, but please dont go ahead without counselling.

lucyellensmum: to play devil's advocate, why would anyone get plastic surgery done if they had no self esteem issues concerning their body image? Surely that the reason for cosmetic surgery in the first place (cosmetic as opposed to helping burns/accident victims etc I mean- perhaps I'm not explaining my point of view very well here!)

I think if someone walked into a gp's surgery and said "cor I fancy bigger breasts" they wouldn't even get a referral- the only way to get it done on the nhs is if it's affecting your mental state sufficiently, which to me it sounds like it is in the op's case.

As far as I know, I think they do give you a psychological assessment/counselling to see if your body image problems are part of a larger issue, for example body dysmorphic disorder, plus I'm assuming they'll have a look at the offending breasts to see if there is a problem/anything they can do to help. I think they'll speak to the op and hopefully either give her enough support and counselling to get by without surgery, or point her in the direction of a good nhs surgeon.

Op, please check out theshapeofamother.com it shows pictures of real women's bodies after childbirth, and helps give a more balanced, realistic view of what we all have under our clothes. If you don't feel even 1% happier after seeing that site, I'll eat my hat.

'why would anyone get plastic surgery done if they had no self esteem issues concerning their body image? Surely that the reason for cosmetic surgery in the first place '

because they see it as enhancing what they've got rather than correcting a defect.

if the OP thinks her depression is going to go away after havig this surgery, she desperately needs referring to a counsellor rather than a plastic surgeon.

this line of hers: 'Don't really want to hear from people who think this is wrong, don't really want to justify it or explain in depth about my history of depression/self esteem problems.' really speak volumes.

because she desperately needs to work out her self-esteem issues with a professional before having surgery.

Fair point- all I was saying is that no-one gets surgery on the nhs just to enhance what they've got, and the op was asking about how to go about this on the nhs.

Anyway I have no relevant experience on this (maybe someone will be along soon who does) so I'll shut up now, but good luck op, hope either way you feel happier about your boobs soon.

I do think you make a good point there, but the OP has said she has suffered with depression and if her booby issues are a symptom rather than a cause it would do her little good to get it done. But, it may well help too - which is why she needs counseeling.

Hi there.

Thanks again for your thoughtful replies. James you are so kind - i will go and digest what you have written properly.

Expat i know what you are saying. I have been in councelling for a while now. I didn't really want to go into this but I have suffered from poor self esteem my whole life. My appearance was all I had, esp my body. What Childbirth has done to it (my breasts especially) was a big dent to my confidence. I don't want Jordanesque knockers. I just want to be normal again.