What to Expect at a Post-Mastectomy Fitting

After having breast surgery, many women struggle with accepting their new body image. Breast forms can help you to feel “whole” again, whether you’ve had a mastectomy or breast conserving surgery.

You are able to see a post-mastectomy fitter about six to eight weeks after breast surgery. If you’ve had a mastectomy, your incision should be healed by then.

If you’ve had breast-conserving surgery, you can benefit from a fitting as well - there are many partial prostheses and specially-fitted bras available which will fill in the missing portion of the breast and provide symmetry.

At the fitting, you will be seen by a certified post-mastectomy fitter. They are trained to fit bras and prostheses, know which products are right for the type of surgery you had, and can handle any special circumstances you may have.

Your fitting will be done in a private, comfortable fitting room. Your fitter will first check the mastectomy site to be sure there isn’t any drainage or open wounds.

She will then take measurements of your chest - around the rib cage and chest wall - to determine the proper bra size. A properly fitting bra is important to ensure a natural fit for the prosthesis.

Once measurements have been taken, your fitter will note the shape and drape of your existing breast and recommend a prosthesis that most closely matches those dimensions. If you have lost both breasts, your fitter will make recommendations based on your body dimensions.

“The breast prostheses that are available today afford patients the optimum outcomes in appearance,” said Nancy Hakala, Director of Women's Care. “There are vast numbers of manufacturers who provide us with the newest technology, shapes and densities of prostheses, which allows us to fit virtually everyone so they have a true reflection of themselves prior to breast surgery.”

Your fitter will place a drape or smock on you and show you in a mirror how the prosthesis looks. Be sure to let your fitter know how you feel - tell her if there is something you’re not happy with or if you’d like to try something different.

A yearly visit to your fitter is recommended, as your body will change over time due to weight and hormonal fluctuations. Regular visits to your fitter will help to maintain symmetry between the natural breast and the prosthesis.

Before you leave your fitting, you will receive instructions on the proper use and care of your prosthesis.