I’ve had a large WLE and now have one boob a lot smaller than the other. The plan is to have lift and reduction surgery to the good side in about six months time, to let any shrinkage after rads happen.
In the meantime, I need to do something to look more even, I can’t hide in cardies and scarves any more!
So does anyone have any experience to share about partial prosthetics? I can make an appointment with the prosthetics department at the hospital, does anyone else use one, and was it from the NHS or a commercial supplier? And do you have to wear mastectomy bras or will they stay in place inside an ordinary bra?
I am sure some of our users will be along to share their experiences with prosthetics soon.
In the meantime you can always use our Ask the Nurse service or call our helpline on 0808 800 6000, who will be able to talk you through any questions you have and offer a friendly ear. The opening hours are below.
Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm
Late opening Wednesday 9am-7pm
Saturday, 9am-1pm
I had the same done in December 2015. I was fitted for a partial prosthesis at my breast care unit just over a month after my operation. The lady who fitted it travelled round several hospitals in my area, the prosthesis was funded by NHS but it was from an outside supplier. Ask your breast care nurse for advice. I had therapeutic mamoplasty at same time my tumour was removed so my breast was reshaped and I got a teardrop shaped prosthesis which fitted under what was left of my breast. I bought post-surgery bras from Debenhams which had pockets to slip the prosthesis into. It would have fitted into a normal bra but I was worried about it “wandering” so the pockets in the post-surgery bra were ideal! I was also fitted for a free bra which came with the prosthesis but to be honest it was very ugly and I rarely wore it. The Debenhams bras were much more comfortable. I found the prosthesis fairly easy to wear, most of time I forgot about it. I could still go swimming with it on (I wore an underwired tankini top, it stayed in place fine). You can get ‘aqua’ prosthesis but the lady who fitted me said the silicone ones are fine to swim in (pool or sea).
I had lift and reduction surgery to my good side just over 2 weeks ago, I’m healing ok. It’s hard to tell with all the swelling but I think the right side is still marginally bigger than the left but I guess I’ll have to wait for everything to settle down before I can see for sure. The surgeon did seem a bit disappointed he hadn’t got a closer match but I assured him I was just glad they were sisters again and I hadn’t been expecting twins! I spent a year with one boob massively bigger than the other so I’m just grateful to stop wearing the prosthesis! Hope you get sorted out with a prosthesis and good luck with your ‘lift & reduction’ op.
Hi dizzy have you seen the leaflet about this - ref bcc123?
I came across it while using the new app BECCA (see moving forward pages on how to register)
There are all types available (full, partial, she’ll etc) and if not on NHS financial assistance may also be available. Happy to talk more about it, if it helps - I’m feeling very ‘obvious’ today so just off to ring bcn see what that brings.
So glad you had your appointment and were given a silicone breast form rather than just a “softee”!! The silicone prosthesis once you get used to them feel so much better than the soft forms you can get. I definitely think a bra with pockets will sort out the wandering too!! Shop around to find as nice a bra as you can, it does make you feel better putting on a nice bra rather than something plain and utilitarian!
I did have radiotherapy on my left side following removal of the tumour and mamoplasty. I was told I might suffer some shrinkage afterwards and they would consider a reduction for symmetry around 6 months after radiotherapy. My boob didn’t shrink very much at all and it maintained its shape well too. The reduction on my right side happened around 7 months after radiotherapy but that only because I pushed hard for it. My original surgeon had already left the hospital, the other surgeons had full lists but fortunately a new guy arrived and I was transferred to him, he was happy to do the op. I saw him today he said they had tested the breast tissue removed from my right side last month and all the histology reports came back clear. He said my right breast is still bigger than the left and he may consider liposuction for me in the future. I’m not sure if I want that, I guess I’ll just wait and see how it all looks in 5 or 6 months.
Good luck in your bra search. If you look there are lots of posts with advice on where to search for bras.
I spent a year with one boob massively bigger than the other so I’m just grateful to stop wearing the prosthesis! Hope you get sorted out with a prosthesis and good luck with your ‘lift & reduction’ op.