Cost: Insurance may cover some or all of the cost, but it likely will not cover the cost of custom sets. It’s a soft ‘shell’ of silicone that fits over your smaller breast so that it matches the larger one.

After breast surgery, your breast care nurse or one of the ward nurses will usually give you a fabric-covered temporary prosthesis, often called a ‘softie’ or ‘cumfie/comfie’, to wear during this time. State-of-the-art software allows you to take three photos of your breasts before showing you what various implants will look like using AI. ‘What you see is really what you get,’ says Levine. Lighter implants Non-silicone models require less maintenance. A person can often wear them in a pool or hot tub. A person may also be able to wash them in a washing machine. Breastcancer.org also notes that requesting prostheses will not affect coverage for reconstructive surgery if a person decides to do this later on.About 6 weeks after a mastectomy, once your scar has healed and you have finished any radiotherapy you may need, you’ll be ready for your permanent prosthesis.

If you have had both breasts removed, you can select the size you feel most comfortable with. Partial or shaped prosthesis Your breast care nurse will usually arrange a fitting appointment for you if you want to have a permanent prosthesis. If you’re not given an appointment, ask your breast care nurse about this. You can wear it right after the operation if you want to, even if the area feels tender. It is very soft and will not put pressure on the wound. During a fitting, the specialist will help a person find the best size, shape, weight, and feel of a prosthesis for them.A prosthesis will have a guarantee but the length of this can vary. Most prostheses will last longer than the period of the guarantee. The amount of breast removed: Shells may work best for partial mastectomies, while symmetrical versions may work better for full mastectomies. There are also non-silicone breast forms, but these may not be available on the NHS. Talk to you fitter about the other breast form options.

A large mirror and good light so you can see what the prosthesis looks like in your bra and with clothing over it. If you would prefer not to face the mirror, let your fitter know The prosthesis fitter or nurse will give you information on how to care for your prosthesis. If you follow the advice on looking after your prosthesis it may last for several years. You can wear your usual prosthesis for the occasional swim or make your own swimming prosthesis by cutting an ordinary sponge to fit. However if you are a regular swimmer there are specially made swim prostheses that you can get. These you have to buy as they aren't available on the NHS. They don’t get damaged by the chorine and salt. Your appointment will often be at your local hospital. The breast care nurse may do the fitting, or it may be done by another trained fitter, such as a surgical appliance officer or a representative from a prosthesis company. Breast Cancer Now is a company limited by guarantee registered in England (9347608) and a charity registeredThe breast shapes come in different sizes, shapes and colours. Most women should be able to find something they are happy with on the NHS. But if not, there is more choice available if you buy your own from a manufacturer. You can ask your breast care nurse about a replacement. Or you may need to ask your GP for a referral to the breast clinic or a surgical appliance officer in your area. Clothing Comfort: Silicone breast forms are typically more comfortable to wear than other types of breast forms, due to their soft and flexible nature. If a breast prosthesis is too light it can move around or ride up so it’s not level with the other breast. If this happens discuss it with the person who fitted your prosthesis as you may need to be reassessed or get advice about wearing a different type of bra. Materials We learnt a lot from the era of more is more,’ says Mallucci. ‘It’s associated with many negatives – PIP, ill-sitting implants –and the fact that, actually, it’s ugly.’ In 2014, alongside a fellow surgeon, Mallucci came up with the ‘perfect’ 45:55 ratio, with 45% of volume above the nipple, 55% below. ‘Naturally a breast, even in a fit 19-year-old, will have more volume below,’ he says of the subtle difference. Where surgery had once turned breasts into firm, round oranges, it was actually more of a natural pear shape that surgeons, women, men, everyone preferred. (A study of more than 1,400 people was conducted as part of this research.) What’s a good example of that ratio? ‘The Kate Moss shape is often referred to,’ says Mallucci. That modestly sized, natural-looking breast – and the one that I became familiar with working in the fashion industry in the 2010s – became the gold standard.