NHS Refuses Breast Reduction for Woman with 36NN Breasts That Caused Sepsis
A young woman from Nottinghamshire whose 36NN breasts weigh five stone and have caused life-threatening sepsis says she has been refused reduction surgery on the NHS because her Body Mass Index is deemed too high.
Lily Porter, a 21-year-old care assistant from Retford, is in constant pain and suffers from severe depression due to the immense size of her breasts, which account for approximately one-third of her total body weight.
Medical Crisis and Ongoing Infection
The sheer weight of Lily's breasts has caused significant physical damage, tearing her skin and leading to a serious infection that developed into sepsis in September 2025. This life-threatening condition required a five-day hospital stay, and doctors warned that had she delayed treatment any longer, she could have died.
Despite completing antibiotic treatment, the infection has not fully cleared, leaving Lily at high risk of developing sepsis again. The ongoing medical issues mean she is currently unable to wear a bra, and when she can, she must have them specially made at a cost of £55 each.
NHS Guidelines and BMI Controversy
The NHS has refused to fund breast reduction surgery for Lily, citing that her BMI falls outside the required range of 18 to 25 that must be maintained for one year prior to the procedure. This decision stands despite Lily's assertion that most of her excess weight is concentrated in her breasts.
Lily weighs 17 stone, with her breasts weighing 2.5 stone each. She meets all other criteria for the surgery and believes the NHS should make an exception given the severe health complications her breast size has caused.
"The NHS say my BMI is too high for a reduction, but most of my weight is in my boobs," Lily explained. "They're not listening to me at all. I'm constantly depressed and crying. I'm in pain all the time."
Psychological Impact and Social Struggles
The psychological toll has been substantial. Lily was bullied throughout her school years, with cruel jokes about her appearance, and she avoided activities like swimming with friends due to embarrassment. Her breast size forced her to stop playing football at age 13, a sport she loved.
As an adult, she continues to face intrusive stares and comments when wearing fitted clothing, with people accusing her of "flashing" when she wears anything tight. The physical discomfort is constant, with bra straps digging painfully into her shoulders.
Support and Advocacy Efforts
Medical professionals who have treated Lily have advocated for her to receive the surgery, recognising the severe health implications of her condition. Her local MP for Bassetlaw, Jo White, has written to the NHS pleading for intervention on Lily's behalf.
A spokesperson for NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire stated: "We are sorry to hear about Lily's situation. Unfortunately, we have strict guidelines about which procedures are funded on the NHS. This is to ensure we can be consistent when making decisions about how to spend and prioritise limited NHS funding."
The spokesperson added that while there are specific criteria for breast reduction surgery, there is a process for considering exceptional cases, which Lily's GP could explore as a potential pathway forward.
Lily remains hopeful that the NHS will reconsider her case, emphasising that without surgical intervention, she faces ongoing pain, recurrent infection risk, and continued psychological distress from a condition that has dominated her life since adolescence.
