Breast reduction on the NHS
Alternatives to breast reduction surgery
It's sometimes possible to reduce problems caused by having large breasts without the need for surgery.
The following measures may help:
- lose weight if you're overweight, losing weightcan help reduce the amount of fatty tissuein your breasts
- a professional bra-fitting service for many women with problems due to large breasts, getting a professional to fit a correctly-sized bra can reduce discomfort
- physiotherapy exercises from a physiotherapist can sometimes help with aches and pains caused by large breasts
- psychological support and treatment this can help if your large breasts arecausingemotional or mental health issues
Breast reduction surgery willusually onlybe available on the NHS if alternative measures such as these have been tried first.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Find out whether your might be eligible for breast reduction surgery on the NHS, and what to do if you think you might qualify.
Eligibility criteria for NHS breast reduction
The availability of breast reduction surgery on the NHS varies, depending on the eligibility criteria decided by yourlocal clinical commissioning group (CCG) . Some CCGs do not fund breast reduction
The referral process
See your GP if you think you might be eligible for breast reduction surgery on the NHS. They can check whether you meet the criteria of your local CCG, and if you do, can refer you to a breast or pla
Things to consider before you go ahead
It's important to discuss your problems and options with your GP and an appropriately qualified surgeon before having a breast reduction. This will help you get a clear idea of what changes you can e
Alternatives to breast reduction surgery
It's sometimes possible to reduce problems caused by having large breasts without the need for surgery. The following measures may help: lose weight if you're overweight, losing weightcan help re
Male breast reduction on the NHS
Male breast reduction isn't normallyavailable on the NHS. This is becauseenlarged breasts in men are usually a result of being overweight, and losing weight will oftenhelp to reduce their size. You'l
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