Whether you've had a mastectomy or breast conserving surgery, you might be struggling to regain your confidence and accept your new body image. GDME can help! Our trained fitters work with you to find the right solution for your situation.

What To Expect At A Post-Mastectomy Fitting
About six to eight weeks after breast surgery it will be time to see our trained, post-mastectomy fitter. If you've had a mastectomy you should be able to wear a weighted prosthesis at this time since your incision should be healed. If you experienced breast conserving surgery you will also benefit from a post-mastectomy fitting as there are partial prostheses to help fill in the missing portion of your breast and provide symmetry. Medicare and most private insurance plans have coverage for breast prostheses and bras. If you are in doubt about your coverage, call the number on your insurance card and inquire. Some policies have network provider restrictions to consider that can influence coverage benefits.

Who does the fitting?
Our fitters are trained by manufacturer based education programs to fit bras and prostheses. They are taught which products do best with different surgery types, and how to handle special circumstances.

The Fitting Process
The fitting will be conducted with dignity and privacy.

 • The fitter will first assess the condition of the skin at the
    mastectomy site. There should be no drainage or open wounds
    at the surgery site, or incision. Either of these conditions would
    require permission from your physician before proceeding.

 • The fitter will determine the proper bra size by taking
    measurements at strategic points on the chest wall and around
    the rib cage. The fit of the bra is crucial to how well the
    prosthesis will be tolerated, and how natural the fit will be.
    Mastectomy bras today are pretty and feminine while providing
    the support needed to keep the prosthesis in the correct
    position. Although it is not mandatory to use a mastectomy bra
    with a breast prosthesis, it is recommended.

 • Next is the prosthesis recommendation. The fitter will note the
    shape and drape of the existing breast and try a prosthesis that
    best approximates those dimensions. Prostheses come in
    many shapes such as teardrop, triangle, heart shaped and
    more. Some taper the material into the underarm area to fill in
    missing tissue there. Some prostheses are symmetrical,
    meaning they can be worn on either side, while others are
    asymmetrical and are side specific. For women who have lost
    both breasts, the fitter will make suggestions for prostheses that
    are flattering to the patient's body dimensions.

 • The fitter will place a soft drape or smock on you and show you
    in the mirror how you look with the product chosen. At this point
    you should let the fitter know if you are happy with the results or
    if you want to try another product. It's important to be honest
    about how you feel and look.

 • Yearly visits to our fitter are a good idea. Your body may change
    in response to hormonal and weight fluctuations. The natural
    breast will also change in response to these factors, and a
    different prosthesis may be needed to maintain symmetry.

 • Before leaving, instructions on use and care as well as the
    retailer's return policy will be given to you.