First weeks after surgery

In the first weeks after surgery, you may want to wear a temporary breast prosthesis called a soft prosthesis (or soft form). The soft prosthesis is light and made from a smooth material such as polyester. It can be worn in a bra that has a pocket (post-surgical bra).

Choose a bra with a front opening to avoid stretching your arms behind your back, as this can be uncomfortable. If the bra feels too tight or rubs against your scar, you can wear a crop top or camisole with a pocket in it. You can also wear a soft prosthesis while your skin is tender from radiation therapy.

You can be fitted for a permanent prosthesis when the skin and other tissue has healed. This may be up to two months after surgery and six weeks after radiation therapy. Check with your surgeon or breast care nurse about how long you need to wait.

Types of prostheses

As everyone is different, prostheses are available in a variety of shapes (triangles, circles or teardrops), cup sizes (shallow, average or full) and skin colours.

There are also partial breast forms (triangles, ovals, curves and shells) for women who have had breast-conserving surgery and want to regain breast symmetry. These are also called balance shapers.

Different prostheses have different amounts or layers of silicone. This allows you to match the breast prosthesis to the structure and movement of their remaining breast.

Symmetrical prostheses are even on both sides and can be worn on either the left or right side of the body. Asymmetric prostheses are designed specifically for the right or left side.

The type of prosthesis you can wear will depend on the amount and location of tissue removed during surgery. You should be able to find one that is close to your original breast shape and suits your lifestyle. Your fitter will be able to guide you through the range of prostheses that are suitable for you.

Material used in prostheses

Temporary soft prostheses

Permanent breast prostheses

"Breast forms are very well designed these days. Anyone pressing up against you would not know the difference – not like the days when they were filled with bird seed or rice." – Jan

Buying a breast prosthesis

To find a prosthesis that suits your body shape and frame, it is recommended that you see a trained fitter who can help you choose the right prosthesis, as well as a pocketed bra if necessary. It is best to make an appointment with a fitter so you have uninterrupted time with them.

You can visit a store to buy your prosthesis, or you may feel more comfortable organising a home fitting. You might like to bring along someone for support – the other person doesn’t have to come into the dressing room with you.

You might find getting fitted for a prosthesis to be an emotional experience, especially the first time. You may feel embarrassed at the thought of having someone else see the site of the surgery. Professional fitters regularly see women who have had similar surgery and will take a sensitive approach.

Before your appointment (or even before your operation), you may find it helpful to see samples of breast prostheses to give you an idea of what to expect. Your breast care nurse can show you various types of breast prostheses and bras. You may also find it useful to talk to someone who is using a breast prosthesis – see information about volunteer peer support.

"It's like buying anything valuable. You need to take your time and make sure it's right." – Mary-Anne

Where to buy a breast prosthesis

You can buy a breast prosthesis from specialist stores that sell only breast prostheses and related products, the lingerie section of some major department stores, and lingerie boutiques. There may also be a free home service available in your area.

If you live in a rural area, you might have fewer options for what you can buy and where you can shop. Making a trip to a shop in a large town or city may be worthwhile. This might also appeal if you don't want to shop where people know you.

You can also browse online or ask retailers to send catalogues so you can look at the full range of bras and breast prostheses available. If you see something you like, you may be able to order it, or a fitter can order it in for you. However, it is recommended that you see a fitter to be measured in person, particularly if you are buying a breast prosthesis for the first time.

Ask the store about its returns policy. You may be able to exchange the breast form for a different style or size if the one you buy feels uncomfortable. However, this is not always possible, particularly for attachable breast prostheses.

Call Cancer Council 13 11 20 for a list of stores where you can purchase breast prostheses and related products. You can also use Breast Cancer Network Australia's local service directory to find a specialist prosthesis fitter in your area.

At the fitting

A fitting usually takes 40–60 minutes. You will have privacy when being measured and getting changed. See a list of questions you might like to ask your breast care nurse or a breast prosthesis fitter. Most fitters carry out the fitting in a similar way:

• Take the bras you wore before surgery to the fitting. The fitter will check whether these bras are suitable to use with a prosthesis.
• The fitter will probably check your existing bra size with a tape measure.
• If you've had a double (bilateral) mastectomy, the fitter will ask you what breast size you were and what size you would like to be. You might like to keep your original size or go up or down a size. The fitter will ask you about what type of bras you like and how active you are.
• The fitter will bring you a selection of pocketed bras to choose from. While you may find that your regular bra, sports bra or sports crop top adequately supports your permanent prosthesis, pocketed bras are specially designed for this purpose. 
• When you've chosen your bra, the fitter will help you try on several breast prostheses until you find a good fit.
• The fitter often has a slip-on T-shirt (like a smock) for you to try over the bra and prosthesis to check that the form is the right size and gives you a good shape. 
• The fitter shows you how to check the breast prosthesis sits properly in the pocketed bra, and will discuss how to take care of it.

Common concerns

It may take time to get used to having a prosthesis. You may feel nervous about wearing it, or it may feel different depending on the weather, your clothes or what you're doing. Common concerns include:

Temperature

You may find that wearing the prosthesis feels too hot in warm and humid weather. This is more common if you have larger breasts. New models of breast forms are designed with air ventilation and drying methods to help manage temperature and increase comfort.

How to control the temperature

"My breast form gets sweaty after I've been playing tennis. I have two, so after a shower I swap." – Pam

Weight

Silicone prostheses are available in different weights to accommodate a variety of needs. A standard silicone breast prosthesis is designed to be about the same weight as the other breast. Lightweight and ultra-lightweight breast prostheses are about 20–40% lighter than a standard prosthesis. You may prefer to wear a lightweight prosthesis when playing sport, or a soft prosthesis to bed.

If you’ve had a single mastectomy, a prosthesis that is correctly fitted and properly supported in a bra can make you feel balanced and will usually not feel too heavy, even if it feels heavy in your hands. If you’ve had a double mastectomy, you can choose the weight you feel most comfortable with. A fitter can help you pick a prosthesis with a weight that feels right.

Swimwear

While you can swim with your prosthesis occasionally, if you swim regularly, it’s better to buy a swim breast prosthesis. Swim breast prostheses are made of clear, water-resistant silicone. They are lightweight and dry quickly. You may also want to wear special pocketed swimwear, which includes a bra pocket for a swim breast prosthesis, wide straps, and higher neck and arm lines.

Mastectomy swimwear comes in a wide range of styles, patterns and colours. These can be bought from your fitter, some department stores, direct from some manufacturers or online.

Clothes

It’s common to worry about what you can wear with a prosthesis. You may find that you don’t need to change your clothes, but you might need to make some adjustments. For example, you may no longer feel comfortable wearing low-cut tops.

Your fitter may stock a range of products designed specifically to be worn with a breast prosthesis. The range of mastectomy wear is constantly expanding and includes lingerie, sleepwear, swimwear, sports bras, activewear and camisettes (material that attaches to your bra straps to make low necklines more modest).

How to adapt clothing or use accessories

Caring for a breast prosthesis

Your fitter will tell you how to care for your prosthesis. Prostheses usually need to be replaced every two years, but this will depend on how often they are worn, how well they’re looked after and your lifestyle.

Check that your bra fits correctly every 12 months. You will probably need a new bra and breast prosthesis if your weight changes. If the prosthesis splits or cracks at the seams, it should be replaced. You can throw away your old or damaged prostheses in your general rubbish collection. Silicone cannot be recycled. You can donate old ill-fitting prostheses to local op shops or to your breast care nurse.

How to care for your breast prosthesis

Air travel with a prosthesis

It's safe to wear or carry a prosthesis during air travel – the change in altitude and air pressure doesn't affect the prosthesis. The rules about liquids, gels and aerosols don’t apply to silicone gel breast prostheses because they are considered to be a medical device.

Most international airports use security systems and full-body scanners that pick up items worn under clothing such as a prosthesis. To confirm that the prosthesis isn’t a threat, airport security staff may organise another imaging scan or a pat down, which will happen in a private area by a staff member of the same gender. They should not ask you to lift your clothing or remove the prosthesis, or touch the prosthesis.

How to fly with a prosthesis

Paying for a breast prosthesis

The cost of a breast prosthesis and bra varies depending on the type. If the cost of the prosthesis is an issue, you may choose not to replace the prosthesis regularly because of the cost.

Following is a guide to the average cost of each prosthesis and bra:

• silicone breast prosthesis – $300–$500
• partial breast prosthesis – $150–$200
• silicone swim prosthesis – $150–$200
• foam prosthesis – about $70
• mastectomy bra – $40–$100
• bra pockets that you can sew into a regular bra – $10–$15.

Reimbursement from Medicare

The cost of a new or replacement breast prosthesis can be claimed through Medicare. People who are permanent residents of Australia, are eligible for Medicare, and have had a full or partial mastectomy as a result of breast cancer, can make a claim for a new prosthesis every two years.

At the time of publication (2023), Medicare's External Breast Prostheses Reimbursement Program covers up to $400 for each new or replacement breast prosthesis. If you've had a bilateral mastectomy, you are eligible for a reimbursement for two breast prostheses of up to $400 each.

Visit Services Australia to check the latest information.

Private health insurance

If you have private health insurance, check with your fund about what they cover. Rebates for breast prostheses and related products such as mastectomy bras vary between private health funds. Some rebates only apply to members with extras cover. Most health funds have waiting periods and other terms and conditions. They may also require a letter from your surgeon or breast care nurse explaining why you need a prosthesis. 

Even if you have made a claim through private health insurance, you may be able to claim a reimbursement from Medicare. If the full price of the prosthesis wasn’t covered by your private health insurer, you can claim through Medicare, but this reimbursement will be adjusted according to the $400 limit. For example, if you buy a prosthesis for $500, and get a $200 refund from your private health fund, your Medicare reimbursement would be $200.

Question checklist

You may find the following questions useful when considering wearing a breast prosthesis.

Questions to ask the breast care nurse or fitter

Questions to ask the fitter about the fitting

Questions to ask about the fit