Flying with a silicone prosthetic

LalaBoo68

I live in Cyprus and had a left breast mastecomy in June of 2015 and am flying to UK end of May & then onto Caribbean before returning home to Cyprus. I normally wear a silicone prosthetic and wanted some advice about flying whilst wearing my prosthetic. Whilst the diagnosis & treatment were fantastic the after care is not as good as in UK, so it's difficult to find any answers on this subject. I would be so grateful for any information

KayaRose

I have flown several times with my silicone prosthetic on and also one in my carry on luggage. I live in the US and have flown both domestically and internationally. I always get patted down while wearing it. The TSA women agents are always very nice when I tell them I had a mastectomy and amwearing a prosthetic. When it is in my carry on, the bag gets searched. TSA does not want you to speak while they search your bag so it sometimes takes the a while before finding it. But once found, no problems.

Have a wonderful trip!

sbelizabeth

Before reconstruction I flew several times and asked for a pat-down each time. I never bothered to tell the TSA agent that I was wearing a silicone prosthesis, and the pat-down didn't ever reveal anything. It's just a quick "feel" around under the bra and down the front. The prosthesis feels no different from the real thing. Safe travels!

GeorgiaRai

I've only flown domestically within the US, but I've never had an issue. I just go through the scanner or detector like everyone else, and have never been questioned at all. Best wishes, Lalaboo!

9984567

Unfortunately my experience has not been as good as yours, and I am posting to make sure others get no surprises. First, the "regular" scanner WILL show your prosthetics clearly and you will be stopped and pulled aside. (Happened to me several times until I strategized a different way.)

Some solutions: You can ask for help going through TSA from a disability specialist. Call them in advance. They advised me DO NOT put prosthetics in carry on luggage as some screeners will pull them out for all to see and as noted above, you can't converse with the screeners as they do their job.

Another solution is to get TSA precheck.

A third solution is to ask for the patdown. However, some of us find this painful in the surgical area. They will remove your cane if you use one and I have been knocked about. There is also some information about that indicates a traveler cannot ask for a patdown any longer (via Chris Elliot's column), that it is up to the TSA personnel to decide this.

Sorry for this unpleasant post, but I feel it is better to be aware. My first time through the screener, when the hospital prosthetic department told me there would be no problem, was so humiliating.

Moderators

998467 -- thank you for your helpful post! It will surely help many others who have questions about this predicament.

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Jennie93

I flew recently and when we got to the body scanner thing, I told them I wanted to be checked by hand since I already had cancer and didn't care to subject my body to any more radiation. They had absolutely no problem with that whatsoever. Didn't act impatient or anything. They just had me step aside, got a female agent to do the pat-down, it only took a few minutes, just a complete non-issue. I was not wearing a foob nor carrying any in my bag, though.

NormaJean65

When I have flown I carry a letter from my sweet Onco written out to explain to some TSA nitwit that I have had BC & do wear a prosthesis. I also carry extra copies in my baggage. No problems, no hassles of course being an old woman probably helps but this old woman is loaded for bear and probably have this expression on my face that looks like "Go ahead, make my day".

Check out the options the other ladies have suggested & know we are all rooting for you. Not happy with first answer, keeping driving "them" crazy until you have the info you believe will help you. My beloved Mother used to tell me the only stupid question is the one that doesn't get asked.

ScienceGirl

Hi,

I fly a couple times a year. Go through the scanner, then get the manual pat down EVERY time, doesn't matter if I'm 'going flat' or wearing a prothesis. It doesn't bother me, I'm used to it. (Feel away, nothing there, ha ha)

PT6

My goodness. I have never thought to tell TSA about my foobs. They seem to be more concerned about my hip replacements. I always get a pat down and it is no big deal. The TSA people seem to be well trained to maintain decorum

arby

Flying has never been an issue with my silicon breasts on. I've flown in the States and also internationally. No one has ever asked during a screening and I certainly don't "blab" anything. I am a discreet, normal acting and normal looking person. Dress comfortably for the long flights, pressure sleeves to prevent lymphodema, and enjoy the trip!