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Prosthetic mammary glands
Last reviewed: 19.11.2021
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Surgical treatment of a malignant breast tumor is often performed by mastectomy - an operation in which the complete removal of the breast is performed. In this case, there is a need to hide the emerging external defect - the absence of one or both breasts in women. For this purpose, prosthetic mammary glands are used.
[What are mammary dentures?
If reconstruction of the removed mammary gland is possible, a permanent silicone internal prosthesis (an endoprosthesis) can be placed under the skin or muscle tissue in place of the absent gland. But this is the sphere of plastic surgery, and operations of such a profile can not be carried out by all patients who have lost their breasts (and their cost is quite high).
Most often, a reasonable alternative is used - removable prosthetic mammary glands (exoprosthesis), which quite plausibly create an external appearance of the presence of the breast.
The silicone breast prosthesis imitates it using a medical silicone gel placed in a strong polyurethane shell, which can be oval, round, teardrop, cordate, or triangular. Moreover, such breast prosthesis of the breast is dense enough to touch and at the same time mobile, after putting on quickly he warms up to body temperature (which creates a more comfortable feeling). In terms of its weight, the prosthesis compensates for the missing gland, which, according to the doctors, promotes a uniform load on the shoulders and spine and prevents the occurrence of muscle overstrain and incorrect posture.
Breast prostheses are symmetric, asymmetric and sectoral. The need for an asymmetric prosthesis occurs with the radical removal of one breast affecting the tissues of the chest and the area of the armpit. And if you remove a part of the organ (sectoral resection), you can make up for the removed part of the breast with a sectoral prosthesis, which is a silicone-made patch.
It should be borne in mind that in the first two to three months after surgery requires a primary or lightweight breast prosthesis, which is made of textiles filled with light fibrous materials. In addition, such prostheses are recommended if the breast size is large and when the mastectomy is accompanied by stagnation of lymph and edema.
The size of breast prostheses can be correctly determined by measuring the chest girth under the mammary glands and the chest girth at the level of the nipples. The first result is the size of the bra that you need, and the size of its cup and the prosthesis itself is: chest girth at the nipple level minus the breast circumference under the mammary glands. If this difference is 10-12 cm, the size of the prosthesis will be indicated by AA; 12-14 cm - A; 14-16 cm - In; 16-18 cm - C; 18-20 cm - D; 20-22 cm - E; 22-24 cm - F; 24-26 cm-G; 26-28 cm - H. The last two sizes (G and H) are not produced by all manufacturers, and some designate the size of E as DD, and the size of F - as DDD.
Linen for breast prostheses
How to wear mammary dentures? To fix and wear the exoprosthesis, special underwear is produced for breast prostheses.
The main thing is to choose a bra for a breast prosthesis correctly: that he does not move under the chest and back, but tightly encircles the thorax, but in no case squeezes it (leaving red marks on the skin). It is better to choose models of bras on wide straps. And the correct definition of the right size has already been said above.
The difference between orthopedic bras from ordinary consists in the presence of "pockets", in which the silicone simulator of the breast, and the denser sides of the bodice will be broken.
Manufacturers produce all sizes of bras for a breast prosthesis of different styles and colors, but all of them completely cover the chest (including in the "low neck" zone). First and foremost, it is important that such a bra is held in place and supported by breast simulators in a natural position.
In the corresponding shops, salons are also sold bathing suits (bikini and solid) for women who are forced to wear mammary dentures.
The prosthesis should be washed periodically, and it is best to use a toilet soap that you use yourself (no more active detergents can be used). To rub, squeeze or shake dentures is also not necessary: just wipe them with a towel. And to store the prosthesis removed before bed, the package is intended, in which the prosthesis was purchased, or another suitable clean container.
Where can I buy breast prostheses?
Prostheses of mammary glands of various manufacturers, as well as underwear for breast prostheses can be found in orthopedic stores-shops, which are in all regional centers and many large cities of Ukraine. In any case, Anita care prosthetics (Anita Dr. Helbig GmbH, Germany) and bras of the same firm are sold in this way.
Specialists in the field of oncological mammology can also recommend breast prostheses of such manufacturers as:
- Pofam-Poznan (Poland) - Maxima prostheses;
- Amoena (Germany) - dentures Amoena;
- Thuasne Deutschland GmbH (Germany) - Silima exoprosthesis;
- Ottobock GmbH (Germany) - breast prostheses Comfort Contura.
In several cities there are representations of the Kiev ORPRC Ortes and the Kharkov enterprise Orthopomosh, where you can apply to purchase breast prostheses of the domestic manufacturer.