Memorial Weekend earmarks the beginning of the summer season. While warmer weather suggests beaches, volleyball, triathlons, jet skis or simply relaxing by the pool, many women have mixed emotions about taking on water activities while wearing a breast prosthesis. Traditional breast prosthetics (typically gel-filled and encased in polyurethane) have a reputation of “floating” due to their buoyant nature in water. Others have complained of the uncomfortable amounts of heat generated by these prostheses causing visibly sweaty areas on their clothing. Summertime is already hot, why add to it by wearing something that doesn’t breathe? Many have simply decided to avoid aquatic situations altogether to prevent potentially embarrassing moments. Frankly, I don’t blame them.
One woman, who I will call Sandy, shared such a story about a vacation in the Florida Keys. Sandy is a survivor of 7 years and has worn her gel-filled prosthesis ever since her left mastectomy. “That was all that was available to me at the time. A gel-filled boob. I was told I could swim with my form and just assumed that was my only option.” Before her diagnosis, Sandy looked forward to summers spent with her four grandchildren playing in the pool. One afternoon, Sandy was doing just that. During a game of Marco-Polo, her youngest grandson had found her 36D prosthesis floating on the other side of the pool. While clearly embarrassed, but unwilling to swim without any prosthesis; she was determined to maintain this special time with her grandchildren. Sandy resolved to find a better breast form.
Every eighty30 breast prosthesis is H2O-friendly and safe to wear in every kind of water: chlorinated, salted, heated or chemically treated. Due to the revolutionary design, the hollow inner chamber fills with water preventing “floaters.” Water will empty from the prosthesis while you leave the pool. As you dry off, simply hug yourself with a towel to further compress the remaining water out of your breast form. Made of a lightweight, sponge-like 100% medical-grade silicone, these breast prosthetics do not have buoyancy issues that are commonly found in industry-standard forms.
“This (eighty30) form was a lifesaver! It is so much lighter than what I have used for the last seven years; I tend to forget it is even there.” Sandy continues, “It’s an amazing daily form, but I really love how comfortable I am in the pool. Before finding this prosthesis, I was worried that I would be spending ‘pool time’ on a beach chair.”
Sadly, Sandy’s story is not an uncommon occurrence. Many women are opting to no longer participate in water activities due to mishaps and potentially embarrassing moments. Eighty30 breast prostheses are an excellent solution to help you take back your summertime!
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There are forms made specifically for swimming, however women typically pay out-of-pocket for this item since their regular ‘daily prosthesis’ was already covered by their insurance. Typically, insurance companies cover a breast prosthesis once every two years (coverage can vary based on plan and specific situations). The eighty30 Classic+ breast prosthesis is CPT-coded L8030 non-custom silicone breast prosthesis covered by most insurance companies including Medicare and Medicaid (varies by state and region).
