Breast reduction, how to research clinics?

[Jaffapedigree]

Hi, decided to put this in women's health as I was unsure where else it could go.

I'm 50 and saving up for private breast reduction surgery. Due to work, cost and trying to lose weight, it'll be a couple of years before I'm ready. This has given me plenty of time to research, but I am struggling beyond going to the usual reviews websites. I'm also looking into having it done in Latvia, as a clinic there has come to my attention.

For anyone who's had this procedure done, how did you go about researching your chosen clinic and surgeon?

I’m not in the Uk, but I researched surgeons, not clinics. I chose a woman who had worked for a large public hospital for more that twenty years doing breast reconstruction after mastectomies. She was also on a national expert panel of breast surgery. I booked an appointment just to meet her and ask questions about the surgery before I made a decision. I think it’s really important to make sure they are competent and will answer your questions.

Also, this is more of a personal preference, but I knew that if I could find a competent female surgeon that I liked, I would choose them over an equally qualified male doctor simply because it was important to me that they understood what having breasts is like.

Thank you, that gives me a place to start.

Also, has anyone had cosmetic surgery done abroad? The costs are far lower than the UK, but are the risks higher?

Can't you have it done on the NHS? Or is the waiting list too long? I would have thought it would be covered as it has health benefits.

I’m afraid you are very sadly mistaken if you think it likely the NHS would fund this. These days you are lucky to get a hip or knee replacement after years of waiting in chronic pain let alone a breast reduction even though I do agree it can have health benefits.