Prostheses & store alarms

What type of breast form (prosthesis) are you wearing? The only kind I can think of that might set off some kinds of alarms are foam forms that are slightly weighted. This weighting is usually done with little metal beads embedded in the center of the form. For this reason, I would never wear such a form in the airport as the screening might pick it up.

I've been wearing unweighted foam forms and silicone forms for over three years and have never had a problem.

Barbara

Terry, glad to hear it wasn't your prosthesis. I have also been thinking about airport security also. I hope they don't get to the point where we can't wear our prosthesis when flying.

Franie 

I have flown wearing my prothesis and set off no airport alarms or had any extra screening.  I don't think any of the TSA folks ever knew I was a mastectomee.  Your surgeon may have left metal clips in during the mastectomy--they are used to seal off larger blood vessels and to mark areas for future reference.  If the clips are big enough or if there are enough of them they can set off metal detectors. 

Terry,

might you be wearing or carrying an item that still has it's store security tag on? I know they are usually obvious, but maybe not. I was thinking something you would frequently carry/wear - a pocketbook, a coat or boots.

Julie E

Unsurprisingly, I haven't had a problem with my prosthesis when going thru metal-detectors, but i am wondering about the body scans. If they *don't* notice a gel-filled prosthesis, how good will they be at finding explosives? And if they do -- besides the awkwardness, it might slow things down a bit. There's quite a few of us, i think. And what about silicone implants?

One thing that *always* triggers a luggage search: a loaf of bread. We've learned the hard way that good bread is hard to find in small towns in canyon country, so we bring rye or pumpernickel with us. The bread suitcase is searched every time -- ditto a friend's, who does the same thing.

I'm already flying as little as possible -- not fear, just tired of the hassle of going thru security, being jammed in, delays, cancellations... etc. I'll drive up to 12 or 14 hours rather than fly (especially if i have to rent a car at the end anyway!). Unfortunately, that won't get me to the canyons, so i'll be flying over spring break. This could get interesting ...

Those body scans concern me, too--it would pretty unpleasant to be pulled out and have to let TSA actually examine our pros. On the other hand, I'm concerned about radiation from the new machines (having already had radiation for bc), so my impulse would be to refuse the machine altogether and let TSA pat me down, which almost certainly would mean some kind of examination of the prostheses. Yuch! Not to mention the extra time necessary . . .

Otter,

My feelings exactly!  This does make my decision not to wear prostheses at all seem very wise, if slightly less attractive.  I had a pat-down once before BC.  I was offered a private room, which I turned down, because I wanted to stay in view of my husband.  It was awful, but they let me go easily after that.  I think it was the little underwires in my bra that set them off.  Imagine having a woman put both her hands under your breasts and push up!  I think that was the day flying became less fun. And now the added risk of lymphedema.  We plan a trip to visit friends in Europe next year, and I already dread the travel part!

Dawn 

Since I'm a uni there's no way I can go on a business trip without wearing a pros. Can't do my job without flying.  Hopefully there will be a way to bring a doctor's note or something.  That will still take some time and be embarassing in front of my colleagues (most of whom are men).  

I've enjoyed just reading this forum since joining, but this topic has brought me out of lurkdom!  The first thing I thought of when the scanning machines were mentioned was my prothesis.  It seems like such an invasion of privacy for some stranger to see the foobie on a scanner.  And the thought of having to explain/justify a prothesis is downright unbelievable.  I already have a knee replacement (arthritis brought on by Femara) so I'm used to being pulled aside for the pat down, but there's a big difference between telling a stranger that I have a fake knee and telling her (him?) that I have a fake boob!  Unfortunately, I can't just decide to stop flying - son & DIL will be moving across the county and we'll travel by air to visit.  And I absolutely refuse to travel "unbalanced."  Nobody comes between me & my foobie! Anxiously waiting to see how this all works out.

Otter, you know those stuffed boobs they give you right after surgery? What do THEY look like in one of those airport scanners?

Actually, I use Silique Comfort Lites, which are a thin silicone shell stuffed with beanie-baby beans -- bet that'd look real interesting! I think I may give up flying altogether...

Binney (breaking out her bicycle and wonderiing how far she could go on that...)

I have a big smile. I never thought of calling my fake boob a foob or foobie. I love this. I thought of my foob when they talked about scans. I fly alot and never have had it be a problem. They may begin to ask people who have a prosthesis to use another line. If the alarm does go off and the scanner goes near your foob, and they want to ask questions, you can ask to speak privately with a female TSA person.

The funny thing is that I never had any problems going through security with my foobs.  On the other hand, before BC when I had Massive Matilda and Big Bertha, I was frequently pulled aside for a pat down of the area as they must have thought that I had a small nuclear bomb hidden in my bra (my daughter is is also large breasted has also endured the same humiliation). I fly out of BWI (Baltimore-Washington) frequently and that is one of the airports that is usually one of the tighter security airports.

 I have told more than one female TSA officer if the pat down got any more intense that she would have to marry me. 

I have been spared any such delays after my mastectomies.  I was surprised that even my tissue expanders (had delayed reconstruction after several years) that came with warning that I might set off alarms, never caused any alarms.

On my way to Florida I stopped in Washington (International) and went through the scanning machine then had the pat down.... but she only patted down the prosthetic side.  So it must show up as something in the scan.  She was finished the prodding before I figured out what she was patting down and muttered to her that it was a fake boob.

In the interest of being fair.... ladies have transported drugs, information, whatever in breast implants.  How easy would it be to replace the silicone in a foob with cocaine.... Sealed as they are they could have no smell.  Could fool the dogs even.  And I dont wanna think of some wacko putting a liquid explosive in the foob....

silicone.  I wasn't aware of any metal beads - in fact, I have to "massage" mine daily, and haven't felt anything at all (kind funny now that I think of it . . . doing a breast exam on my prosthesis!)