NHS Labiaplasty, advice from UK members please?

he???? see a she if possible as more understanding! x

.....Unfortunatelly, my GP is him. Thank you anyway. Will see if I can chat to a nurse or will ask particularly for a female doctor to talk to :)))

Great. Will let you know how I am getting on. Due to arrange a doctor appoitment this week.

Thank for advice on cosmopolitan site. Will have a look.

Having an absolute nightmare with this!! I tried my doctors but was met with complete dissinterest and though they said they'd refer me they never got back in touch! Went to the Hospital Group two months ago for a consultation for labiaplasty. Spoke with the surgeon - Mr Sena - who explained he could remove most of my labia including the top parts though it may scar. I agreed to this and was really thrilled to finally be doing something about this awful problem. Since then I have booked time off work, taken out a high-interest loan and gone to all sorts of trouble in order to make this event happen. I am currently sitting in the hospital told I have to go home and Mr Sena won't operate. He came in and told me he would only be able to remove part and expressed disbelief that he had told me otherwise. I was understandably disgruntled and he left the room saying he would speak to the nurse. She came back and said the operation was off, he refuses to operate but that i'd get a refund - won't cover the interest on my loan though will it?! Or make up for all the trouble I've gone to and time I have wasted. I've travelled three hours to get here for goodness sake!! I am devastated and so angry!!!!!! I want to be recommended a competent surgeon who can remove skin from the hood of the clitoris as well as the lips lower down. I am based in the UK in London so if anyone knows a decent surgeon i would really appreciate their advice. I just want this problem sorted out - I feel even more hopeless now than ever before. So disappointed with HOSPITAL GROUP. As well as this awful episode they ignored my request to get the driver to pick me up from round the corner to my house, he walked on to my drive and nearly knocked the door. I didn't want my housemates to know anything about this!!! He also took a million wrong turns and was altogether incompetent. I urge you all to boycott this awful company and go elsewhere. Their service is appalling!!!!!!

i think u had a lucky escape! IF HE HAD that sort of attitude imagine wot he could have done to u! i would go back to your doctors - all depends on your area as to whether nhs will cover you though? then chase up the referral - the appointment should be made there and then via a system called choose & book (im a medical sec by the way), best of luck to you x

Hiya, I have an enlarged labia and it's really affecting me physically and mentally. Firstly I can never not wear knickers even in bed as the labia rubs on my inner leg, which is causing me to constantly get thrush. Also it can become very painful with tight clothing causing it to become sore and irritated. I have to constantly 're-arrange' myself. Not only do I have physical issues, but it has caused me to have very low confidence. I could never dream if getting a boyfriend because I know I could never let any one ever see me down there. Also I can never get changed around friends as I feel they would be able to see it against my knickers which makes me completely embarrassed. Sometimes I even have dreams about cutting it off, and thinking about it keeps me up nearly every night. It really gets me down and has done for a very long time. I don't feel normal. I don't feel feminine at all. But I feel too embarrassed to see a GP about this incase they tell me that I'm being silly and won't refer me to a gynaecologist. Plus I couldn't tell anyone about this so I would have to go alone. I feel like this is such a problem, and limits me in my everyday life as its constantly on my mind, making me so insecure. I just feel abnormal. I live in London but am a student so there's no way I would ever be able to fund a labiaplasty privately. I don't know how much longer I can cope with this. I was just wondering if anyone is in the same situation, or if anyone knows if my chances of qualifying for a labiaplasty on the nhs is likely Thanks x

hiya, I am in the same position as you, I would love to have the surgery if it was on the NHS. I'm in discomfort all the time and I want to know how to get this on the NHS as they seem to be really strict nowadays i've heard? please let me know how you get on at a consultation or referral, thanks x

hi ladies, sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but this is no longer funded anywhere in the country on the nhs - i was one of the last to have it done sept 2010. unfortunaltey, the nhs couldnt cope with the huge demand for this op, as the nhs see it as a cosmetic problem not a physical one, which i know just isnt the case, and unelss u have ever suffered this u cant begin to understand the psycholgical and physical problme it causes. it took me 20 years to finally pluck up the courage to go to my doc (female) who was understanding and referred me, wish i had gone years ago as its transformed my life. my heart truly goes out to u both and i think it is so unfair the nhs wont fund it now.

oh dear! It's so frustrating! Where abouts in the uk did u have your appointment. Im
Absolutely gutted that no where will perform this surgery on NHS, it really is not for cosmetic purposes! What sort of pain did you explain to your doctor when you had your consultation? I continuously get thrush from the rubbing, I have to wear a panty liner or my knickers get caught in between, sex is painful, I can't wear tights, what else does the doctor need to realise that girls like us are in physical pain :(

hi there, im hertfordshire area. im an nhs med secretary, so have this information. exactly what u describe was me! sex didnt cause a problem, but the lights were always off! i said its been a misery for years, had to wear liner in knickers as well, couldnt wear jeans, shorts etc without pnching pain, and self confidence issues. she tried to pursuede me not to go thru wiv of, but, i had done soooo much research i wasnt putting up with it any longer. to be told its not longer funded must be an absolute kick in the stomach, but, i cant see anything wrong in u going to your doc. there is the exceptional treatment panel appeal process. but u must really have a case - the fact that sex is painful, constant pain from rubbing etc may help - but, u really will have to exagerate how bad it is - i know it is horrible, but its not life threatening, but  u need to say its getting worse and u now no longer can face sex cos of the pain. fingers crossed, go for it, u have nothing to lose. let me know how u get on or if you need any more advice x

Hi,

I'm 22 years old and i made the decision to have this operation just under a year ago. 

The first step i made was to visit my GP (September 2011) where she agreed to refer me to a specialist through the NHS. My GP was very understanding and helpful. She explained that the operation is no longer undertaken by a Gynecologist but a plastic surgeon. My GP explained not for me to get my hopes up as the NHS are not too keen on paying out on plastic surgery, but nether less I came away hoping for the best.

I had a 3month wait (Dec 2011) until I received a letter from the hospital agreeing to an appointment with a plastic surgeon, where I would get examined to see if I was excepted for the operation. My appointment was for January 2012. 
My surgeon was very understanding and caring and listened to why my large labia’s where having such an effect on my life. I was very nervous before the appointment so I made a list of questions to ask her so I wouldn’t forget anything while I was there. 
There and then she agreed to undertake the operation, I was so pleased as I had read many reviews of people getting turned away.

I received a letter a couple of weeks later (February 2012) stating that I had been excepted, I was over the moon!!!

I had my date of my pre-op and my operation , June 27th, I was so pleased that I actually had a date. 
I attended my pre-op where a nurse explained the procedure in detail and answered any final questions that I had.

A day before my operation I had a phone call stating that my operation had been cancelled due to my surgeon having to operate on an emergency cancer patient, I was very disappointed but I understood that there was some out there with a great need than mine.

I received a letter couple of days later with a new date, July 27th. I only had to wait 1 month so I was very pleased with that.

I had the operation 2days ago and I must say I’m very happy that I made the decision.

I’m in no pain what so ever, I’m having little niggles and scratching feeling now and again but that is it. I’ve been taking Ibuprofen for the swelling and Cocordimol for the pain (only when I need it). I’ve been advised not to put ice on my labia’s, although I have noticed a lot of people are doing this. I’m able to sit up fine, im walking with my legs slightly open as I don’t want to squash anything but in general im fine very upbeat.

I’m passing urine fine, I was very worried about this as many people stated that they had a burning sensation the first time, but luckily for me I’ve been fine.

Although I am swollen, no denying that , my right labia seems to be more so. Its not looking at all attractive at the moment but that is expected as its only been 2 days. I’ve been given dressings that I must wear at all times and cream to put on the stitching. I’m aloud a shower tonight and a bath in 8 days time, as the warm water may start dissolving the stitches before it’s started to heal fully.

But all in all I am extremely happy with the results so far, I have a follow up appointment in 8days with my surgeon to get examined.

Its only been 10 months since I visited my GP and I’m so pleased that I pushed myself to take the first step. Please do not be put off by the horror stories on here, very one recovers differently from operations so please so not be put off.

Hope this help anyone out there thinking about undertaking the operation J feel free to ask any questions…

thanks for your sharing your story, i am really glad that you were able to have the surgery! what area of the UK are you in? I am just scared for the first step, I would hate to be examined and then just pushed aside because my case was not serious enough. How is sensitivity down there - better/ worse/ same? thanks.

wow, i cant beleive u got this done on the nhs -really really lucky - just goes to show its a post code lottery! good luck with your healing, re ice - i think they mean dont put ice directly on the area - but in a bag covered with muslin cloth is heaven!

so I'm 15 and really uncomfortable about mine, its not the look of it or anything (However this does add to it) but it also rubs on all my clothes jeans,shorts,pjs,underwear and even walking it kills,its so discomforting, and I don't know whether to mention it to my doctor,I'e mentioned it now and then to my mum but she thinks its nothing and its the clothes but i know different, id really love an opinion because I'm scared to go to doctors but hopefully the benefits of going outweigh the awkwardness and how scared i am go to.
thanks,Megan p.s I researched labia plasty and age doesn't matter,and I'm fed up of it, I'm not still 'maturing' or growing,its discomfiting and its unfair

aww megan so sorry to hear u are feeling like this at such a young age - anyone with labia that hang outside inners will really know wot u are going thru, it really is uncomfortable - its nothing to do with the type of clothes - even knickers used to rub me- try using panty liners, they really do stop the pinching. i know u are looking 2wards the operation, but, i think even if u were lucky enuf to be accepted by the nhs then they wouldnt even consider it until u were 18 - if private i think 16 is the youngest - but that will cost in region of over 2 grand. if u do pluck up courage to go to docs make sure u see a female - not so embarrasing, but, be prepared to be disappointed as im sure you will be told u are normal - which u are. any questions please ask x