Reconstructive surgery
Donation protected
Hi! I'm Jo :)
This is a bit of a long story, so grab a cuppa and get comfy hahaha!
I was born with a congenital breast defect.
I started puberty at age 14 and when girls start to develop, the buds that sit behind their nipples move forwards and bloom out to create the shape and fullness of their breasts.
The buds behind my nipples moved forwards but didn't bloom outwards, leaving me with a very severe case of "Tubular Breasts". Imagine the drooping, triangular, downward shape of an elderly ladies breasts and you're on the right track.
Growing up, I had always hated my boobs and would refuse to let anybody see them; including my parents and my partners... any funny business ;) HAD to be in the dark with the lights out or I kept the puppies firmly locked away in boob jail (a bra). I had never let anyone see them, friends, partners, my mum and I couldn't even bear to look at myself in the mirror.
After years of hating myself and hiding away I decided to go and see my GP to see if there was something seriously wrong with me. At the time, I thought I had a deformity of some sort and figured I'd better get it checked out.
My GP referred me to a plastic surgeon so I toddled along to see him (for the small fee of £100 for the consultation of course) and took my mum with me for moral support.
Professor F was lovely! He was calm, welcoming and spoke with a softness that would put anyone at ease. He examined me and I learned then for the first time that I had Tubular Breasts. Prof. F admitted that it was the worst case he had ever seen on such a young girl... and my mum... she had been crying since the moment I removed my bra. This was the first time she had ever seen what I really looked like underneath everything.
Prof. F talked us through all of my options and explained that I may end up with a large, anchor shaped scar forever... Which was totally fine with me because, if you know me, you know how much I love anchors!!
As soon as I left his office my mum told me that she was so sorry :( that she had no idea how bad it was and that if she had grown up looking like me then she wouldn't have had the confidence she had and would never have got married or had children. I was in pieces.
We got home and I booked my surgery for Wednesday the 6th of October 2010. Prof. F's rather lovely secretary explained all of the fees to me and I used my life savings to pay for the £7800 procedure.
I had the surgery and everything went perfectly. Prof. F inserted a 10cm diameter, low rise implant into each of my breasts and they altered the shape of my boobs enough so that no anchor scar was needed to complete the uplift. Result!
About 4 years ago I noticed a pointy bit in the cleavage of my left boob. I was nearly sick; I thought my implant had leaked. In a state of panic I booked an appointment to see the Doctor and was referred immediately for an ultrasound. Thankfully my implants hadn't leaked BUT they had "rippled" meaning I have a few points, edges and corners in what were previously circles.
I spoke to my Doctor about what my options were and I was told that the NHS wouldn't help. All they could do, if it was severe enough, was cut my breasts open, remove the implants and sew me back up again... Reverting my boobs to their previous tubular state and with goodness only knows what scarring.
Fantastic! Cheers guys. :)
So, off I went to see the Prof! Another consultation (£150 this time) and he told me that the company who produced the implants I have was no longer trading in the UK because upon inspection, external bacteria was found on some of their products (cue nausea) and that he would have to remove my implants, pop new ones in from a different provider and that it would cost me £10800.
I decided to leave it.
Now, 4 years on, if I touch my boobs, even lightly, I feel a sharp stabbing pain that goes straight through me. I can't wear underwire bras or tight fitting tops and dresses. My friends and family can't hug me and I can't lie on my front. Getting dressed is painful and even the water falling on me from the shower is so painful that I almost faint.
I've been back to the Doctor and been told again that the NHS can't help, unless it is bad enough and then they will remove them... but there's a 2 year waiting list for that as it's not considered "urgent" or "necessary"...
Cheers guys. :)
As the NHS are zero help, I've decided to go back to the Prof. I have a consultation with him on the 5th of November (£190 of course!) and will be booking my surgery for the 18th of December 2019.
His secretary explained the cost and broke down the fees for me today:
Cost of Implants: £1500
Cost of Surgeon: £3480
Cost of Anesthesiologist: £4000
Cost of Hospital Stay: £1500
Cost of Aftercare: £900
Cost of Medication: £620
Total: £12000.
I shit a brick. An actual brick.
This is something that is incredibly important to me and to my loved ones. I haven't got £12000 to spend and so, I am turning to you, kind donors, for help to raise the money needed for this life changing operation.
If you would like to donate to my cause, then any amount at all, no matter how big or mall, is appreciated so deeply and sincerely and I want to thank each and every one of you now for your help, generosity and kindness.
Thank you so much.
Jo.
xoxoxox
This is a bit of a long story, so grab a cuppa and get comfy hahaha!
I was born with a congenital breast defect.
I started puberty at age 14 and when girls start to develop, the buds that sit behind their nipples move forwards and bloom out to create the shape and fullness of their breasts.
The buds behind my nipples moved forwards but didn't bloom outwards, leaving me with a very severe case of "Tubular Breasts". Imagine the drooping, triangular, downward shape of an elderly ladies breasts and you're on the right track.
Growing up, I had always hated my boobs and would refuse to let anybody see them; including my parents and my partners... any funny business ;) HAD to be in the dark with the lights out or I kept the puppies firmly locked away in boob jail (a bra). I had never let anyone see them, friends, partners, my mum and I couldn't even bear to look at myself in the mirror.
After years of hating myself and hiding away I decided to go and see my GP to see if there was something seriously wrong with me. At the time, I thought I had a deformity of some sort and figured I'd better get it checked out.
My GP referred me to a plastic surgeon so I toddled along to see him (for the small fee of £100 for the consultation of course) and took my mum with me for moral support.
Professor F was lovely! He was calm, welcoming and spoke with a softness that would put anyone at ease. He examined me and I learned then for the first time that I had Tubular Breasts. Prof. F admitted that it was the worst case he had ever seen on such a young girl... and my mum... she had been crying since the moment I removed my bra. This was the first time she had ever seen what I really looked like underneath everything.
Prof. F talked us through all of my options and explained that I may end up with a large, anchor shaped scar forever... Which was totally fine with me because, if you know me, you know how much I love anchors!!
As soon as I left his office my mum told me that she was so sorry :( that she had no idea how bad it was and that if she had grown up looking like me then she wouldn't have had the confidence she had and would never have got married or had children. I was in pieces.
We got home and I booked my surgery for Wednesday the 6th of October 2010. Prof. F's rather lovely secretary explained all of the fees to me and I used my life savings to pay for the £7800 procedure.
I had the surgery and everything went perfectly. Prof. F inserted a 10cm diameter, low rise implant into each of my breasts and they altered the shape of my boobs enough so that no anchor scar was needed to complete the uplift. Result!
About 4 years ago I noticed a pointy bit in the cleavage of my left boob. I was nearly sick; I thought my implant had leaked. In a state of panic I booked an appointment to see the Doctor and was referred immediately for an ultrasound. Thankfully my implants hadn't leaked BUT they had "rippled" meaning I have a few points, edges and corners in what were previously circles.
I spoke to my Doctor about what my options were and I was told that the NHS wouldn't help. All they could do, if it was severe enough, was cut my breasts open, remove the implants and sew me back up again... Reverting my boobs to their previous tubular state and with goodness only knows what scarring.
Fantastic! Cheers guys. :)
So, off I went to see the Prof! Another consultation (£150 this time) and he told me that the company who produced the implants I have was no longer trading in the UK because upon inspection, external bacteria was found on some of their products (cue nausea) and that he would have to remove my implants, pop new ones in from a different provider and that it would cost me £10800.
I decided to leave it.
Now, 4 years on, if I touch my boobs, even lightly, I feel a sharp stabbing pain that goes straight through me. I can't wear underwire bras or tight fitting tops and dresses. My friends and family can't hug me and I can't lie on my front. Getting dressed is painful and even the water falling on me from the shower is so painful that I almost faint.
I've been back to the Doctor and been told again that the NHS can't help, unless it is bad enough and then they will remove them... but there's a 2 year waiting list for that as it's not considered "urgent" or "necessary"...
Cheers guys. :)
As the NHS are zero help, I've decided to go back to the Prof. I have a consultation with him on the 5th of November (£190 of course!) and will be booking my surgery for the 18th of December 2019.
His secretary explained the cost and broke down the fees for me today:
Cost of Implants: £1500
Cost of Surgeon: £3480
Cost of Anesthesiologist: £4000
Cost of Hospital Stay: £1500
Cost of Aftercare: £900
Cost of Medication: £620
Total: £12000.
I shit a brick. An actual brick.
This is something that is incredibly important to me and to my loved ones. I haven't got £12000 to spend and so, I am turning to you, kind donors, for help to raise the money needed for this life changing operation.
If you would like to donate to my cause, then any amount at all, no matter how big or mall, is appreciated so deeply and sincerely and I want to thank each and every one of you now for your help, generosity and kindness.
Thank you so much.
Jo.
xoxoxox
Organizer
Jo D
Organizer