Boob job abroad advice.

[suddenlysix]

I'm currently on the train home from London after a disappointing consultation for a breast augmentation with an irritatingly fake care coordinator, who I had to speak to because the surgeon was "called into theatre". I now have to go back another day (another £30 train ticket!) and also pay £500 more than I was quoted when I booked the appt. Apparently the £3000 offer I saw only applies up North! So I'm now back to wondering if I should just go abroad, which I had previously researched. I've been looking at the Wellness Kliniek in Belgium but I'm finding it hard to find any recent reviews. Has anyone been there or anywhere else in Europe that they could really recommend? Please don't post if you're going to try and put me off going abroad or having surgery altogether. I'm having it done no matter what and would just like to hear any recommendations please. Thanks.

Why don't you have it done up north in the UK to get the better price? Still cheap but you're still in the UK with the additional peace of mind you get from that.

Whatever you do, don't go outside the EU!

I had a reduction when I was 21. Luckily though I had a referral from my GP and had it done on the NHS.

• Have you spoken to your GP?

• Even if you can't get the op through the NHS your GP will be able to give you info to find a competent surgeon.

• Have you interviewed more than one surgeon for the op?

• Questions I would ask

• What post medical qualifications does he/she have?
• How much post qual training have they had?
• What other hospitals/private practice have they worked in?
• Do they only do breast reconstruction surgery? I would be wary if they did a wide selection of different surgeries.
• Do they work in both NHS and private practice?
• How many breast reduction surgeries does he/she do per year?
• Of those surgeries how many have had complications and of what types.

• It's not all about the bottom line price

• what is included in the op and most importantly what is provided for if the op does not go to plan?
• Do you have funds to go to another surgeon for a second opinion on the op if things go wrong?
• Difference between unlucky with outcome/post op healing due to your skin type/general health or poor surgical technique/poor post op care.

• What are your final expectations from this op? A good surgeon should be able to explain if there is a discrepancy between what you want and what is surgically possible, in your case. Also, post op expectations of breast feeding.

Unless it was for the most basic information, I would walk from any organisation who put me in front of a sales person/nurse when discussing a procedure.

I would also discount any organisation who when discussing a potential op offered me other procedures.

Your GP will be able to give you info on going abroad (in or out of EU) and post op aftercare available to you in the Uk.

If you are determined to go outside the EU look into specialist insurance and what they cover. I imagine they would be very expensive for excellent comprehensive cover - the only type you should have.

Do you have any friends, or friends of friends that know any doctors/medics. Just someone to point you in the right direction for reliable information, referrals?

Last question (sorry) - did the surgeon/sales person mention which technique they use with regards to your nipples? 2 options:

1. Nipples come off, sewn back on after. Can have problems with sensitivity and more importantly lack of blood causing the tissues to die.
2. Cut around the nipple (leaving them on a stalk). I had this, much better outcome for not loosing your nipples.

Apologies, ridiculously long post

Hi thanks for your posts.

I'm just having an enlargement so not expecting to have anything done to my nipples. I used to be a large G cup but losing pregnancy weight has made me an empty D. I know that might still sound big but I have loose saggy crepey skin across the top of my breasts and a horrible sag when I lean forwards. I'm happy with where they sit though so not wanting an uplift. I feel having a nice size implant in will fill them back to where they used to be. Hoping that I follow my mum with regards to sagging, she's a massive G-H cup but still pretty perky. I think I would still be that big but I have lost nearly all my pregnancy weight (have about 10lbs to go).

Those are some really good questions and I will add them to my notepad of questions that I already wrote. I didn't bother asking many of them as I didn't get to see the surgeon.

As for going up North still, I may do that but not with this clinic. I feel like they've really messed me around. I specifically asked for confirmation of the price then told them where I live. I was then told London is my nearest clinic and the appt was made. There was no mention of extra costs at different clinics.

I'm just considering abroad because it's so much cheaper really. £1800 instead of £3000-5000. I def wouldn't go outside the EU, was thinking maybe Poland as I've heard good things. Just hard to know what's a genuine review and what's not. I was hoping someone could say "I went to this clinic and it was great". I've done some further research into the Wellness Kliniek and it seems really shady! So I've discounted them. I've found a few other places that seem to be offering sub £3000 prices (UK that is) and I'll be ringing them tomorrow. And triple checking the price! I think I'll also phone the hospital down the road from me and see what I can negotiate. Their quote is £4800 online but that's with an overnight stay. I live literally 4 mins drive from them and they have excellent CQC reports. If I could get them down to £3200 ish would be better than going elsewhere and paying travel costs.

Still welcome any recommendations for here or abroad. I've seen other people saying they've had it done around the £3000 mark but just not recent so stories of any recent ops would be great.