Does the NHS Offer Breast Reduction

Introduction

Women with oversized breasts can find their daily lives affected considerably and often search for a way to ease the problems associated with them. One solution is to undergo breast reduction, or Reduction Mammoplasty as it is medically referred to. This, as the name suggests, attempts to scale down the size of a women's breasts by removing fat, skin and glandular tissue. It is worth noting that the procedure is not solely for women as men can often request the treatment too. Surgery is available on the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK, however it is commonplace to get visit a private clinic or plastic surgeon for the reduction instead.

Why would you need breast reduction?

Reduction Mammoplasty is an option if your life is negatively affected by the large size of your breasts. Age is not a factor as such because, commonly, high oestrogen levels in a women's body can often be the root cause. Psychological stress caused by unwanted attention or increased levels of self-consciousness is a frequent complaint as are physical side-effects such as stiff neck, skin complaints, backache and poor circulation. It may also be that you dislike the shape of your breasts they droop too much or one breast is larger or heavier than the other. All of which can be tackled by this particular treatment, but the question is where you go to get it done - Does the NHS offer breast reduction?

NHS versus Private

The good news is that the NHS does offer Reduction Mammoplasty, however there are certain conditions to meet to be eligible. According to the NHS, more often than not an operation to reduce the size of your breasts is for aesthetic reasons rather than medical ones. In this case the NHS would normally turn down your request and suggest you visit a private plastic surgeon. If you can make a case for you to receive a procedure you may need to sufficiently meet one of the following requirements:
- a referral from your GP who would ordinarily consider this treatment to be of benefit to you taking into account your body mass index (it should be no more than 27) and height/weight;
- a consultation with a plastic surgeon and possibly an assessment by a psychiatrist or psychologist, importantly to judge if your mental health is seriously being undermined by the size of your breasts;
- considering the findings of your G's initial referral and the subsequent psychological assessment you undergo, your local Primary Care Trust will make the final decision as to whether it will cover the costs of you having the surgery.

Where NHS treatment is refused, there is an alternative option to go private. If this is your only option, you will be left with a hefty bill running into a few thousand pounds. However, you can be assured that you are receiving first class care and on a timescale that fits with your lifestyle. Whichever way finally receive the treatment, your life post-operation will hopefully improve, leaving breasts that result in a more confident and comfortable you.