Overview of Breast Prosthesis
Wednesday February 10, 2010
After having a lumpectomy or mastectomy as a treatment for breast cancer, breast prostheses can be used to maintain the appearance of symmetry. These types of prosthesis are completely different than those used for breast augmentation.
Breast prostheses have enjoyed all the advances of other kinds of prostheses including better materials and more lifelike appearance and color. There are several types of breast prosthesis, not to mention different colors to match skin tone, and sizes.
Silicon breast prostheses is the closest we have to imitating a real breast in weight and shape. A well fitted breast prosthesis will mimic the remaining breast as closely as possible.
The prostheses are made so that they are light enough for so are ideal for physically active women.
A partial breast prosthesis is used if the patient has had a quandrantectomy or lumpectomy. These procedures leave as much healthy tissue as possible and only a partial prosthesis is needed. These are fitted to match the size and shape of the remaining breast as closely as possible.
Contact breast prostheses are for those women who don’t want to wear a mastectomy bra or have a full prosthetic. They attach to the body using a medical skin adhesive which allows for the breast to be removed when not needed. These will also be fitted in full or partial breast sizes to match the remaining real breast.
Prosthetic nipples can be made when a breast reconstruction has been performed These are attached using either suction or medical skin adhesive.
All these solutions will have to be considered against the particular case to decide which is most appropriate. Doctors will always strive to keep as much healthy tissue as possible in any procedure, which may necessitate a partial breast or a prosthetic nipple.
It isn’t the physical effects that these devices are designed to assuage. It’s the psychological ones. The loss of any body part brings with it significant mental trauma and often results in problems like depression and low self esteem. A prosthesis allows a woman to look whole, but more importantly, to feel whole.
The field of prosthetics is a fascinating and ever evolving field of medicine. Not only the mechanics of making the prostheses themselves, but also studying the effects they have on the psychology of the patient.
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Breast prostheses have enjoyed all the advances of other kinds of prostheses including better materials and more lifelike appearance and color. There are several types of breast prosthesis, not to mention different colors to match skin tone, and sizes.
Silicon breast prostheses is the closest we have to imitating a real breast in weight and shape. A well fitted breast prosthesis will mimic the remaining breast as closely as possible.
The prostheses are made so that they are light enough for so are ideal for physically active women.
A partial breast prosthesis is used if the patient has had a quandrantectomy or lumpectomy. These procedures leave as much healthy tissue as possible and only a partial prosthesis is needed. These are fitted to match the size and shape of the remaining breast as closely as possible.
Contact breast prostheses are for those women who don’t want to wear a mastectomy bra or have a full prosthetic. They attach to the body using a medical skin adhesive which allows for the breast to be removed when not needed. These will also be fitted in full or partial breast sizes to match the remaining real breast.
Prosthetic nipples can be made when a breast reconstruction has been performed These are attached using either suction or medical skin adhesive.
All these solutions will have to be considered against the particular case to decide which is most appropriate. Doctors will always strive to keep as much healthy tissue as possible in any procedure, which may necessitate a partial breast or a prosthetic nipple.
It isn’t the physical effects that these devices are designed to assuage. It’s the psychological ones. The loss of any body part brings with it significant mental trauma and often results in problems like depression and low self esteem. A prosthesis allows a woman to look whole, but more importantly, to feel whole.
The field of prosthetics is a fascinating and ever evolving field of medicine. Not only the mechanics of making the prostheses themselves, but also studying the effects they have on the psychology of the patient.