This document can also be found on the WWW at: Main Site (English): In French: In German: Breast Form FAQ v4.0 Index --------------------------- ****************************************************************** PART I: Introductions, breast cancer and the breast form industry ****************************************************************** 0. What's new in this version/wish list for future versions 1. Disclaimers 2. Thanks To... 3. Purpose of the FAQ 4. What is a breast form? 5. History A. History of the bra B. History of breast implants C. History of breast forms 6. Information about breast cancer 7. Breast cancer treatment and recovery options 8. Medical purpose for the breast form industry 9. How soon can you be fitted for a prosthesis after breast surgery? 10. How the transgendered community benefits PART II: Materials, Form Types, and Attachable Forms ---------------------------------------------------- 11. Materials used in commercial breast forms (Good points and Bad points) A. Silicone B. Rubber/Latex C. Foam D. Cotton Batting 12. Why choose a weighted or non-weighted form? 13. Types of forms A. Symmetrical 1. Triangle (tri-corner) 2. Teardrop 3. Heart shape B. Asymmetrical 1. Curved teardrop 2. Extended triangle C. Other types of breast forms and accessories 1. Custom breast forms 2. Attachable forms 3. Thin shell breast forms 4. Attachable nipples 14. More details about Custom breast forms A. Why choose a custom form? B. General process of creating a custom form C. Known custom breast form manufacturers 15. More details about attachable breast forms A. What are the parts of an attachable form? B. What are the advantages of this type of form? C. How are they attached to the chest? (step by step) 1. Shaving the chest area 2. Preparing the skin 3. Marking the position for the supports 4. Attaching the support 5. Attaching the form to the support 6. Detaching the form from the skin support 7. Detaching the support from the chest wall D. Tips for attachable forms E. Amoena Luxa breast forms F. If your breast form is non-attachable... PART III: Bras and Forms - How to fit them, get them and keep them ------------------------------------------------------------------ 16. Can people tell if you are wearing a breast form? 17. Do I need a special bra to wear a breast form? 18. A properly fitted bra... 19. How to measure for a bra A. Before you begin B. Traditional measurement method C. The usual bra measuring system may not work D. Notes 20. Bra band sizing conversion charts from around the world 21. Common bra fitting problems and possible solutions 22. Reasons why it may be difficult to receive a professional fitting. ***EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS*** 23. Form fitting tips 24. Taking care of your breast forms 25. Breast forms and hot weather 26. How long can I expect my breast forms to last? 27. When your breast form approaches retirement A. Donating your old breast forms B. Repairing a damaged form PART IV: Appendix A & B - Manufacturers and Retailers ------------------------------------------------------ Appendix A: Manufacturers of commercial breast forms Appendix B: Retailers and suppliers of breast forms PART V: Appendix C - How to make your own forms ------------------------------------------------ A. Making your own forms B. Special considerations when creating your own breast form C. Form 1: Grain and nylons D. Form 2: Rubber fishing worms and balloons E. Miscellaneous "make your own form" directions ============================================================================= 0. What's new in version 4.0 ----------------------------------------------------------- This is the biggest update I have ever done to the FAQ since I first created it back in 1996. There are several BIG new or re-vamped topics, quite a few new miscellaneous questions, a web site re-design, and the retailer listing alone is almost triple its former size. I would like to do a few more things soon, such as add more images of breast forms and the attachment process, describe the Luxa Contact breast form in greater detail, and make a section on breast form placement. Enjoy! 1. Disclaimers --------------- * I have absolutely no interest in the companies mentioned except as a consumer. * I am not a physician nor do I have any medical training. I am transgendered and am only an interested customer. I have tried to get as much input from as many sources as possible to make this FAQ usable by all who may want to find out more about breast forms. But I come to the topic from a certain point of view and there may still be some biases that reflect that. * All information listed about the breast form manufacturers and products is not guaranteed to be fact. The reader is urged to verify for themselves any information in these documents. * Where mentioned, all prices are US dollars (unless otherwise stated.) * This document is not copyrighted and may be distributed freely in its entirety only. However, if you wish to reprint or translate the FAQ elsewhere, you must contact the author (bformfaq at blooberry.com) first and cite the source. * No profit shall be made from the distribution of the FAQ in whole or in part. * Shop for, and wear breast forms at your own risk and/or enjoyment. * Although some of the information here may relate to medical topics and issues, no part of this FAQ should be considered to be "medical advice", and is not intended to replace the advice and recommendation of a physician. 2. Thanks To... ---------------- * Amanda: For buying breast forms after reading this document. In so doing she was able to add some wonderful and invaluable information. * Carla: For having bought breast forms before, and being patient while I bombarded her with questions on how to do it right. * Chris: Fitter extraordinaire. * The many anonymous readers who have sent in additions, comments, even entire sections for use in this FAQ (and you all know who you are! =) * Special thanks go out to the anonymous authors of sections 13, 14, 15, 17 and all of Appendix C! * Mom: For being mom, as well as being so supportive of me. It also helped that she is a survivor of breast cancer... * The Academy: Just because. =) 3. Purpose of the FAQ ---------------------- The purpose of this FAQ was originally to provide information about all aspects of breast forms for folks in the Transgendered community who might not otherwise have ready access to this sort of information. People have told me since that this is also a good introductory resource as well for women who are seeking information about breast prostheses after surviving breast cancer. Currently, most of the details in this document relate to complete forms for those without any current breast tissue. Much of the document also centers on silicone breast forms, since that is the primary material used in commercial forms, but information about other types of forms (breast enhancers, thin-shell forms and pads) can also be found here as well. 4. What is a breast form? -------------------------- A breast form is a prosthesis worn either inside a bra or attached to the body to simulate the weight, bounce, feel, movement, and especially shape of the natural female breast. Depending on the material or shape used, these qualities can be achieved to different degrees. More expensive modern breast forms are designed by computers and can even be attached to the chest. They can be worn with strapless dresses and lingerie, while bathing, sleeping or even during strenuous activity. And expensive breast forms can be...they can run anywhere from 5$ for an unweighted foam or fiber-filled "falsie", to several hundred dollars for a premium off-the-shelf weighted silicone form to several *thousand* dollars for the better individually designed, created and fitted custom prostheses. As one retailer put it to me: "...you can pick up a cell phone for less than a hundred dollars and they have a LOT of technology invested in them. Then a bag of silicone goes for an average of $250??? Something is amiss!" Possibly. 5. History ----------- A. History of the bra: 2500 BC Minoan women on the island of Crete wear bra-like garments that lift the bare breast out of their clothing. ~450BC- Roman and Greek women choose restraint instead for their fashions 285AD - using a band strapped around their breasts to reduce their bust size. 1550s AD Catherine de Médicis, wife of King Henri II of France enforces ban on "thick waists" at court functions through the introduction of the steel corset. The corset becomes the dominant undergarment (in various designs) of support and restraint for the next 350 years. 1850s US patents registered for first known bra-like devices. 1850s Corsets fall out of style for about 10 years. 1860s Corsets come back in fashion with a vengeance. Severe corset "training" is common which reduces waists to such unhealthy levels that ribs and internal organs become deformed. Controversy over corseting health risks ensues. 1875 Designer Susan Taylor Converse creates a no-bones/eyelets/laces/ pulleys garment called the "Union Under-Flannel", made from wool fabrics. Manufacturers George Frost and George Phelps patent it.[1] 1889 Corset-maker Herminie Cadolle invents a bra-like garment called "Bien-être" ('Well-Being'.) Resembling a "Victorian bikini", its main differentiating feature from regular corsets is that the breasts are supported by the shoulders rather than squeezed up from below with traditional corset designs. Although marketed as a health aid beginning in 1889 in a Paris department store ad, the item does not gain widespread notice. 1893 Marie Tucek patents the "Breast Supporter". The garment includes separate pockets for each breast, shoulder straps, and hook-and-eye closures, making it the earliest known design to be similar to modern-day bras. 1907 Vogue magazine first uses the term "brassiere", which comes from the old French word for 'upper arm'. Before this, bra-like devices were known by another French term "soutien-gorge" (literally, "throat support" or "breast support".) 1912 The term "brassiere" first appears in the Oxford English Dictionary. 1913 Dissatisfied with the idea of having to wear a heavy corset underneath a new sheer evening gown she just bought for a social event, socialite Mary Phelps Jacob improvises a garment from two silk handkerchiefs and some ribbon. 1914 After considerable interest from friends, Mary Phelps Jacob applies for a patent (under the business name "Caresse Crosby") on November 3 for her "Backless Brassiere" design, which is basically the same garment that she previously improvised. This "brassiere" was very lightweight, soft, and separated the breasts naturally. Unlike Marie Tucek's 1893 design, Jacob's garment did not have cups to support the breasts, but flattened them instead. Jacob markets the "Backless Brassiere" garment until she tires of the business and sells the patent to Warner Brothers Corset Company in Bridgeport, Connecticut, for $1,500. Warner's reportedly made over 15 million dollars over the next 30 years from the patent. 1914-18 World War I forces women into the work-force. Many women begin working in factories and wearing uniforms, making the use of daily corset wear a problem. 1917 The U.S. War Industries Board requests women to stop buying corsets to reduce the consumption of metal. Sources say up to 28,000 tons of metal was conserved through this effort - "enough to build two battleships." 1920s Warner introduces a tight, chest-flattening bra, in keeping with the Flapper styles of the day. 1928 Ida Rosenthal, a Russian immigrant, and her husband William found Maidenform. Ida is responsible for the creation of bust size categories (cup sizes) and developed bras for every stage of life - puberty to maturity. 1930s The shortened form of the word "brassiere" - the "bra" becomes popular. 1930s Warner produces the first popular all-elastic bra, which shows off a woman's curves. 1935 Warner's creates the cup sizing system (A to D), which becomes the system commonly used by all manufacturers throughout the world. 1941-45 Common fabric materials (cotton, rubber, silk and steel) are in short supply, so manufacturers turn to synthetic fabrics. 1946 The first bikini swimwear is introduced in Paris. Sources: - http://www.inventions.org/culture/female/jacob.html - http://inventors.about.com/education/inventors/library/weekly/aa042597.htm - http://www.louisville.edu/~jagree02/brahistory.htm - http://www.discovery.com/stories/deadinventors/dead980910/deadinventors.html - http://www.shh-lingerie.com/Store/ [1 - Discrepancy about 1875 events/names] B. History of the breast implants: (This topic seems relevant because the development of silicone for internal breast augmentation may very well have influenced the development of silicone for external breast prostheses. Also, the perceived health risks associated with breast implants have persuaded many to choose a non-invasive solution after breast cancer. If I sound like I am trying to make the history of breast implants a cautionary one, you are correct. Although many who have had implants are satisfied, too many have paid the price for the lack of proper research by the industry into the long term effects. See http://www.siliconeholocaust.org/.) Late 1890s First breast augmentations are attempted with Paraffin. Many complications are reported with this method. Later reported attempts utilize ivory or glass balls and other substances. Late 1940s Japanese prostitutes, apparently desiring to appear "more attractive to American GIs" (read: bigger breasts), have industrial silicone liquid injected into their breasts. In this process, the silicone can eventually migrate to other parts of the body and cause many health problems, including death. Even so, the procedure becomes increasingly popular and spreads to the United States (some reports state the procedure developed in parallel in the US in many places around this time.) Thousands have the procedure done, including actresses and others in the entertainment industry before the practice is banned. 1962 Silicone breast implants, consisting of a silicone envelope filled with silicone gel are "tested" on a thirty-year-old mother of six at a Texas charity hospital. 1960s- Breast implants remain relatively rare because the implants often Early 70s feel hard and unrealistic - due to the scar tissue around the implant hardening. 1970s New silicone implants produced which are more "lifelike", but have a tendency to break easier. Once broken, total removal is difficult or impossible. 1970s Polyurethane foam covering for implants becomes popular to prevent capsular contracture. The foam begins to disintegrate in the body almost immediately, making it difficult to remove and causing other complications. 1976 Breast implants approved for use in the USA on the basis that they had been on the market prior to implementation of FDA regulations begun in this year. 1990s Use of saline as implant filler replaces silicone gel, especially after 1992. Saline appears to suffer less capsular contracture than silicone with fewer of the health concerns. 1992 FDA declares moratorium on silicone gel implants due to mounting health concerns (although the FDA committee could find no direct evidence that many of the reported illnesses were because of implants.) Sources: - http://ej.rsna.org/ej3/0112-99.fin/body/introduction-long.htm - http://www.exn.ca/Stories/1999/10/13/52.asp - http://199.45.69.176/tony/Blais/006.html - http://www.silicone-review.gov.uk/history/ C. History of breast forms "Falsies" have probably been around in one form or another for many centuries, but it has only been in the last few decades that a large industry has blossomed around simulation or enhancement of breast tissue. I haven't been able to find a whole lot of information on the history of breast forms either on the web or by contacting breast form manufacturers and other companies directly, so this section will have to be a little different. I can provide some anecdotal information that I've found in my searches so far, but it is sketchy at best. As I learn more I will update this section accordingly. 1700 Canadian doctor Michel Sarrazin performs first known Canadian mastectomy [1] 1889 US Patent for "Bosom Form" Patent 401028, April 9, 1889 by J. W. Greene - a breast growth device that could double as a prosthesis. [2] Early 1900s "In the early 1900s, when the mastectomy was first performed, there were no breast prostheses available. Women either did without a prosthesis or made their own out of available materials." [3] 1940 Time capsule from 1940 - includes "1 Lady's Breast Form" [4] Late 1960s Airway introduces "Companion" - the first external silicone prosthesis. 1992 Amoena Affinity/Discrene attachable form systems introduced 1998 Amoena Luxa Contact attachable form system introduced Sources: [1] This item implies that mastectomies HAD been performed ELSEWHERE prior to 1700 - this also directly contradicts information found in [3] I will try to get this discrepancy clarified. http://www.canadapost.ca/personal/corporate/about/newsroom/pr/ archive-e.asp?prid=183 [2] http://www.suctioncupmuseum.com/html/patents.html [3] http://www.thebreastcaresite.com/eendcom/USAmoena/Homepage.nsf/ 00000000000000000000000000000000/79a830ded462c9a905256ac20004dc22 ?OpenDocument [4] http://www.oglethorpe.edu/itcs/inventory.htm Company Histories ----------------- First Country of Company Created Prosthesis Manufacture --------------------------------------------------------------------- Airway(SAI) 1893 ~1964 Germany Amoena (Coloplast) 1957 1975 Denmark Camp(Trulife) 1908 "over 30 years" Ireland Classique 1976 1976 Germany Expressions(Otto Bock) 1919 ?? ?? Freeman 1891 1990 USA Jodee 1971 1971 Germany Natural Profile Corp. 1986 1995 USA Nearly Me 1976 1976 USA Saville 1300 1991 1993 USA/Brazil 6. Information about breast cancer ----------------------------------- No discussion of breast forms would be complete without mention of the reason they exist - breast cancer. This year alone, over 180,000 women will be diagnosed with some form of breast cancer (of that number over 45,000 will die because of the disease.) Men can develop breast cancer as well. I can not hope to do this topic the justice it deserves, but there are many places where one can find out more about the critical fight against breast cancer: - The American Cancer Society [1-800-ACS-2345, http://www.cancer.org/] This is a wonderful organization in general dedicated to eliminating cancer in all its forms. Reach To Recovery is the branch of this organization dedicated to helping those affected by breast cancer. - The Breast Cancer Compendium [http://www.microweb.com/clg/index.html] - The Breast Cancer Information Clearinghouse [http://nysernet.org/bcic/] - Breast Cancer Bookstore [http://www.wellnessbooks.com/breastcancer/] - About Breast Cancer [http://www.laparoscopy.com/pleatman/breast.htm] - Breast Cancer in Men [http://interact.withus.com/interact/mbc/] - Male Breast Cancer [http://region4.tricare.osd.mil/breast_health/Malecancer.html] 7. Breast cancer treatment and recovery options ------------------------------------------------ Traditional treatments for breast cancer often involve chemotherapy, radiation or hormonal therapy to halt the spread of the cancer, coupled with a removal of the affected tissue areas. The old traditional removal method is called a "radical mastectomy" or "modified radical mastectomy," and involves removal of the entire affected breast, the lymph nodes under the arm, and sometimes the lining over the chest muscles as well. In recent years, new techniques have been used in which it is not necessary to remove the entire breast (called a lumpectomy or partial mastectomy.) Following a mastectomy, there are several options available to a woman; she can live without a breast, have breast reconstruction surgery, or she can wear a prosthesis. Choosing which alternative(s) is best is really up to you and how you feel. Please note that these are not the ONLY options, just some of the more common ones - you should always consult with your doctor about treatment options. Questions about the details and ramifications of breast reconstruction and living with a single breast are addressed by the resources listed in question 5 with more sensitivity and thoroughness than I could ever hope to offer here and I recommend these resources highly. 8. The medical purpose of the breast form industry --------------------------------------------------- While I haven't seen specific figures for the numbers of breast mastectomies and reconstructions in any particular year, various statistics DO show that about 1.2 million people in the world are diagnosed with breast cancer each year (about 200,000 in the US alone), and that 1 in 9 women will have breast cancer in their lifetime. Even if you allow for mortality rates among this group from the cancer, mortality rates among other survivors, and the fact that not all breast cancer diagnoses result in mastectomies, lumpectomies, or other breast surgeries, there are still probably somewhere around 500,000- 1,000,000 new women in need of some form of breast enhancement device each year. The commercial breast form industry fills this need of supplying prosthetics for breast cancer survivors. A breast prosthesis can help to restore physical symmetry and peace of mind following the devastating effects that breast cancer can bring. The breast form industry produces a wide variety of prosthetics and accessories for an unfortunately large market. The range of products available to create or restore visual and physical symmetry between the affected breast area and the non-affected area is truly amazing. Statistics sites found: (which reference other sources) - http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/statistics.asp - http://www.lingerie-direct.com/surgical/facts.htm 9. How soon can you be fitted for a prosthesis after breast surgery? --------------------------------------------------------------------- The site of your surgery should be sufficiently healed before you are fitted for a permanent, weighted prosthesis. Your physician will let you know when the correct time is. It may be as soon as 4-8 weeks after surgery, but everyone's healing process is unique. Aside from allowing time for the surgery site to heal, the effects of radiation treatment may leave the surgery area too sensitive for the constant minor movements a breast form in a bra can produce. Waiting for the proper time also allows for post-surgery swelling to recede, which could hamper a proper breast form fitting as well. 10. How the transgendered community benefits --------------------------------------------- Prices for high quality breast forms can be very expensive. Most medical insurance plans allow for at least partial reimbursement for the purchase of breast forms and post-mastectomy bras each year (section 6109A of a 1974 Medicare ruling.) This sort of coverage is limited to genetic women who have had breast surgery, and the Transgendered community cannot reduce the high costs for prostheses in this manner. The TG community _can_ benefit from all of the work by the industry to develop materials and form shapes that resemble the natural female breast as closely as possible. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please send any comments, ideas or corrections to bformfaq at blooberry.com