What Is a Breast Prosthesis Made Of?

A breast prosthesis fit bras inside a or bathing suit.

When a woman loses a breast to cancer, a prosthesis can help restore her confidence in her looks and allow her to wear the same clothes as stylishly as before. Lightweight prostheses can fit inside a bathing suit for swimming, while a silicon prosthesis offers a more accurate look and feel.

Purpose

A breast prosthesis fits inside a woman's clothing to fill the place of the missing breast, according to Australia's National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre.

Foam

Lightweight foam or polyfill prostheses offer comfort and ease of use, according to the Breastcancer.org website. These washable prostheses can tolerate water, making them a good choice when swimming.

Silicon

Silicon prostheses, while heavier and more tiring to wear than the foam type, tend to look and feel more realistic. Breastcancer.org states that these prostheses can last up to 5 years.

Cost

While pre-shaped breast prostheses usually cost a maximum of $500, Breastcancer.org notes that a custom-shaped prosthesis can cost up to $3,000.

Considerations

While fully recovered mastectomy recipients may choose from either foam or silicon prostheses, Norwood Hospital recommends the foam type immediately following surgery.

References

• Breast prostheses
• Types of Prostheses
• Post-Mastectomy Prosthesis