Why do I "need" $$$ silicone breastforms?

dancingneedles

robinlbe, breast forms have different shapes to correspond to the needs of the wearer.  There are triangular and teardrop shapes among others.  Everyone has different needs depending on body shape, the type of surgery, and the appearance of the post-surgical area. 

Some forms are symmetrical and can be worn on either side.  Some forms are asymmetrical and have a 'right' and 'left' side to give extra fullness to areas as needed. 

Also, some forms have more projection (from the side view) than others.   Natural breasts can lose projection after childbirth or with age.  A choice of fuller or shallower projection would help to match a unilateral patient's remaining breast.   Bilateral ladies can choose projection as desired.

I found some pictures showing the front and back of different forms on the Amoena USA website.  Go to their website and choose "Breast Forms", then "Essentials" and scroll to the bottom of the page.  Hoover your mouse over each picture for details. 

Erica also has breast form info on her breastfree.org site:

http://breastfree.org/viewer.php?num=42

Finally, be aware that some local American Cancer Society offices have breast form and mastectomy bra programs.  One local ACS gives a form (or two for bilateral) and a bra free to local survivors every two years regardless of income or insurance--a very generous program thanks to local fundraising.  Do check with your medical staff as they may know of other programs in your local area for free or reduced fee forms and bras.

BoobsinaBox

Barbara:  I was thinking about the PALs also.  I liked the small ones, which I could wear in a camisole, but they had slightly more projection than I wanted and a too small footprint, so they tended to gravitate toward each other, which means I was always having to sneak off to straighten them out.  I liked having them against my skin, and I think the oil helped my scars get better.  I ordered the next size up, which had the footprint I wanted, but they had even more projection, and they were too heavy to stay comfortably in my camisoles, so I had to use a bra, and I still can't find a bra that a) doesn't ride up (because my ribs are so prominent below the bra line) and b) doesn't irritate my left side, where the worst nerve damage was done.  I tended to take both of them on every trip, which meant bras and camisoles and forms filling the suitcase!  It is sooooooooooo nice not to have to worry about those things. Also, I guess, because I told everyone about my bc and bilat, and because I went form-free for 6 months before trying any forms, everyone was accustomed to how I looked...then I sprouted boobs!  I felt embarrassed to have them, and I found that because of the weight and the embarrassment, I found myself slumping and turning my shoulders in.  I know I could have gotten over that, but I had those other reasons for not wanting to be bothered with forms.  And finally, the thing that has made this bc journey redeemable for me has been that because people know my story, they send people to me when they get their diagnosis.  Being able to offer people an understanding ear is worth it.  I know they still could do that, but frankly, I am not ashamed of my shape, and I don't want newbies to think I am.  I know you aren't either, and I don't mean anyone else is.  I just want women to see that there is real and fulfilling life after bc, with or without forms.  Does any of that make sense?

Thanks for asking.  You have made a similar (and more far-reaching) contribution with your website, and I will be forever grateful for it!  I still haul out the Comfort-lites occasionally, but they are bigger than my small PALs, and don't feel as much like my old me as the PALs did.  

Seeing the Wardrobe pics for Boobless Days thread of all the other women who looked so fantastic in their form-free-ness is what helped me remember how much I liked the freedom, and realize that I could look just fine without the forms.  I credit them for helping me get back to being form free.  And yes, I still get out the forms and wear them occasionally, but it usually doesn't last more than a couple of hours.  I'm just happier without.

Dawn 

BoobsinaBox

Robin,

Yes, the footprint is the shape of the back side, and the size - the area it covers.  You've got it!

Dawn 

travelgal6979

I completely understand how you feel about the silicone breast forms and think that the "mastectomy bra" market is taking advantage of a lot of women by charging so much. 

I too had a BMX and went to a mastectomy bra shop to p/u up silicone forms.  I have insurance but it didn't really matter since my insurance considered the "forms" to be an out-of-network expense.  I would have had to pay a $500 deductible and then insurance would only pay 50% after that.  The forms were $350 a piece so insurance would have paid only $125...big deal.  I walked out and didn't buy them. 

It just happened by coincidence that I was at JoAnn Fabrics a couple weeks ago with my daughter what do they sell....breast forms!  Inexpensive ones in all shapes, sizes and material types.  Granted, they don't have silicone but I didn't care.  I just wear regular cami and put the forms underneath and they look great.  I didn't spend more than $20 a pair!  Also, this may sound funny but I also use my old shoulder pads from the 1980's.  They work great too.  I wasn't a busty gal to begin with so I don't mind having just a small amount of padding at times.  If I need a lot then I use my new breast forms.  

I wish you lots of luck in your search.  Best wishes in your recovery too.

nagem

BoobsinaBox, You so eloquently express my muddled feelings about this whole issue of whether to wear forms—from the shapeshifting condundrum (flat one day, boobs the next) to the reluctance to camouflage what I have no reason to be ashamed of. Just wonderful to see someone put it into words. Thanks!

BoobsinaBox

Thanks, Nagem.  I really don't want people who have chosen to wear forms and not to tell everyone about their bc to think I am critical of them.  It's just that I needed to do things a different way.  Sometimes I envy their freedom to go through life with hardly anyone knowing what they've been through.  Still, I needed to go the other way.  I deeply appreciate your comment.  Sometimes I feel pretty alone.

Dawn 

lovemygarden

Barbara, thanks for the updated links! I see on the Comfort-Tex retailer's site they also sell a weighted foam form by Silique called the Fabu-Form and I'm wondering if that is midway in weight and solidity between the "stiff" fiberfill-packed lightweight ones and the more flexible Comfort-Lite. I'm going to email them and ask the actual weight of the Fabu-Form to compare (because I'd like to find something solid enough to stuff into that darn Classique pocket while still being flexible and lightweight).

Erica3681

lovemygarden,

I've just ordered the weighted Fabu-Form myself. It should arrive later this week. I'll post about it once I've tried it. 

FWIW, the most comfortable form I've ever used in my Classique #769 bra is the Silique Comfort-Lite in a size 4.

 

lovemygarden

I have those same two also (though I won't be able to wear the Classique until late spring next year which is when I can get my port removed... the 769's strap hits it, although the Anita Nastaja's strap just misses it!); but you must have far more patience than I do with trying to stuff the semi-floppy Comfort-Lite into that undersized pocket opening!

It's that Classique 769  bra which I'm looking for an easier-to-insert form for. I have an Amoena 126 on backorder and want to compare that with the Fabu-Form to see which (if either) I prefer.

 I also have a question about camisoles. I've been looking at the three different Still You ones on their page (the plain, the lace, and the Square Neck tank) but here's the thing: I have always really disliked tops that have those skinny little spaghetti straps.    And I also don't like camis that look like "underwear" either (no matter what the current fashion trend may be). So the only one of the three that appeals to me at all -- because it looks like a normal top rather than 'underwear' -- is the Square Neck tank. (the $72 price tag unfortunately doesn't appeal, though; ouch!) And that one only comes in "Creme" which looks white on my computer but I'm guessing it's an off-white which hopefully doesn't look like a yellowed-with-age white? Have you ever tried that one? I read in your reviews that the other two tanks (the ones with the spaghetti straps) are pulled down by a weighted form and so you recommended only using unweighted forms with those two; but I'm just wondering if you have also tried their Square Neck tank and if so, does it perhaps fare better in that regard because it's not a spaghetti-strap style? more fabric up there to keep the shelf/form in place maybe??

Erica3681

I have tried all three forms. I love the basic Still You Tank Top--the plain one with the spaghetti straps, BUT I do use it as an undergarment. It doesn't hug my chest enough for me to wear it comfortably alone. I usually wear it under a tee shirt. It leaves a very smooth line under my tees. I also have the Jacquard Lace Tank Top. I just wore it today, in fact. It was a warm day where I am and I wore it for a long brisk walk, using the Still You Illusions breast forms. The Illusions can be worn with any of these camis, though I more often use unweighted forms with the basic Still You Tank Top. The Jacquard Lace Tank (really a cami, as you know) is cut just a little higher than the basic Tank (cami) and hugs my chest better.

I did once order the Square Neck but it didn't fit me properly so I returned it--I think the problem was that it doesn't have adjustable straps like the others and it was too big on top. I really can't remember if the shelf bra was more supportive than the other two styles.

Barbara

lovemygarden

That's a good point: The camis, not being snug like a bra, result in the 'boob area' kind of "floating around" a bit! I hadn't thought of that, and honestly don't know if that's a feeling I'd be comfortable with! The only cami I've worn at all so far has been the post-surgical one and because my skin was so sensitive for the first weeks I didn't even put the puffies in it... just wore it so that I'd have something to put the drain bulbs into while I still had them! Guess I should haul that one out and try it with puffies to see if I find the feeling of "floating boobs" annoying or not. Duh!

Mini-rant: Why are post-mastectomy garments like the camis and tank tops so darn expensive? I mean seriously... do most women spend $60-$70 for a basic tank top or cami under normal circumstances? Does the addition of breastform pockets really justify that kind of pricepoint over and above something that would sell for $19.99 or $24.99 at someplace like DressBarn? Not singling out Still You by any means... the other companies that sell post-surgical camis for $60-$80 each are just as bad. I even found a site whose prices start at $80-$100 (www.annjacquelinedesign.com/tank-tops)! I did see that the TLC catalog sells them for $18 but also read several posts by women here who ordered them and returned them because the quality was really poor, even for something at that low a price. Am I naieve for thinking that there should be good quality, practical useful garments like this in the, say, $30-$40 price range? 

 Okay, rant over.

Erica3681

I didn't say the breast forms "floated" in the Still You camis--not at all. What I like about them is that they stay exactly in place. I feel very secure. The cut of the basic Still You Tank is just a little too low for my chest with nothing worn over. I could wear it alone, but I might feel a bit self-conscious. But some women do wear them without a tee shirt over. I think the bottom line is that you need to try some of these products yourself, even if it means possibly having to return things. Each of us has different requirements, different bodies, and different ideas about what's comfortable and what looks nice.

Regarding quality, all I can say is my Still You camis are still in excellent condition after three years. I machine wash them and dry them flat. The only mistake I've made is accidentally throwing one of them in the dryer. It shrank. But I was able to improve that some next time I dried it flat. Still You is a very small company so they can't benefit from economies of scale and I'm sure their manufacturing costs are high. They're a little cottage industry and one of the owners had breast cancer herself. They donate part of their profits to bc organizations. So I don't feel they're trying to gauge the customer at all. Just my opinion. Can't comment on the others. 

lovemygarden

Oops, I see that I totally misunderstood what you said about how the Still You cami fits: I thought that by "not hugging the chest enough to be comfortable"  you meant that the front moved around with normal motion and was thus physically uncomfortable or annoying. Thanks for clarifying!

I'm sorry if I gave the impression of criticizing Still You in particular because that wasn't my intention at all.  I totally agree that an indepedent small company who makes or sells good quality merchandise should charge a price commensurate with that! But what irks me bigtime is that a lot of mass-produced made-in-China mediocre-quality clothing of any type is often priced the same as what the better-quality stuff sells for, and it seems to me that any kind of "special needs" clothing often has that failing plus a "special needs markup" built into the pricing. When I first started shopping for headcovers I ordered a lot of items from the TLC site and ended up returning all but one sleep cap and one made-in-Canada winter hat (which I'd seen the same on another website but for $8 more) because I was so disappointed in the quality of all the other stuff. 

I do buy other "special needs" clothing, actually: SPF50 items for sun protection because my skin "fries" very easily. I buy them from either Coolibar or Sunday Afternoons because both offer good quality but because of the prices I can only afford to buy when they are having really good sales on things! Like the $60 pants I got from Coolibar for $19.99. There's no way I would ever have bought them for $60 but at $19.99 that's the same as what I'd pay for a pair of jeans at DressBarn and so I'm very happy with that.

Erica3681

I do agree that many of the items we need are expensive. Also, before I had bc, I had one bra that I wore almost exclusively--inexpensive and comfortable. I had several of them. Now I've become a bra and breast form fanatic, always looking for the perfect item. It's not my normal behavior, either--generally I hate shopping. But this is the one area where I allow myself to splurge. . .

Erica3681

lovemygarden,

Here's a picture of me in the Still You Tank Top. The shadowy areas on my chest to the right and left side are why I don't like to wear it alone, though I don't think anyone would really notice (or care!).

Erica3681

lovemygarden,

Here is a picture of me in the Still You Tank Top. Sorry for the poor resolution. The original was better, but I can't seem to get it to transfer well. But you can see the slight shadows on the left and right sides of my chest, which are why I don't usually like to wear this top without anything over it. But probably no one would notice. Also, in the picture, the breast forms look a little bit uneven, but that must have been the way I was standing. In person, they look symmetrical and natural.

jbau

Erica,

Which site sells the fabu-form? I'm anxious to hear what you think of it. I'm always looking for a cooler alternative

Thanks,

Jennifer 

Erica3681

I've just ordered the weighted fabu form (haven't received it yet), which is brand new on the market. I've tried the unweighted fabu form, which has been available for a while. I like it, but it doesn't work in all bras. I'm expecting the weighted fabu form to still be lighter than almost all silicone forms. You can check them both out at Hidden Beauty Plus. I haven't ordered from this retailer yet, so can't vouch for them. But Silique lists them as one of their retailers. Here's the link to the unweighted fabu form: http://www.hiddenbeautyplus.com/xcart/Silique-Fabu-Form-Fabric-Puffs-Teardrop-Leisure-Breast-Forms-1-Pair.html

And here's the link to the newer, weighted fabu form: http://www.hiddenbeautyplus.com/xcart/Breast-Forms/?page=5

It appears that the weighted forms come singly, while the unweighted are sold as a pair. So, the weighted forms are quite a bit more expensive. Also, I believe the weighted form uses a metal core for the weight, so I wouldn't wear it while going through airport screening devices--they'd probably want to pat you down!!

robinlbe

wouldn't that be a pretty sight?!?!?  

lovemygarden

Just FYI, I'm waiting for the info from Hidden Beauty Plus as to the weight of a Size 4 triangular (weighted) Fabu-Form. The company president responded to my email saying that he was going to check with their warehouse on Monday (the 5th) and let me know. I did send a followup email yesterday (the 7th) and hopefully will hear back from him by the end of tomorrow (Friday).

I weighed my other 2 forms (a Size 4 Comfort-Lite weighs 4.2 oz and a Small Amoena fiber puffie weighs 0.8 oz... haven't received my Amoena 126 forms to "test out" yet as to fit and weight) so am very curious to know how the Fabu-Form compares to these others.

 Barbara, if by chance you receive your Fabu-Forms before I hear back from Hidden Beauty, do you happen to have a postal scale that you can weigh one of them on? You ordered the same size as I would be ordering in that form.

mthomp2020

Hey, with the new full-body scanners that some airports are getting, wearing any kind of form will probably get you a pat-down!  I fly out of the Greater Cincinnati airport, and they're in the process of installing the scanner, so next time I fly it could get interesting!

Erica3681

mthomp2020, I'm not too keen on using those new scanners, since I'm not sure what the radiation levels are. I've already had enough radiation from bc treatment! If I refuse, that will almost certainly get me a pat down. As you say, could get interesting!

lovemygarden, I don't have a postal scale, sorry. But I'll report generally how they feel.

Barbara

mumito

i just flew from Canada to  CostaRica within 1 day after bone and cat scans.Had a letter all prepared to explain scan set offs but had no pboblem. Go figure.Last year when i tried to cross to U.S. for cross border shopping Our car was marked as a nuclear threat until they scaned me seperately and understood that I was a cancer patient with recent scans. We are glowing ladies.

dreamwriter

Isnt that interesting..... I was scanned and felt up on my way to and from florida.  The Washington airport had the one where they scan you twice then they felt me up because of the breast form.  I didnt realize until afterwards that the breast form must of blocked off some of the scan.  And the doggie sniffed but I was clean.  Do women fill their prosthesis with drugs or what?

lovemygarden

Since I've heard about them stuffing drug packets inside babies' diapers (!!) I wouldn't be a bit surprised if something like a breast prosthesis was used that way too!

Erica3681

Just wanted to report that I received my weighted Fabu Forms from Silique. They're nice, just slightly weighted, enough to hold them nicely in a bra or camisole. The shape is good and they're softer than the Amoena 126s or the ABC First Forms, though not as soft as the Still You Illusions and Still You Fiber Filled Pads. I'm small and like to wear a 34A, so I ordered a size 3. They fit fine, though with a slightly bigger footprint than I'd like (barely fit in my bra). But I think most women would find the fit excellent--I'm a little unusual in wanting my forms to be so small.

I can't really recommend any one of the forms I mentioned above over another. It's very much a matter of individual taste.

Barbara

lovemygarden

Thanks for all the info, Barbara! I'm still waiting for a response from Hidden Beauty as to the weight of those Fabu-Forms  but am glad to hear that they are softer than the Amoena 126s which I received on Friday. I weighed one of those and it was 0.6 ounce. So in order of weight from low to high, they are the lightest of the ones I have so far:  Amoena 126 poly foam, size 4 = 0.6 oz; Amoena fiberfill, size Small = 0.8 oz; and Silique Comfort-Lite Size 4 = 4.2 ounces. It sounds as if the Triangular weighted Fabu-Form may end up being between 2 and 3 ounces perhaps.

You mentioned on your site that some of the weighted foam forms can be a little too heavy to use in camisoles and weigh the cami front down a bit; just curious, did you find that to be the case at all with the Fabu-Form that you just got? 

Erica3681

No, the Fabu-Form would be very wearable in a camisole.

lovemygarden

Thanks Barbara, I think I will just go ahead and order it even though I don't have the weight info. That was the main thing I was worried about (that it would be too heavy in a lightweight cami).

I stuck the Amoena 126 forms into my post-surgical cami (since the other ones I ordered haven't arrived yet) and discovered that I was not at all happy about how "stiff" those feel! So I'm glad to see your report that the Fabu-Form is softer than those are. So the 126s are going to be returned. 

purplemb

Well for those in need with no insurance you can see if I have any in my BC closet, free to those in need.. and yes I too only wear mine a few times a year, I made mine, knitty titty and love it, washable and light weight,

let me know if I can help.. I have a websit to help collect and distribute to those in need, its all free thanks to the kindness of others .. so if you have extras send them on, if you need let me know

MAry Beth

www.pinkstock.webuda.com