The increase in cosmetic surgery has come largely from patient’s personal pockets. But Great Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) has been funding several dozen procedures through the federally-funded healthcare unit.
The Watford Observer ran a story about NHS’ Hertforshire Primary Care Trust backing three times as many procedures in the 2011-12 financial year than 2010-11. These included cosmetic treatments like Botox injections and breast augmentations.
This past year saw Hertforshire fund 61 breast operations (augmentations and reductions), 14 vein abnormality procedures, 15 eyelid treatments and 17 Botox injections. 2010-11 saw 46 breast operations and 11 abdominoplasty (tummy tuck); there were 10 breast surgeries and 20 obesity-based operations in 2009-2010. The breast operations were not related to cancer-based reconstruction.
NHS Hertfordshire finances plastic surgery for patients that suffer trauma, medical treatment-based problems and burns, as well as procedures to alter one’s appearance (cosmetic, aesthetic). This is done through government payment for citizen healthcare used for “clinically effective” health treatments to offer value and improve wellbeing.
Patients must complete and submit an individual funding request—including evidence that they are the exception to normal rules (including psychological distress)—to receive treatments normally not covered by NHS funds. The Hertfordshire agency has dismissed 61 abdominoplasties, 693 Botox injections, and 644 breast operations in the last three years.
Dot Lutkin, a NHS Hertfordshire representative, noted that finding requests are approved when evidence shows that the treatments will benefit the patient clinically. She added that the increase in breast operations is not known, but that “we can confirm that all those who have been approved will have met NHS Hertfordshire’s clinical eligibility criteria.” The conditions include significant asymmetry or congenital absence.