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?

[Alexa808]

'...people are starving in the world...'

As if that had anything to do with the price of fish. If she's not having a tummy tuck, then they wouldn't be starving anymore or what?

Seriously...

[LuLuMacGloo]

I have mates who wail and moan and say that their stomach's are a mess. Yet still they fit into size eight jeans with no overhang. Should they have surgery on the NHS - no. That's life. You have a baby and you get a bit of a war wound - so what?

However, like MP if I showed aforementioned pals my stomach they would be horrifed. No matter how much I suck in my stomach I look five months gone. If they saw me naked they would freak out. My stomach muscles have seperated (I can put my hands between my ribs and feel my innards) and despite not being overweight I have a huge overhang. My whole stomach area look completely squint and rippled and revolting. This is not a subjective 'vain' opinion - even my lovely DH who is completely non 'lookist' admits that after two CS my stomach is a mess.

Do I think I should have surgery on the NHS? If I was in any way single I would be appalled by the state of my appearance. I would NOT be confident enough to get into any kind of new relationship which involved taking my clothes off. Even without that I worry about the future consequences of having abslutely no stomach muscles left to speak of. So yes - ultimately I would consider trying to get something done to sort it and would consider myself entitled.

However, if I had a wee, slightly unattractive overhang then I would get a grip and remind myself that people are starving in the world.

[DMCT]

Hi Objectivity,

I dont know whether you can or cannot get the op on the NHS( prob not), but I do sympathise with you and it is not SIMPLY VANITY, you have every right to want to look the way you did and not have 'stretch marked excess skin across your tummy'.

In this day and age women should be able to have babies without sacrificing their bodies and how they feel about themselves.

[honeydew]

hi geekgirl

So nice to hear from someone else who has a similar problem! I very rarely meet anyone with this condition and had never heard of it until after the birth of my third.

Not sure how long I'll have to wait, although my surgeon said possibly only 3 months, maybe 6. I've put it off though, even though I've been told I have to have the op and it just depends on when I want to go ahead. I would like to have it done for say Jan or Feb next year, once my eldest is settled in school.

I've had 2 sections recently so that's why I wanted to leave if for a while- a bit fed up of hospitals to be honest! I've never had a general anaesthetic, so I'm really scared but I'm so fed up of being in pain and not able to dress how I want that I'm ready to put my name on the waiting list.

Organising the childcare will be a stress and I don't know how long the recovery time will be as I need to have the abdomen stitched, the hernia repaired and then the tummy tuck All my own fault; I had three children each about 18 months apart, they were all big babies and my body just didn't cope very well.

Like you, I 've tried repairing it myself with specific exercises but to no avail. Apparently, hernia's don't repair themselves either so I'm stuck with the surgery. At least no one will ask me when am I due again!

Good luck with your repair- it's great to know I'm not alone

[geekgirl]

honeydew - me too!! Have just returned from finally seeing my GP about the diastasis recti, and he said it's a clear case for surgical repair and that he'll refer me for surgery.
Am thrilled tbh - I've felt unhappy about my tummy for years and have tried to sort it with Pilates etc., with unfortunately little result in terms of repairing the separation. I can only get up from the sofa 'sideways' and look 5 months pregnant by the end of the day or after a run (all that jiggling about of innards I guess ) even though I am not overweight at 5ft10in and 10 stone.
I've never had major surgery that side of things is a bit daunting.
How long will you have to wait for your repair?

[honeydew]

I am shortly to see my plastic surgeon to place myself on the waiting list for repair surgery. I have a separated abdomen or 'Diastasis Recti'. My abdominal muscles have torn apart after three successive pregnancies. My children were all big babies and I had 2 sections- one emergency, the next one planned. I also have an umbilical hernia which needs repair. As a result of all this I have extensive swelling- I look about 5 months pregnant and many people stop me in shops etc to ask when I'm due! It's not a question of weight- I'm 5 foot 4" and about 9 stone. I also have a large overhang ( just like an apron). So I qualify for a tummy tuck on the NHS because I need other essential repair surgery. I've put up with a lot of pain for more than a year and I've waited to have the surgery in order to get my youngest off breast feeding and be a little more independent. I can't wear normal clothes- I'm still in maternity garments. If I don't have the surgery, my posture will be affected long term due to my weak abdominal muscles not holding up my spine and my hernia could strangulate. I guess that I'm pleased I'll get a tummy tuck but it's major surgery and with three young children, it's not something I want to have done but I have no choice. I doubt you will be offered a tummy tuck on the NHS unless you are have similar position to myself. Believe me, I don't want this to happen in many ways, I've put it off and been hoping that my body will repair itself. I know what it's like to feel pretty low if your body is wrecked through having children. Maybe you could try talking to your GP about the psychological damage of overhangs etc. I was in a shop yesterday which had some lovely vintage,trendy clothes and I can't wear any of it until after my op, so I know how miserable having a poor body image can make you feel.

[TartanKnickers]

Barnsleybelle, exactly! Someone with psychological illness should also be treated. If the unsightly tummy - although it does have to be more than 'just' unsightly - I think actually damaged - is the cause of the illness, it should be treated like any other. If one operation would save a lifetime of anti-ds and counselling, it should be an option.

[AphroditeInHerNightie]

Not so bothered about a tummy tuck, at least magic knickers and creative dressing can disgiose all but the most severe cases. What I'd love is an upper arm life. Have lost five stones since november as a result of slimming world and hard work in the gym, but am left with some pretty horrendous 'bingo-wings' which don't seem to be responding to the numerous tricep lifts I do.
Am seriously considering surgery if things don't start to change soon. winder if the NHS do brachioplasty?

[misi]

this can be a difficult thing.
if the rules say that a persons psychological state has to be taken into consideration, then for some, this type of op is vital. muscle tone under the skin can be fantastic but the skin is just too much. nothing I can suggest will help with that scenario, I can help stop excessive stretch marks and skin sagging if got early enough, either when pregnant or within a few weeks after, but once stretched too far, it won't go back. my XP had this somewhat. she had lost lots of weight just before we met but had toned skin, then although I rubbed wheat germ oil, lavender and rosa mosqueta oil on her bump, back and legs each day when pregnant, the previous extra weight had taken its toll and left her a bit saggy after birth. no amount of telling her she looked great, had nothing to worry about etc etc etc had any effect. but we went to a gym together, I massaged with tautening oils every day and it took a year to get her feeling better about herself. all that hard work has gone to waste now as she has piled on the weight since we split, more than she was before we met but she has learnt not to hate her body, as she does flaunt it in close fitting clothes quite often, either that or she just don't care anymore so maybe not a waste after all???

[barnsleybelle]

tartanknickers,
Someone with liver and lung disease may actually die. Regardless of the lifestyle choice, people with illness should be treated. I hardly think an unsightly tummy is something that will put a persons life at risk.

[barnsleybelle]

rozzy, Sorry, i didn't realise you meant the surgery after! I think once a person has had nhs assistance to lose weight then any tummy surgery after should be their own responsilility.

[TheCrackFox]

I absolutely hate my stomach. It has a lot of loose skin and is covered with stretch marks.

I would love to have a tummy tuck but I think I really am too chicken.

I personally wouldn't have it done on the NHS but for women it is the right option.

[TartanKnickers]

I'm having one on the NHS - I'm on the waiting list. Have already been seen by my GP, the surgeon and a psychologist who all assessed my need for it.

Basically, since my first set of twins weighed nearly 16 pounds, the skin on my tummy hangs down like an apron and I have a tear in the abdominal muscles. Where the "abs" meet in the middle - mine don't. There is a hole big enough to put my hand in.

I think it has to be pretty drastic for it to be done on the NHS.

I don't feel guilty about having it done. I've worked all my adult life so I've paid in as well. I've only ever been in hospital to have my kids, and couldn't tell you the last time I had to see my doctor for any illness or prescription etc.

It's no more a waste of public money than treating smokers and drinker for lung or liver related illness IMO.

[SheSellsSeashellsByTheSeashore]

objectivity afaik tummy tucks are allowed on th nhs if they 'drastically affect your way of life' i was told this by a nurse in a cosmetic surgery clinic when i went to see about stretch mark removal. she suggested that i apply for it done on the nhs as i used to work as a dancer so it did drastically affect my way of life as there was a possibility that it would affect my ability to work in my chosen profession. but it can also be pychological things affecting your life.

id enquire about it and see where you get. you maybe be allowed you may not be, i think it all depends upon which doctors you see and how sypmathetic they are to you, which imo is absoloutely ridiculous

[stitch]

stretchmarked, and flabby is what a post babies tummy looks like.
flat , mark free, is what a playbunny tummy looks like

[moondog]

I've piadfor 2 private operations that the NHS would have funded. However I felt it unjustifiable to spend public money.

[moondog]

It's obscene to expect one because you choose to have squillions of kids. I too work for the NHS and am sickened at how public money is wasted.

[rozzyraspberry]

barnsleybelle - I do understand why overweight people are treated on the nhs in order to enable them to lose the weight for health reasons. I just don't understand why once they have lost the weight they are able to get a tummy tuck on the nhs when people who have the same problems after pregnancy aren't.

I agree that the nhs shouldn't fund operations to improve peoples self esteem.

[Guadalupe]

My mum's home help had one on the nhs. She said she had six children and I couldn't belive how flat her stomach was but she'd had the surgery the year before aged 30. Apparently there was so much skin hanging down she could hide her cup of tea in it!

I do think of that sometimes, especially as mine is a disaster area. An appendicectomy, laperotomy, c-section, three pregnancies and a hysterectomy have left me a mess in the middle.

My hysterectomy was bloody painful, much worse than a section to recover from and I've heard a tummy tuck is worse so I'm not racing to have one. That was only three months ago though, maybe I'll feel differently in a few years.

[barnsleybelle]

The reason being overweight and treated on the nhs as opposed to having a tummy tuck, is that serious obesity can potentially be fatal, due to other factors such as cardiac issues.

I do not think it is the responsibility of the nhs to provide surgery that will simply aid self esteem. However, i do believe counselling should be available on the nhs for exceptional cases where emotional issues are having a detrimental effect on a persons life.

[tiggerlovestobounce]

When it is done on the NHS it is for the very worst cases, this is why it is called an "apronectomy" This isnt people who have a little bit of loose skin and some stretchmarks. People having it done on the NHS are the ones with a huge fold of skin hanging down (like an apron, hence apronectomy). In these cases the surgery is done to remove the fold, and usually leaves an enourmous hip to hip scar.
I have a flabby belly and stratchmarks too, but there is no way I would want to have that surgery done on the NHS, my problem isnt nearly bad enough to justify that as a solution!

[Kewcumber]

12345678910 - laugh all you like but with eating and self esteem problems myself, I can promise the OP that nothing will change if she has this done because her problem goes much deeper than this. If she had no other issues and this was the only thing she didn't like its possible that removing the excess skin would "cure" her. But it isn't and it won't.

Objectivity I suspect that you are pinning your hopes on this as some kind of magic cure and that all your other problems will become easier to deal with. But you're really doing it the wrong way round. Deal with your issues around how you look and how you feel about yourself first then consider how to improve the physical if its still important to you. Otherwise you will never deal with the extensive scarring (which several have mentioned), the possible lumpiness, the stretch marks which will remain - you will either end up being disatisfied with the result and start pursuing the possibility of corrective surgery or you will move to the next physical issue which allows you to distract yourself from the underlying problems.

Being single isn't a problem - do you think that people with physical issues don't fall in love and get married? Very fat people, excessively thin people, people with limbs missing, facial scarring etc all find love and settle down. More conventionally attractive people might get a quick shag more easily but in my experience they don't find love any more easily.

[rozzyraspberry]

I know where you're coming from objectivity. I have 3 ds and although I do a lot of exercise I have the same stretch marked scarred stomach and loose skin. Maybe it is vanity but it does bother me. It affects other areas of my life too - I can't stand anyone touching my stomach - even my dh.

I don't expect a tummy tuck to be available on the nhs given the state it's in. But then why should it be available to people who've lost weight - that seems ridiculous - why is being overweight then losing weight any different to being pregnant?

[barnsleybelle]

I work for the NHS and have done for 20 years. I do not think it's already strapped resources should be spent on ANY unnecessary procedures. Whilst i sympathise greatly with anyone who has any negativity towards the way they look, it is not the job of the nhs to allieve these.
I also understand, that health is about physical, emotional and social well being, but procedures like the one here should be paid for direct by the client.
I see many people in my clinic who are in a great deal of physical pain and whose lives could be potentially at risk and they are placed on waiting lists which can be up to 6 months. Jamming the operating theatres with this type of surgery could essentially result in the other lists becoming longer.

[stitch]

exactly kew!