Nhs refusal

[Mk1]

I am 15, and have been diagnosed with extreme gynecomastia. This has been verified and supported by consultants at Guy's Hospital, and a family therapist, as well as my doctor. Barnet NHS has refused funding, on the grounds that it is cosmetic surgery! My doctors, parents and the consultants have appealed, saying it's corrective surgery, but no response. I am devastated. Cannot see any light at end of tunnel. There's no way my parents can afford private. Any advice on how I can get NHS funding for surgery?

[chopper]

Move away from Barnet to an area that has the budget for it and is more sympathetic?

If that's a not an option (which I doubt it will be) then you know your only option is to start saving for private surgery or learn to live with them. That's about as many options as you have...

[sawyer]

Yeah, unfortunately the NHS is pretty fucked up. Although you may have saved yourself, as the NHS has a track record of messing people up by leaving the gland in.. etc
Do your research and figure out how to save the cash.
Good luck, and keep us updated

[captainhowdy]

The NHS do not take gyne surgery seriously.  They look upon it as cosmetic.  They consider that men concerned about having female-like breasts are too sensitive - which is a crock of shit as we all know - but very convenient for private surgeons charging between 4 and 5 grand a procedure. Having gynecomastia surgery is not cosmetic, in the same way as having a nose-job or a face-lift, gyne surgery is gender defing - men are not supposed to have boobs it's as simple as that and it's about time the NHS came up with a compromise on pricing for gyne surgery much in the same way as they do with NHS dentistry.   

[fingerit]

Yep, I was refused on the NHS and they really messed me about. I would definitely get a second opinion, possibly do some research into surgeons in other hospitals out of your area that might specialise in gyne?

It annoys me that this isn't taken more seriously by the NHS since it can have a huge impact on peoples lives. I mean morbidly obese people who have probably eaten themselves that way can get a gastric bypass and chicks who have mahoosive t*ts can get breast reductions because they're self conscious etc but we have to go private because gyne is seen as cosmetic?

There are other options like getting the surgery done abroad much cheaper which shouldn't be discounted but must certainly be seriously researched.

Don't ever get despondent though mate, there are always options its just a matter of doing your research and possibly hard graft to save the cash.

Boards like this are a really useful tool and I think I can speak for the other guys on here that we're always here to help and support :-)