Why didn't I do this sooner?

Thank you for posting this !  I need to hear positive.

What are they made of ?  Silicone ?

Tappy,

What might really help you is to go to a mastectomy shop and try on some silicone breast forms. Perhaps there's even a boutique at the hospital where you had your surgery. Also, Nordstrom sells Amoena brand mastectomy products in some of their stores and usually has someone trained in fitting them.

Silicone breast forms are normally worn in bras specially designed with pockets so they're not directly against your skin. Many women find that wearing the silicone against the skin is sticky and not that comfortable, but others don't mind. There are even "contact" breast forms that are designed to adhere to your skin and can be worn inside regular bras. Silicone forms can be easily washed with water and mild soap. 

Silicone forms tend to be expensive, but if you have insurance, that will usually cover breast forms and two or three mastectomy bras every year or two. If you don't have insurance, there are many silicone forms of various prices available online and the prices are usually better than at a retail store.

You might check out my non-profit website, BreastFree.org. I have all sorts of information about breast forms, bras, and generally about adjusting to life breast-free. I also have a Helpful Links sections, which provides links to many online retailers of mastectomy products.

sespebadger,

I've noticed lately that quite a few women use improvised solutions or go flat for a while (or permanently) after surgery. Everyone has to get comfortable with their new situation at their own pace. Your story is a great example of this. Still, I do think it's worth checking out all the options available post-surgery, especially if you have insurance, since silicone breast forms are almost always covered.

I got forms soon after my surgery and I felt it was really helpful to me to realize that I could look like I had before the surgery if I wished, and I liked the lifelike feel of the silicone. In my case, as I adjusted to the new me, I gradually cared less about looking like "before," and more about finding the best, most comfortable options for "now." For me, that's sometimes non-silicone forms, sometimes silicone forms, and occasionally going flat. I hope your post encourages women to explore all their options. Thanks!

Barbara

Hi All:  Well, I have a confession.  I have gone FATT (Flat All The Time) which is now 17 mos, so I have become really comfortable with it and it is now just normal for everyone around me.  In fact when I was out on leave recovering from the MX, I walked into my boss' (senior partner) office, with the announcement that "Just telling you there will be no reconstruction and no prosthesis.  I imagine it may be a little shocking - I expect they will get over it."  There were a couple of weeks for it to sink in before I came back to work.  Nobody has ever said anything other than how good I look - mostly because of a now 50 lb weight loss.  

As part of the process of pursuing removal of The Mutants (center dog ears), I went in to discuss the situation with a fitter who is also a survivor.  The Mutants are prominent enough to create issues with anything with a center seam.  In any case, I had a fitting.  I was falling out of an M cup before BL MX and was a DD in the 8th grade so I have never known or seen myself as "normal".  I was put in an Amoena bra with a size 6 ABC lightweight assymetrical silicone form.  I was wearing the same shirt as in my avatar and I must say it looked amazing.  It was really nice to see what I might have looked like if I had ever been a "normal" size.  At the end of the day, it became clear that I certainly will not be wearing prosthesis until The Mutants are removed as they are indeed an issue.  Whether I change my mind about prosthesis after the surgery and healing will just have to be a wait and see.   I have everyone so "trained" to flat for so long that I think I would feel REALLY self-conscious if I suddenly showed up with foobs.

Barbara 

sespebadger:  Thank you!  I agree that body type, clothing and I would add accessory choices are the keys.  I use the accessories not to hide or cover but to create an illusion or a different focal point.  I have become a huge fan of wide elastic belts like the one in my avatar as they help create the illusion of an hourglass figure. The 50 lb (10 lb of it from the BL MX) weight loss has gone a very long way to create an overall balance.  Being very broad shouldered and having very long legs have also proven to be assets in creating a balanced and pleasing look. I am early 60's so at this age it is easier to forgive a less than perfect figure.  I have been fortunate that my chest is flat but not concave so that too is a plus in continuing to go flat.  Still the foobs looked amazing....

I figure I have months to have the surgery and completely heal before I have to make any decisions.   And even then could get them and they end up in the box on shelf.  Who knows?

Barbara

I hear that insurance often covers the forms - and the insurance companies pay a higher price than retail.  Also, the American Cancer Society can help with the cost of forms, and they have a non-profit website: www.tlcdirect.org which has more reasonably priced options.  It is important to get a professional fitter to recommend the right size/shape/weight at first, but after that there are less expensive ways to go.

I don't know about forms but my local prosthetic place just told me that if I want extra bras above what my insurance plan will pay for, they will sell them to me at the same price the insurance plan pays (which is about $20-$40 cheaper per bra than what the other local stores have them priced at.)

That seemed pretty fair to me.  My insurance company covers forms and bras as "medically needed" but if over $700 per year, you need approval.  That turned out to be a pair of forms - I had a BMX - and 6 bras from my provider.