Back to:
Acute & critical care medicine

Procedures not routinely provided by NHSScotland

  • Breast Augmentation using implants or other techniques e.g. fat transfer.
  • Patients undergoing surgery for breast cancer or breast cancer risk reduction should not be considered under this pathway
  • Procedures relating to transgender surgery should be referred through the appropriate pathway.

Clinical psychology

  • All approved referrals will be seen by a specialist Clinical Psychologist.
  • Patients undergoing reconstructive surgery may not require psychological assessment. This decision will be at the discretion of the surgical team.

BMI

  • Greater than or equal to 20 and less than or equal to 27.
  • Patients undergoing a planned programme of reconstructive surgery may be considered up to BMI 35.

Considerations for treatment

Indications for referral

  • Congenital asymmetry greater than 1 cup size.
  • Congenital aplasia.
  • Congenital deformity (e.g. Poland’s Syndrome, tuberous breast).
  • Significant psychological distress combined with one of the above.

Contraindications for referral

  • Simple cosmetic augmentation is not available.
  • Treatment to reverse the normal ageing or post-involutional changes will not be supported.

Waiting Times

  • These patients are not subject to the 18 Weeks Referral to Treatment Standard.
  • Some patients may be subject to guarantee times within other pathways.

Breast augmentation - evidence summary

Treatment for these conditions is not routinely offered by NHSScotland and can only be considered when all criteria are met.