Silicone Breast Prosthesis

Lots of women who’ve had a mastectomy might be told that they could benefit from a silicone breast prosthesis. But what is it? And, more importantly, why do the Boost team say that their products ARE NOT silicone breast prostheses? Well, please read on and all will be explained!

 

What is a silicone breast prosthesis?

 

There are quite a few different types of silicone breast prosthesis, and each have their own variations in shape, style, weight and specifications. Usually, they are made from a silicone gel which is soft and squidgy, encased in a thin polyurethane film. Silicone is comfortable, soft and is hypoallergenic. It is a great material to use for medical products because it is highly stable, and is bio-compatible, meaning it is unlikely to adversely affect your body when you wear it.

 

 

Breast prostheses weren’t always made from silicone though, with versions as early as the 19th Century being created out of natural rubber with pockets of air to provide the shape. These were patented as ‘breast pads’ and evolved into the silicone prostheses that we think of today thanks to 20th Century materials engineering advances that allowed silicone gel to be used effectively in a broader range of products.

So the majority of silicone prosthesis are silicone gel based, having evolved from more solid rubber structures. This is the first key difference with Boost – we DO use high quality, medical grade silicone but not as a gel. Our silicone is soft, strong and molded to provide our unique open structured design.

 

What does ‘Prosthesis’ actually mean?

 

The definition of a prosthesis is an artificial body part, and many of the silicone gel prosthesis fit the bill. They tend to be aligned to skin colours (although it’s tricky to get a perfect match) and some have a nipple type bump or nipple area. While the specifications of these products might vary, they tend to be well weighted, with the assumption that they ‘match’ the approximate weight of a real breast.

For our part, a Boost product was not designed to be an artificial body part, and so technically is not really a prosthesis. This is why we prefer the term ‘breast form’; we create shape and contour under clothing without mimicking a breast.

 

 

So there we are – Boost products do not really fit into the category of silicone breast prosthesis in a technical sense, but we are really happy to be included in the history and evolution of products that have been made to offer shaping options to women after mastectomy surgery. Joining a 200 year old legacy, we are really proud that Boost products might go on to represent a new approach for the future!