Breast prostheses

Breast prostheses (also called breast forms, fake breasts, prosthetic breasts and false breasts) are an external breast implant intended to mimic the look, feel, shape of natural breasts. There are many types, shapes and styles of breast prostheses; some attach directly to the skin and some use special bras to hold the prostheses in place.

Using breast prostheses is common among trans women and AMAB nonbinary people looking to appear more feminine, however this is not limited to just these two groups. Genderfluid people can switch between binding and using breast prostheses depending on how they wish to present on a given day.

Choosing the right breast form

Shape

There are five main shapes of breast form: oval (or teardrop), round, triangle, asymmetrical and a breastplate. There's two main shapes for the back of the forms too - concave (for those who have some breast tissue), and flat (for those without).

Oval/Teardrop

This is marketed as the "classic" breast shape.

Round

Simple, and the easiest shape to aim for if creating your own.

Triangle

Shaped more like a pyramid, these give more outwards.

Asymmetrical

Combine both the oval and triangle shapes.

Breastplate

Also known as a cleavage top, these allow the wearer to wear lower cut outfits. The join around the neck is the more noticeable thing here, but i can be hidden with makeup or chokers.

Material

Foam

Often cheaper and lighter than silicone, although they may not feel as realistic as desired.

Silicone

These can look realistic and are simpler to take care of (see below), and are the most widely available (marked mainly at those who have had a mastectomy)

If you're not buying one, how can you make your own?

• socks?
• crocheting

Air travel and breast prostheses

Packing them in a suitcase

Treat them like you would usually - don't pack them near anything sharp, etc. If you have silicone forms and your prostheses are stored in the luggage hold, you may notice some black dots or bubbles on the prostheses. This is expected, as the luggage hold is not pressurised, and will go away after landing This does not cause any harm to the prostheses.

Going through a body scanner

Your breast forms will show up on a body scanner, if you have been instructed to go through one. You can request a female screener if that would make you more comfortable, and the process of scanning will only take a few seconds. The images are viewed remotely from the machine and cannot be seen by the public. The screener will not see you or be able to recognise you. The images don’t show facial features, hair or skin tone, and are deleted immediately after analysis.

External links

• https://translife.uk/product-category/silicone-breast-forms/
• https://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/information-support/facing-breast-cancer/living-beyond-breast-cancer/your-body/breast-prostheses/prosthesis-styles