Hi, newbie and wanting pct info please

[feynman]

Hi folks, I wonder if anyone can help. I am currently trying to loose weight. I've lost 6 stone so far and realistically have another 8 to go at least. I am doing well and am very positive, but am facing the fact that 14st of excess weight is not going to just dissapear without leaving behind some loose skin issues.
I have spoken to my GP about our pct's stance on plastic surgery following weight loss and have been told it's not an option and there basically isn't any provided on the nhs.
They did tell me I may be elligible for a breast reduction when my bmi is under 30 provided my boobs are still at least a dd and I'm still having the neck pain I'm having. I think this will be the case as even when I was a size 12, I've never been below an F cup.
I just wondered what others have been told. Im saving like mad for a tummy tuck etc as I can't see how I'll not need one. Im already finding trying to excersise a bit of a nightmare as bits flap about

I had hoped I may be able to get something on the nhs if only so I can move around without chaffing and flapping etc.
I see some people on here have had tummy tucks etc on the nhs, how have you managed it? I believe some pcts have different rules but is there anyway I can find out what they are for my area? I'm not convinved my gp was correct. (She also told me I couldnt be refered for wls, despite my bmi being 56, she gave me the same story that there basically wasn't anything offered on the nhs anymore.

If anyone has any advice/help, I'd be really grateful. Alternativly if anyone has gone private I'd be really keen to hear about where you've gone, whether you could recommend surgeons etc.

Thanks and happy new year.

 

[MrsSAFC]

go to nice guidelines or google your pct area.... where are you from?

 

[anna2131]

If you look for pct on the net hun theres a drop down list it will show your paticular pct info,can you also maybe approach another gp who may have more understanding gl hun xx

 

[phatmomma]

We all try to give you the benefit of our experience, but it really helps if we know which Primary Care Trust you come under. This is based on where your gp practice is/comes under so if you don't know ring your surgery and ask them. So if you can put this info on your profile it would help us a lot.

Absolutely fantastic weight loss so far, it will be a shame if you can't get some help off the nhs after all you have done xxx

 

[feynman]

Hi, sorry didn't think to say. I live in East Yorkshire. Off to google now. I did try and find this info on the net, but couldn't find what I was looking for. (I am a bit useless sometimes lol). Thanks for the replys

 

[TwinkleTwinkle]

Hi honey, congratulation on your fabulous weightloss
Try this address for the info you need.
http://www.bospa.org/information.aspx?page=46
Good luck xxx

 

[feynman]

Hello again, I have just goggled pct and found East Riding of Yorkshire on a drop down list, but I can't see any thing that tells me about this sort of thing.

 

[feynman]

Thanks Twinkle, going to look there now

 

[feynman]

I've just had a look at the link you gave twinkle, but I can only find info on weight loss surgery not plastic surgery after weightloss. Sorry to be really dense but is there a certain part of the site I should be looking at. I can't find anything. Sorry again and thanks

 

[TwinkleTwinkle]

Hi hon, just checked it out myself & not sure it is that helpful to you as you are not wanting bariatric surgery ... unusual on here, lol I will keep trying to find East Yorks PCT criteria for you though. I am South Yorks so not au fait with your PCT xx

 

[feynman]

Thank-you so much, I couldn't find anything but assumed it was just me being daft. Thanks very much for all your help x

 

[TwinkleTwinkle]

Not good news, hon ... found this below, I would see your doctor & ask if you would qualify for exceptional circumstances funding.


7. PLASTIC SURGERY

7.1 Patients should be advised that procedures such as abdominoplasty and removal of skin flaps following substantial weight loss are not routinely funded by the NHS.

7.2 Each local primary care trust has a policy for referral to plastic surgery services. The eligibility of a patient for referral following significant weight loss therefore, should be discussed with their General Practitioner/ Local weight management service, before a final decision to proceed with surgery is taken.

7.3 Clear local policies on plastic surgery following bariatric surgery need to be available for patients considering surgery as the requests for this type of surgery are likely to grow in line with an increased demand for the initial weight loss surgery.

 

[feynman]

Hi again, thanks for that, can I ask where you found it? The problem I have is that my gp has said that this type of operation is not available full stop. I can try another GP but just wanted to know what was out there before I approach them. I've a long way to go so it's not urgent or anything but I thought if I knew what was/was not possible then I at least know where I'm aiming.

Does anyone know what constitues an exceptional case. I think I read somewhere that on average, out of 25 applications for this type of surgery in our area last year, only 1 was accepted, so I'm not hopeful.

Going back to my other question, has anyone had this type of surgery privately and can recommend a surgeon, or at least give me an insught into how you made a desicion.

Many Thanks once again

 

[TwinkleTwinkle]

Hi hon, I found it online under the heading of Yorkshire and Humber
Specialised Commissioning Group. If you can print it off & show your doctor it may help & even if the figure of 1 in 25 is right, I still think someone who has lost 14 stone (will have) by sheer willpower, deserves to be that 1. Good Luck xxx

 

[thewobblyone]

hi sorry i should introduce my self properly somewhere else (lost 7 stone on my own,but left stomach an boobs in a worse state!) but as this was the only post that came up in the search for east yorkshire just wondered if u had any luck i went to the gp who refered me to the pct who came back to the gp to ask for more detail about exceptional circumstances and the doctor wrote back and now has sent me a phycological evaluation how depressed i am rather than refer me through mentalhealth !!! ???

feynman did u get anywhere?

does everyone have to do a pysc test or is it just a long way round of saying no !
by the way my first appointment was in sep 2011
second appointment feb 2012 to find out letter had been lost on the computer system for 4 months receive psych letter march 2012.

anyone with info on this would really help! xxx

 

[Paul-H]

Hi

Re plastics on the NHS it is possible to have plastics on the NHS but and there is always a but.

If you are suffering from infections as a result of sweaty skin flaps you might be lucky in getting the surgery done on the NHS, if you have a lot of lose skin as a result of rapid weightloss you will stand a better chance if your weightloss surgery was self funded, as the opinion is that the NHS has paid for your expensive operation and we are not paying anymore, if you are self funded for the WLS then there is a chance the NHS will stump up the cash for plastics.

That's my understanding of how it works, although I know of one person in my PCT area that had NHS funded weightloss surgery and also got funding for plastics.

The only real way to find out is ask your GP to apply for funding, you never know it might even be accepted, but wait until you really need it though, as it's no point getting funding many months before you have reached your target weight, as it will expire long before you need it.

Paul