Breast prostheses

Benefits

Drawbacks

• Can give you the look of 2 breasts under clothes.
• Avoids the risks of surgery and extending the recovery time, which makes it possible to return to daily activities faster.
• Can be worn with different clothes, including during sports such as swimming.
• Medicare covers part of the cost of new or replacement prostheses.
• Can be replaced if it wears out or is damaged.
• Can be worn while you’re waiting for a reconstruction or during treatment such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
• Can be matched to your breast size to correct weight imbalance.
• Easy to change size (e.g. if the size of your other breast changes).

• You may not like the idea of having an artificial breast.
• You may need to wear a special bra to keep the prosthesis in place.
• Requires special washing and storage.
• You may need to make changes to your clothes or use accessories so the prosthesis stays in place.
• May be uncomfortable at times (e.g. heavy, hot or irritating), especially when playing sport or on hot days.
• You may be concerned the prosthesis will move or fall out.
• You may feel self-conscious when naked and not wearing the prosthesis.
• Needs to be replaced every few years.