It is estimated that there are over a hundred thousand women worldwide who undergo mastectomy in a single year as a curative measure for breast cancer, which has proven to be a menace to women globally. Lumpectomy is also a surgical procedure that involves the removal of some parts of the breast as a cancer-preventative measure and for the removal of lumps and breast cysts.
Once a breast is completely removed, the flesh tissue hardly grows back. Therefore, the need for an artificial replacement of the lost breast has led to the development of various breast prosthetics, among them being custom breast forms.
A custom breast form is a breast replacement solution specially made to cater to specific needs. Therefore, getting the best out of your custom breast form requires you to have a clear checklist of the requirements that it should meet. This article will expound on the considerations that you should make when getting fitted with one or a pair of custom breast forms.
Amount of Breast Tissue Remaining
A mastectomy procedure is a very invasive procedure that often leaves little to no flesh tissue on a patient’s chest. Thus, the design of your custom breast form will usually depend on how much of the breast tissue is remaining.
In some lumpectomy procedures, only the affected parts of the breast are removed. Through breast reconstruction procedures, the breast can recover a significant amount of tissue. Therefore, every fitting process is personalized and is different from another patient’s experience.
For stick-on breast forms, only the removed part of the breast, such as the nipple, needs to be replaced. As such, your therapist writes a comprehensive report, which you then present to your personal breast form fitter during the design phase of your custom breast forms Florida. The medical report and the 3D scans of your breast fitter that will be captured will help identify the size of the breast prostheses you require.
Allergic Reactions
The majority of the breast forms available in the market today are made of silicone. However, there are other breast forms made of saline materials, which cause allergic reactions once they come into contact with your skin.
The silicone custom breast forms are usually prescribed to many patients because silicone is non-reactive, and has a more skin feeling than saline breast forms or cloth breast forms.
Drainage Needs
There is massive swelling of the remaining breast after a lumpectomy surgery, and regular draining of the accumulated fluid is required to enable the scar to heal quickly. Therefore, you require a custom breast form that will not only provide you with drainage, but also help in providing cover for the lost breast.
The best custom breast forms to provide drainage are made of cloth fabric, which offers drainage through absorption. These forms are worn with mastectomy bras to improve on fit and support. The mastectomy bras have pockets specially designed to hold the custom breast forms in place, and have padded interiors that ensure comfort and offer extra drainage for your scar.
Size and Shape Matter, Too
In most mastectomy cases, the cancer patient only ends up losing one of the breasts. When you are getting your custom breast form made, the fitter will need to match the breast form to the size of the remaining breast to ensure stability and chest balance.
Your fitter will use a mould to depict the exact appearance of the remaining breast, which is later used to determine the amount of silicone gel that the new breast form will have. Therefore, using a mould ensures that the weight of the two breasts (the custom breast form and the remaining natural breast) is uniform.
You can get a size upgrade in case both breasts are removed during mastectomy. However, you should ensure that your breast boost matches your body size and shape.
Conclusion
Traditionally, off-the-shelf breast forms were the only available solutions for mastectomy patients. However, modern custom breast forms have provided mastectomy and lumpectomy patients with the opportunity to address their specific needs with a tailored solution. Identifying your specific needs enables you to get the most out of your custom breast forms.