Disclaimer

Although we take care to ensure accuracy, Macmillan Cancer Support does not accept liability for the information and materials provided or referenced in Ask an Expert or for any errors or omissions in them, or for third-party information or services such as other websites we may link to. The information and materials provided or referenced in Ask an Expert are for information purposes only and are not intended to be legal, financial or medical advice or opinions. If you need more details on your rights, please contact a financial, legal or other appropriate adviser.

We recommend that you consult your doctor if you are concerned about your health. Any You should not rely on any information and materials provided or referenced in Ask an Expert including by our Experts as they are not a replacement for advice, diagnosis or treatment from your medical team, and our Experts cannot provide a second opinion to that of your medical team.

Your question can be read by others – so please don't post your contact details or any other information that could personally identify you. Please read our Terms and Conditions and Community Guidelines for more details.

Aesthetic mastectomy options

Nucci
  • 1 reply
  • 42 subscribers
  • 201 views

I have to have my breast implant reconstruction removed due to chronic infection and will not be able to have another reconstruction for sometime. Does anyone offer a goldilocks or SWIM aestheitc mastectomy on NHS as an alternative to the traditional going flat? I am not sure if my surgeon will offer this, but am not happy to be left with emopty excess skin or to have a diagonal scar and concave chest.  How might I be referred to another hospital if this is refused at my existing hospital  bearing in mind that I have already had a referral declined from a local centre of excellence as they only re-do reconstruction if they have done th eoriginal surgery. 

  • Hi Nucci,

    My name is Keith and I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists

    Welcome to the online community, we hope you find the support and information from the online community helpful.

    As we are a charitable organisation, we don’t have access to your medical notes. For this reason, we can only give general advice.

    We are sorry to hear that your breast implant has had to be removed due a chronic infection.

    We can only imagine the upset that this has caused both physically as well as emotionally.

    The availability of Goldilocks/SWIM mastectomy is becoming more recognized, however accessibility to this procedure within the NHS is variable from trust to trust. It may be worthwhile contacting your current surgical team to discuss if you would be a good candidate for this procedure and the availability in your trust.  

    Looking at this research paper may be helpful to add weight to your request .

    Another option would be to request a second opinion, looking at this link will explain this process in a little more detail

    If you are finding it difficult to gain access to this procedure it may be worthwhile contacting your current hospitals Patients Advice and Liaison Service (Pals) for further support in sourcing a trust that may provide this procedure.

     

    If you think it may be helpful why not give our support line a call and have a chat with one of our nurses to discuss this in a little more detail if required.

    The Macmillan Support Line offers practical, clinical, financial, and emotional support. You can call us free from landlines and from most mobile phone networks on 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week, 8am – 8pm. or send us an email.

     

    take care.

    Keith, Cancer Information Nurse Specialist

    Ref KM/FP

     

     

Help us do whatever it takes, because we’ve never been needed more.

© Macmillan Cancer Support 2025 © Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). Also operating in Northern Ireland. A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales company number 2400969. Isle of Man company number 4694F. Registered office: 3rd Floor, Bronze Building, The Forge, 105 Sumner Street, London, SE1 9HZ. VAT no: 668265007