A woman who underwent breast reduction surgery on the NHS has explained why she believes the criteria 'needs to be strict',
London-based content creator Lydia, who posts videos on her TikTok page @not_ovaryacting, couldn't wait to see the back of her 'massive' 32H boobs due to the havoc they have wreaked on her health.
The 29-year-old has struggled with severe back pain since she was a teenager, as well as the unwanted 'sexualisation' of her body due to the size of her chest.
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Speaking to LADbible, she explained that she had intended to wait until she had children before she turned to surgery as a solution, as she didn't want to run the risk of being unable to breastfeed.
"Then I made the decision that my quality of life matters way more than hypotheticals," Lydia said, explaining that she finally took the plunge after her health problems continued to worsen.
While dealing with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), chronic pain and inflammation, she was then diagnosed with a stomach problem in 2022, which led to a bizarre side effect.
"Every single time I was wearing a bra, I was being sick," Lydia told LADbible. "But I wasn't able to leave the house without a bra, because obviously, with massive boobs, they were really saggy.
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"I was basically just isolated from everything, as aesthetically, it looked awful."
Given the mental and physical toll her knockers were taking on her, Lydia decided to finally take on the daunting task of trying to secure a breast reduction on the NHS at the beginning of this year.
She decided she was only ever going to take one shot at it, so went out of her way to 'make sure that she fit all of the criteria' before even kickstarting a discussion with her doctor.
The NHS requires patients to exhaust every other option - such as undergoing physio and wearing professionally fitted bras - before venturing down the avenue of applying for a reduction.
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To qualify, your ample bosom must be causing you back, shoulder or neck pain, skin irritation, grooves on the shoulders from bra straps, low self-esteem or depression and stopping you from exercising.
However, even if you tick all of these boxes, it doesn't guarantee you a spot on the waiting list.
Take Melissa Ashcroft, 30, for example - who believes she has the 'biggest boobs in Britain', but has still be turned down by the NHS for a reduction because her BMI is too high.
Lydia, on the other hand, 'didn't struggle at all to get funding', which she knows is 'very, very rare'. You can listen to her breakdown how she met the criteria here:
After her first consultation in March, Lydia then underwent the procedure in September.
She explained she was bumped up the list due to a cancellation - and she is well aware of how 'lucky' she is in comparison to other women in the same boat - but still believes the NHS criteria has to remain harsh.
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The online creator warned fellow females that a breast reduction is a 'massive, massive transformation', while detailing why she believes that not everyone is cut out for breast reduction surgery and the subsequent recovery.
"I’m so grateful that the NHS has done me," Lydia said. "I do know there are women who have done it privately, who have jumped into it, because it's not as regulated in the private industry.
"But it's a drastic change - none of my clothes fit me anymore. The [NHS] just want to make sure that you're not at risk of having body dysmorphia, or that you’re going to regret your decision.
"While I do agree that the BMI thing is kind of ridiculous, we know it's an outdated system…they have to make sure that you are doing this for the right reason, and that you can handle it.
"So, is it strict? Yes. Is it postcode lottery? Yes. Should it be that way? No.
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"But I do think the criteria needs to be strict, or else it's just going to get abused, like everything else."
Still, Lydia doesn't subscribe to the idea that women getting a reduction via the NHS are getting a 'free boob job' - as she says out of the hundreds of operations she's endured throughout her life, this was the worst.
She 'nearly lost her nipple' and now has 'huge' scars from the surgery, which saw medics remove 1.3kg of fat, skin and glandular tissue from her. What a weight off her chest that must be, eh?
Lydia also pointed out that NHS patients don't even get to 'decide on the size' of their new boobs, which she considers further proof that the surgery isn't motivated by cosmetic reasons.
She wants to remind people that the procedure isn't something that should be taken lightly, as there's 'a high chance of complications', while the recovery process is also gruelling.
However, the surgery has ultimately changed her life, as she explained: "My breathing is better. I haven’t been sick in two months. It’s like night and day, it’s mad.
"I'm more confident, I feel a lot more free. I know it sounds crazy, but not having to wear a bra is like a luxury that I've never, ever had.
"I've managed to half my chronic pain relief because my boobs are not causing me severe pain anymore. I've even been able to start running again. I've never been able to exercise – I always thought I was really unfit.
"No, it was my boobs - and my boobs are the reason why I couldn't breathe! It’s a whole lifestyle change."
Lydia explained that two months post-op, her boobs now measure in at 32DD, which she says is a 'huge reduction' from 32H - and they will likely reduce in size further once the swelling has completely disappeared.
She encouraged other women considering a breast reduction on the NHS to 'document' all of the struggles their large boobs bring them, as well as their efforts to overcome these hurdles.
"Make sure that you hit the criteria," Lydia added. "If you don't, do the things that you need to do - like weight loss, see a physio, professionally fitted bras - because that's what they will judge your case on."
Topics: UK News, Health, Mental Health, NHS, Lifestyle, Originals
Olivia Burke