Contact Form ?

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kerry32
kerry32 Member Posts: 125
edited June 2014 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy

I recently bought the contact forms and i'm wondering if anyone has hints on how to get them on evenly when you are bilateral.  So far I am not thrilled with them but thinking I need to get used to them - looking for any input.

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  • Erica3681
    Erica3681 Member Posts: 1,916
    edited September 2008

    Hi Kerry,

    I see no one has answered you yet so I'll just chime in to say that most of the women who have commented on contact forms on this forum seem to have a unilateral mastectomy. I'm a bilateral like you and have wondered how easy it would be to get contact forms to adhere evenly. I asked a fitter once and she said I would just need to put on my bra first, then sort of insert the forms into it. Have you tried that?

    Hopefully, someone more knowledgeable than me will come along to help.

    Barbara

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2008

    Sorry there hasn't been more advice here. The fitter that sold them to you should instruct you until you feel comfortable applying them. IMO,

    Some advice from one who learned the hard way. Despite being a little more expensive, go to a shop staffed with certified fitters when you get your first breast forms. You wouldn't believe the training they go through to be certified. A really good one will guide you to what will look best. No guesswork for you, and they make you feel soooo at ease. If you don't feel confident with one, shop around. It's too important to accept mediocrity.

    I really disliked wearing forms until I found the Amoena Contact Comfort + on the recommendation of the wonderful fitter at my local shop. It feels like part of my body instead of an add-on. Both the shop (Mary Catherine's) and the Amoena sales rep bent over backwards to find what I needed, saying that they weren't finished until I was happy...which isn't easy sometimes.Wink

    It's hard to explain the process of putting them on, but I'll give it a shot. You grab the form and gently squeeze until the contact part balloons out toward your chest. Check the top-to-bottom angle, then start by placing the inner edge at the beginning of your scar, or wherever you like it, and roll to the other edge. If you have trouble getting them even, try marking the skin on each side for a while until you get the hang of it. 

    Erica, your fitter's advice wouldn't help much, IMO, unless she showed you what she means and helped you do it the first few times.

    Once mastered, contact forms become easy and are a great alternative for some.

    Judie

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  • dianne1981
    dianne1981 Member Posts: 9
    edited December 2008

    Hi Kerry,

    <:AtomicElement>I have been more of a reader of the boards than a poster, mostly due to limited technology skills. But, I struggle with the same issue. The advice here is very good.I have a bilateral mastectomy, and wanted to try the contact forms because I hated how the pocketed forms move away from my chest whenever I bend forward. Due to insurance changes, the place that I had to buy from this time did not have a certified fitter...and it really does make a big difference! I bought the Amoena Tria Contact Lites in July, and still change my mind whether I love them or not.In the summertime, I hate them because they don't stick to me.Now that it's cooler, they stick very well,but feel like a pulling off a BandAid at the end of the day (ouch). I like them for a few reasons- they fit my body more like real breasts, the weight is off my shoulders, I can wear almost any bra.They are a little tricky to put on evenly.I put the bra on first, put one form into the cup, lean over, and try to align it where I want it.Then, I put the second one in the other cup, stand in front of the mirror, and try to match it up evenly. After the first few days, it gets pretty easy.

    <:AtomicElement>More than anything else, I recommend you go to a certified fitter to see what works best for you!

    <:AtomicElement>Dianne

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  • SusaninSF
    SusaninSF Member Posts: 1,213
    edited December 2008

    When I found out that Amoena was discontinuing the Contact Plus (this is the form that comes with velcro triangles that you stick to your chest), I ordered one. It wouldn't work well for an everyday form but it is the only form I have found that you could actually wear without a bra (though the instructions say it is meant to be worn with a bra). I bought an evening dress that would be tricky to wear with a bra and I think it should work well with the Amoena Contact Plus. I wore the form one night and it really stuck well. I read on-line that it is very popular with transvestites! I normally wear a Amoena Contact Light with the self-adhesive pearls that absolutely must be worn with a bra. My skin was a little irritated after I removed the triangle so it wouldn't be a good idea for anyone with sensitive skin.

    Just wanted to let everyone know in case you wanted to pick up one before they are all gone.

    Cheers, Susan 

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