Immediately following a mastectomy or lumpectomy you can use a post-surgical garment to promote your healing.  These garments can either be in a bra (as shown on the left) or a camisole (shown below).  The garments are made of soft, cotton materials for comfort.  This front closure style bra makes it easy to dress independently.  The camisole has an elastic neckline to offer a 'step-in' feature.  Both the bra and camisole have pockets in the cup to securely place the breast forms.  The lightweight breast forms also have removable filling to allow for size adjustment.  Removable drain pouches are fastened with Velcro and provide a secure pouch to hold your drain bulb/s.  The garment kits come with one bra or camisole, two breast forms and two drain pouches.  Once your drain/s are removed you can remove the pouches too.  Insurances will typically cover two post-surgery garments, so you have one to wash and one to wear.  They consider the bra and camisole the same type of product, so often times women choose one of each style.  Even if you are planning to have reconstructive surgery after your mastectomy/lumpectomy, this garment can be beneficial.  The adjustable breast forms make it easy to maintain your preferred breast size during the expansion process.
   

When using the post-surgery garments it is very important to wash them daily.  Body oils and perspiration can be absorbed in to the materials on a daily basis.  Keeping your surgery site clean is critical to proper healing.  The bra and camisoles should be hand-washed, or machine washed on delicate, with a gentle laundry detergent and then air dried.  Secure the drain pouches to the garments when washing them.  If the drain pouches are loose in the wash, the Velcro will stick to unwanted parts of the garments.  The breast forms should be washed by hand.  Remove all filling prior to washing.  If the filling is soiled, discard and replace with new filling.  Extra filling can be purchased at a local fabric store.  If the garment gets soiled from your surgery site, we recommend putting a small amount of bleach (color safe if your garment is not white) in with the wash.  [Do not use bleach if you are allergic to it, or your Doctor has advised against it.]
    Many women also find these garments are nice to wear while undergoing radiation treatment b/c the fabric is soft and have minimal to no hooks or straps making it very comfortable.

A mastectomy bra is a bra designed specifically to securely house a breast prosthesis.  This is achieved by pockets sewn directly in the cups of the bra.  Mastectomy bras come in many different styles and colors.  Horizon Prosthetics keeps several different style mastectomy bras and a line of Luisa Luisa camisole/tank style garments in stock.

A breast prosthesis is designed to replace all or part of a breast after a mastectomy, lumpectomy, or other breast surgery or congenital deficiency.  Breast prostheses can either be pre-manufactured or custom made.  Silicone is the most common choice of material for breast prostheses because the texture is very similar to natural breast tissue.  Foam is another material used to make breast prostheses.  Post-surgical and leisure foam prostheses are extremely light weight and are often adjustable.  Other foam styles incorporate a weighted core in the center of the prosthesis.  Full weighted silicone prostheses are typically the heaviest of all the breast prostheses options.  Some prosthesis manufacturers make hybrid style prostheses, which combine two or more materials to satisfy specific needs.  One such hybrid is the Comfort-Lite prosthesis.

Do I really need to wash my prosthesis?
Yes, although you may not think so, your prosthesis does get dirty.  Body oils and perspiration can absorb through the fabric of your pocketed bra and transfer to the skin of your prosthesis.  If the skin is not cleaned on a frequent basis, bacteria can grow and potentially irritate your skin.  The bacteria can also produce a foul smell over time.  This is especially true if you do not use a pocketed bra.

How long should I expect my prosthesis to last?
Believe it or not, your prosthesis does have a lifetime.  Normal wear and tear of the prosthesis occurs and breaks down the product over time.  Most foam prostheses have a lifetime of six months while silicone prostheses have a lifetime of two years.  Manufacturers of the products provide a warranty period in conjunction with the lifetime of the prosthesis.  As long as the prosthesis is being used and cared for according to manufacturer specifications, a defective product will be replaced at no charge.  Most insurance companies provide replacement coverage for prostheses according to the lifetime of the product.  Therefore, most plans provide coverage for foam prostheses every six months and silicone prostheses every two years. 

Why do I need a prescription to receive services?
Prosthetic and orthotic companies are like a pharmacy in that they provide services off of physician prescriptions.  Prosthetics and orthotics are categorized as durable medical equipment and insurance companies require a physician prescribe the specific prosthetic or orthotic device in order to determine medical necessity of the device.  Without a prescription, insurance companies will not provide coverage for the services.  If you do not have insurance or want to pay out of pocket for a prosthetic or orthotic device, Horizon Prosthetics still requires a prescription.  We believe it is important for a physician to prescribe the specific device you need. 

What if my weight changes during the lifetime of my prosthesis and it doesn't fit anymore?
Our bodies are dynamic and insurance companies acknowledge this fact.  If your body undergoes a “physiological change”, such as a weight loss or gain, within the lifetime of your breast prosthesis, insurance companies typically provide coverage for you to receive a new, properly sized prosthesis.  The same goes for bras, which are typically covered every year.  A new prescription is required for the new fitting.  Your physician will need to note the “physiological change” on the prescription.