TUMMY TUCKS AND THE NHS
Okay, I have been reading on some of the discussion forums on here about getting tummy tucks on the NHS for those that have the dreaded c-section overhang.
I had my baby 12 months ago. Im 5 ft 3 and had a v large (for me), 9lb 1oz beautiful baby boy. I was stretched to the limit so to speak and was huge, with the everyday comment of 'are you sure there is only 1 in there?'.
Anyway, I have worked hard and sensibly lost almost all of the 5st that I put on in pregnancy, but have been left with an awful ad quite big overhang. My stomach has completely no tone to it at all and all the skin is baggy and loose (a bit like you see when these obese people on TV lose a massive amount of weight, and all the skin is baggy)....I have been doing sit ups which has lifted my tummy a little and made a small bit of difference, but the overhang is there to stay. No amount of sit ups is going to get rid of it because there is no muscle there, just skin.
I plan to have another child in the future so at the moment there really is no point in doing anything drastic to get rid of it.
Anyway the point I wanted to get to was can you really get a tummy tuck on the NHS for an overhang caused by a c-section?? I was under the impression this was just a myth, but so many people on here have mentioned it, im wondering if it is actually something you can have.
Do you have to prove that you really are psychologically scarred by it to get it?? I would have thought that as it is non emergency surgery, that only exceptional cases would be considered, and that you would have to pay privately if this wasn't the case??
If anyone can share their knowledge on this it would be something to bear in mind for the future.
Thanks
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I had my baby 12 months ago. Im 5 ft 3 and had a v large (for me), 9lb 1oz beautiful baby boy. I was stretched to the limit so to speak and was huge, with the everyday comment of 'are you sure there is only 1 in there?'.
Anyway, I have worked hard and sensibly lost almost all of the 5st that I put on in pregnancy, but have been left with an awful ad quite big overhang. My stomach has completely no tone to it at all and all the skin is baggy and loose (a bit like you see when these obese people on TV lose a massive amount of weight, and all the skin is baggy)....I have been doing sit ups which has lifted my tummy a little and made a small bit of difference, but the overhang is there to stay. No amount of sit ups is going to get rid of it because there is no muscle there, just skin.
I plan to have another child in the future so at the moment there really is no point in doing anything drastic to get rid of it.
Anyway the point I wanted to get to was can you really get a tummy tuck on the NHS for an overhang caused by a c-section?? I was under the impression this was just a myth, but so many people on here have mentioned it, im wondering if it is actually something you can have.
Do you have to prove that you really are psychologically scarred by it to get it?? I would have thought that as it is non emergency surgery, that only exceptional cases would be considered, and that you would have to pay privately if this wasn't the case??
If anyone can share their knowledge on this it would be something to bear in mind for the future.
Thanks

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Replies
There must be limits to what they will do on the nhs otherwise there would not be private companies that do it. You would be best speaking to your GP.
I wonder if you would have had the surgery on the NHS if only the skin and not the muscle was stretched?
Quote "Yes it is cosmetic but it is also corrective surgery, you were not born like it so why should you live like it???"
Yes and i wasn't born with saggy boobies, stretch marks, crows feet, scars, too much bottom, tummy and hip fat, grey hair and thread veins, but i don't expect it to be removed on the NHS.
and...
Quote "It is your life and you deserve to live it happily"
Yes, but i don't want to pay for it!
I have no issue with you having a bit of excess skin trimmed during your muscle repair op but i do not agree that people should get tummy tuck ops on the NHS.
It is getting harder and harder to get these no essential ops on the nhs. I was due to get a gastric band to help with binging but it was cancelled at the last minute because funding was withdrawn. A freind of mine who had lost a lot of weight keeps getting repeat infections in her apron fold and the docs have said nothing will help except removal of the skin but she has been turned down at appeal level.
I have resigned myself to the fact that it will take me around 3-4 years to get to goal weight. At that time Jason will be in school and I won't be paying as much childcare so I will get a loan or sign up for a payment plan for a full body lift and upper arm lift.
I would hope that in this circumstance they would put my mental health first and do the op, but i don't know what my doctors would think... if i really felt my mental health was at risk and they wouldn't do it on the nhs i WOULD probably be prepared to save up and pay privately, once i was finished having babies!
i totally understand about how it must effect self confidence being a section mummy myself but i do find it hard to accept it is the responsibility of the NHS, when we dont have enough budget for doctors and nurses to give patient care esp in the mental health sector not to mention acute services like a and e, and that all non emergency ops are being given the chop i doubt it would be something that you would get, esp in a few years time as i doubt budgets will get bigger. but i suppose it certainly worth trying depending on your doctor and area,
its not an easy op though, and not really something to consider whilst you have small children in my opinion as the precations following surgery are a lot stricter than a section, well in the private sector anyway, its certainly not something i would consider knowing the surgery
I'm not minimising the upset of having bad body image (I have very bad body image btw) but that compared to not being able to ever have your own child without help that isn't there is incomparable x
Where I live you can only have tummy tuck if you are having a c-sec, its your last baby and you are being sterilisd. My friend has just had one and she says although its made a difference and a big one, you will never loose the whole over hang as the muscles are not strong enough. I wouldn't even consider it until you are 100% sure you have finished having children
I am now less than 10.5 stone and have been left with an overhang. I got my first infection in the belly button last week and had to wash it several times a day plus use nappy cream to relieve it.
Do I like the look of it in the mirror? No! Is it a reminder that I am the luckiest mum in the world that I am able to pick up my gorgeous little boy and hold him rather than him being an angel? Yes!
I think tummy tucks are available on the NHS but only if the psychological need is enough to justify the cost. I know babies that have waited weeks or even years for the beds, care, operations and medication that they need to live a decent, pain-free life. I'm afraid they will always come first in my eyes.
H xx
I had a C section in 1991 due to twins and about 12 years later i had another opp to remove a dermoid cyst which ment cutting me again on the same scar and in 2004 i had another child and had an emergency C section, so you can imagine my tummy has a flap of skin which looks awful and i hate it ...would it be worth me going to my GP and talking to them about the possiblities of having some sort of tummy tuck ..I have put up with this look for over 20 years and i just want to feel normal again ...diets dont work they just make it look worse ...i would be grateful of any advise you could give ..J G
Hi there! I had the same awful experience too. TTTS and an emergency c section. I've struggled with eating disorders for 15 years and my overhang causes awful problems in all areas of my life. Have you tried anything to get rid of it? I've tried everything, I'm paranoid about it it's awful.
So sorry for your little angel ❤️❤️
Hi, I see its been 5 years since you posted do may not see this!
Did you have successful correction surgery?!