Is it actually possible to have a tummy tuck on NHS?

[objectivity]

It is 4,nearly 5 years since I gave birth and my stomach muscles are as good as they're ever going to be post-birth but I have a large amount of very stretch marked excess skin across my tummy. So much so that it looks like I am pregnant again if I eat. This is not helping me with the not starving myself attitude that I am trying to cultivate.

So, I wondered - is there anything that can be done NHS wise?Or is it just considered vanity?

Vanity.
Or it should be.
Ridiculous to expect public funds to be frittered on stuff like this.

I doubt it - there needs (I think) to be a physical and psychological need, not sure what you'd be able to argue physcally.

Wouldn't magic pants be less invasive? Sorry I mean that seriously not flippantly.

Is quite distressing actually.

but no physical reason - they may refer you for cousnelling if its that distressing for you.

I have wondered this too espeacially as a consultant has told me that the huge hangover I cant get rid of is because they stitched me up wrong after section

i may be distressing but probably not as distressing as being denied Herceptin because all your health trust's cash has been spent on tummy tucks. save up and get it down in russia

If they admit any kind of fault they might consider it

I know it is done for people who have lost a lot of weight

Trouble is, what is distressing for you might be objectively just an inch of two of excess skin, which won't be the kind of thing they would deem a problem

it not i

I found this on t'web

"Abdominoplasty is performed on the NHS for 2 reasons - excessive scarring and loose skin from previous surgery, and on people who have lost a significant amount of weight and have a fold of skin that won't shift by exercise."

From the Mail

"In a typical NHS clinic studied, almost half of requests for nose jobs and a quarter of requests for tummy tucks were granted. Around half the patients who asked for breast reduction were successful, and slightly less than a fifth of those who wanted breast enhancements."

My friend recently lost 11stone after a gastric band operation- even she has been turned down for tummy tuck.

BBC says "extremely unlikely"

I am also bothered by South facing Norks but I can handle that - my stomach is actually hideous.

It does combine with other stuff to do with body image - i have serious eating issues, so i am genuine when i say it gives me bother beyond the 'oh i don'tlike my tumnmy very much'

I think they will probably refer you to counselling which might help?

I sympathise - after 2 pregnancies (despite vaginal births) I have little feeling in my wrinkly stomach and often shut it in my kitchen drawers etc. because the skin hangs down. It's yucky.

I am due some self esteem counselling soon so that may help,but don't think I will ever be so self assured as to not detest my horrible tummy.

Yes, MP,I shut mine in zips and it is very scarred by stretch marks.

If Iam ever financially stable I certainly intend to save and get this done - but if there were a way now...

By the time I saved up my years of having an ok, youngish body will be gone.

my boss had this in 2006, but they may have changed the rules since then.

he not only had a tummy tuck on the NHS, but they also reduced his moobs at the same time. I know it sounds like an unlikely thing for the NHS to spend money on, but he managed to convince his GP his was psychological damaged by his moobs/loose tummy .

actually, I should add that his recovery from the tummy tuck was not straightforward. He got an infection, and this is supposedly quite common, as the location of the scar makes it really hard to keep clean and dry. He has said that he wouldn't recommend it to anyone (but he was v.pleased with moob reduction ).

Tbh, I probably know the reality as I have only just succeeded in getting a referral for vascular surgery on very bad varicose veins that I have had for 13 years! Given that veins are a health risk I don't suppose tummy tuck would rate high on the seriousness agenda.

My stomach is hideous too, when I used to mention it to close friends I could tell they tried to be understanding but didnt really get it and thought I was being ott. Until I decided to show them one day, they looked truly shocked and all of sudden seemed to think I had a case on the nhs. I am not sure if to go down that route. I used to be very against plastic surgery, it all vanity. But know I realize you cant class it all the same, and would not hesitate to have a tummy tuck if I had the money

You never know - counselling may help

My stomach is hideous too, REALLY stretch marked and also have hangover from CS, but I love it. It carried DS so it's precious to me. Carrying ds and particularly giving birth to ds, was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life and it seems right that I have a physical mark of it.

It really is hideous, the trick is not to mind

I know someone who lost around 8 stone and basically was left with a flap of skin that hung past her fanjo. She had it done, but in her case I think it was a reasonable thing to have done. And well done her for losing the weight.

Just for a little bit of flabby skin, dream on

ive lost 5 stone and have flabbery tummy which i would prefer not to be so

i dont think it is as bad as as i think it is

i was really self conscious it looks bad when i lean over

however on the bright side

but strangely my bf has made me feel less self conscious

he keeps slapping my tummy which seems to entertain him and he also picks it up like a cat weith a kitten...so i guess he is fascinated rather repulsed

im not sure i would want major surgery for something cosmetic as i am big coward