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If you are an NHS patient, your breast care nurse will arrange for you to come in for a fitting appointment for the permanent prosthesis as soon as your chest area has healed sufficiently.
The appointment may be made for you before you leave the hospital. You might find it helpful to look at some prostheses before your appointment, or even before your operation to give you an idea of what to expect.
Once you have had your fitting, you will usually be given the prosthesis that day or very soon afterwards. However, if you choose a style that is not in stock, you may have to wait for one to two weeks, occasionally longer.
If you want to get a prosthesis but are not attending a breast clinic, your GP can refer you to your local breast clinic to be fitted.
If you are a private patient, you can ask your medical team or breast care nurse where you can get your prosthesis fitting.
Although it is not advisable to buy a prosthesis without first trying it, you can also buy prostheses through mail-order catalogues and from some high street shops.
You won’t have to pay for your prosthesis if you are an NHS patient. If you have private health insurance, check to see if your scheme covers the cost of your prosthesis.
Prostheses vary in price, starting at around £85. You won’t have to pay VAT if you sign a form stating that you have had breast surgery. If your policy does not include the cost of a prosthesis, you may be able to obtain one from the NHS, in the same way as applying for a replacement through the NHS.
The following applies to both the fitting appointment for your first prosthesis and to further appointments for replacement prostheses.
You should be fitted for your prosthesis by a breast care nurse who has experience in prosthesis fitting, or by another trained female fitter.
There should be a selection of products and enough time for you to be sure that you are satisfied with your choice. Your prosthesis should feel comfortable, give you a good shape and be a reasonable match for your skin colour.
A list of standards of care for breast prosthesis fitting services, which set out best practice, can be found at the back of our publication, A confident choice – breast prostheses, bras and clothes after surgery, which you can download from the box on your left hand side.
Whatever your ethnic background, having a prosthesis that is close to your skin tone can help you feel more comfortable and confident.
You can ask your fitter to give you a prosthesis that is as close to your own skin colour as possible.
If you are not happy with what you have been shown, you can ask if there is anything more suitable in another range. Most lightweight breast prostheses are now available in darker shades.
Breast prostheses come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. It is important that you are offered a good choice so that you feel comfortable with the prosthesis you are given, and so that it suits your own needs as far as possible.
Some prostheses are suitable for wearing on either side, while others are shaped differently for the left and right sides.
Some prostheses are fuller at the back, for women who have had more tissue removed. You should be able to choose a shape that looks and feels right for you.
Having a full weight prosthesis may make you feel more balanced as it is based on the weight of a natural breast.
However, if you need a large size, a lighter weight version might be more comfortable. Lightweight prostheses are particularly good for women with lymphoedema. They can also be suitable for older women whose breast tissue is now less heavy as a result of normal ageing.
The backing of most prostheses is made of the same material as the front. Some have a different backing, such as fabric or a soft panel of gel, designed to increase comfort. Backings that can be moulded to fit an uneven chest wall are also available.
It is possible to use a fabric cover or a bra pocket to cover the silicone surface. Some prostheses are provided with a soft fabric cover, or you may have to order one separately. If you want one, you can ask your fitter.
There are several types of prosthesis available other than the standard full prosthesis.
Partial prosthesisThis is worn inside the bra and is shaped to fill out a small part of the breast outline when only part of the breast has been removed, for example, during a lumpectomy.
It is made of the same silicone material as most full breast prostheses. Some have a stick-on backing. Sometimes a breast enhancer can be used instead. You can buy these from prostheses manufacturers and high street shops.
Shell prosthesisThis is a form of partial prosthesis which may be used if your breasts are very different from each other in size. It is a soft ‘shell’ of silicone that fits over a breast. The prosthesis is placed over your smaller breast so that it matches the larger breast. They are made in various sizes and thicknesses and are used following breast surgery, and also for women who have breasts that have naturally developed in two very different sizes.
Stick-on prosthesisThis may be a full or partial prosthesis. It sticks directly to your skin and is removed at night. Most women will be advised not to wear one in the six months or so following surgery, or during radiotherapy, as it may cause damage to the skin. They can suit women who are very active, or who wish to wear a less supportive bra as not all of the weight is taken by the bra.
The stick-on surface varies between manufacturers and any cleaning instructions must be followed carefully. Some have a sticky surface as part of the prosthesis itself. Others have a separate sticky part that can be used at times of your choice.
Swim prosthesisThis is made especially for use when swimming or doing sport. They are not usually available from the NHS. You can also use your normal silicone prosthesis for these activities but after swimming it should be rinsed and dried as soon as possible.
Foam ‘leisure’ prosthesisThis is a soft, lightweight, inexpensive prosthesis made from foam placed inside a cover. It is not normally available from the NHS, but can be bought through mail-order companies. If you sometimes use the softie you were given after surgery to be comfortable when you are doing things like relaxing at home, you may like to try a leisure prosthesis instead, as it gives a better shape than the softie.
It can also be used for swimming but it will deteriorate in a relatively short time if used in chlorinated water.
These are artificial nipples that come in different sizes and skin colours. You can stick them onto your breast prosthesis or reconstructed breast. You can have a custom-made nipple to match the nipple on your other breast.
They are particularly useful if you have a very obvious nipple on your natural breast, and are available in some hospitals. Alternatively, you might find it easier to use a nipple shield (cover) on the natural nipple to make it look less obvious. You can buy these from specialist suppliers and from some high street shops.
In general, you will need to look after a silicone breast prosthesis as you look after your own skin. You should wash it daily in warm soapy water and dry it with a towel.
It can be used in salt water and chlorinated water, but should be rinsed in clean water as soon as possible afterwards. Please note that the ‘stick-on’ types have different care instructions that should be followed closely.
You need to take care not to puncture a silicone prosthesis. When you aren’t using it, it is advisable to store it in the shaped unit in the box it came in.
Your prosthesis will have a guarantee but the length can vary. Some prostheses may last for three or more years before they need replacing, which may be longer than the period of the guarantee.