Cosmetic surgery

Willo23 · 2023-03-26T10:14:23+00:00

are there any teachers from the UK who have taken time off to have cosmetic surgery? Can you please tell me about the absence policy if you’ve needed to take time off to recover?

determinedtomakethiswork · 26/03/2023 11:24

Why wouldn't you just do it at the start of the summer holidays?

Verylongtime · 26/03/2023 11:28

Not quite the same, but a teacher friend paid privately for cateract removal and total lens replacement in both eyes and timed it for the summer holiday.

Original poster

Willo23 · 26/03/2023 14:02

Because I already have a holiday booked and there is no availability around that time. Also it costs triple the amount for flights in summer. I have booked my surgery during the whitt holiday but thats only a week and I think I will need longer to recover

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Precipice · 26/03/2023 14:09

Verylongtime · 26/03/2023 11:28

Not quite the same, but a teacher friend paid privately for cateract removal and total lens replacement in both eyes and timed it for the summer holiday.

That's not at all equivalent, since there's a medical reason for it. Cataracts cause firstly problems with the vision impeding work and then result in blindness. Both of these are things that even if your friend had only had to wait to have it done at a random time termtime, schools/employers generally should facilitate (and probably even have to for long-term employees), because it's a vital health reason. Cosmetic surgery is not. It's entirely voluntary, unless OP is about to tell us she needs reconstruction following serious defacing injury.

Mercurial123 · 26/03/2023 14:48

Willo23 · 26/03/2023 14:02

Because I already have a holiday booked and there is no availability around that time. Also it costs triple the amount for flights in summer. I have booked my surgery during the whitt holiday but thats only a week and I think I will need longer to recover

Surely you should have done the research on the absence policy before scheduling?

Original poster

Willo23 · 27/03/2023 17:48

Your comment is not very helpful at all really is it??? Regardless of my absence policy, this surgery is something which I NEED due to my mental health. So when people refer to it as “non-essential” then I beg to differ. Particularly if the person requiring the surgery suffers from severe mental health problems which could ultimately result in suicide!!!!

OP posts:

Verylongtime · 27/03/2023 18:01

Precipice · 26/03/2023 14:09

That's not at all equivalent, since there's a medical reason for it. Cataracts cause firstly problems with the vision impeding work and then result in blindness. Both of these are things that even if your friend had only had to wait to have it done at a random time termtime, schools/employers generally should facilitate (and probably even have to for long-term employees), because it's a vital health reason. Cosmetic surgery is not. It's entirely voluntary, unless OP is about to tell us she needs reconstruction following serious defacing injury.

Show quote history

She couldn’t wait. NHS would only put her on the list for cataract surgery when both eyes were really badly affected with cataracts. She was technically, I believe, virtually blind in one eye but that didn’t count unless both eyes were affected to the same degree. It counted as “voluntary” surgery.

JanetandJohn500 · 28/03/2023 21:37

I'm an ex-HT. Our policy stated that elective or cosmetic surgery was not covered. It was standard LA policy.
I've also had cosmetic surgery (during the summer holiday) and my doctor offered to sign me off with 'post-surgery complications' without specifying what my surgery had been.
There are ways around it.

nc13467 · 28/03/2023 21:54

Willo23 · 27/03/2023 17:48

Your comment is not very helpful at all really is it??? Regardless of my absence policy, this surgery is something which I NEED due to my mental health. So when people refer to it as “non-essential” then I beg to differ. Particularly if the person requiring the surgery suffers from severe mental health problems which could ultimately result in suicide!!!!

I can't imagine many employers paying for time off or authorising an absence for elective cosmetic surgery.

If it is as life impacting as you say you'll you not qualify for nhs surgery? Not only would it save you from paying but you'd be entitled to time off during term while being paid.

Or maybe prioritise the surgery over a holiday if it's making you potentially suicidal?

TomatoSandwiches · 28/03/2023 23:03

Maybe state what the surgery is and others who have had it may enlighten you about recovery time?

mybeautifuloak · 28/03/2023 23:06

Willo23 · 27/03/2023 17:48

Your comment is not very helpful at all really is it??? Regardless of my absence policy, this surgery is something which I NEED due to my mental health. So when people refer to it as “non-essential” then I beg to differ. Particularly if the person requiring the surgery suffers from severe mental health problems which could ultimately result in suicide!!!!

OP meant kindly but if you are saying you need cosmetic surgery because your mental health surrounding the issue is so bad that you would contemplate suicide, then you should be seeking psychiatric and or psychological help. Not sure if you can access this but asking people on MN about taking time off is the least of your issues

Original poster

Willo23 · 29/03/2023 07:10

the holiday has been booked for over two years and it isn’t just a holiday, me and my family are going to see family abroad and this can’t simply be cancelled as I will lose a lot of money and my children will lose out. Also…are you familiar with our NHS currently??? The waiting times are horrendous as it is. I have tried several times to get my surgery on NHS to be told a very firm NO!!
I did not say I am suicidal….if you read my post correctly it says “could result in suicide” . I already have weekly therapy sessions with a professional councillor.
Thank you to those few people who have posted supportive and non-judgmental comments.

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Original poster

Willo23 · 29/03/2023 07:15

The surgery is a breast reduction. I am in constant pain in upper body and I often pull out my rib muscles. And I will not look in the mirror or let my husband see my breasts. NHS have said no, even after a consultation with an NHS surgeon. He didn’t agree with the decision at all but he made me aware that NHS do not offer cosmetic surgery anymore unless it’s plastics or reconstructive surgery!

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