What Is a Partial Breast Prosthesis? | Peaks and Valleys Health?
Updated: Sep 27
A simple, non-surgical option for restoring balance and symmetry after breast surgery
When you've had a lumpectomy or other breast-conserving surgery, you may still have most of your breast tissue—but the breast may look or feel different afterward.
You may notice that one breast is smaller than the other, there is a visible indentation where tissue was removed, or your bras and clothing no longer fit quite the way they used to.
A partial breast prosthesis may be able to help.
A partial breast prosthesis, sometimes called a breast shaper, balance form, or shell, is designed to add volume exactly where it is needed. Unlike a full breast prosthesis, it doesn't replace the entire breast. Instead, it works with your existing breast tissue to create a more balanced shape.
Who Can Benefit From a Partial Breast Prosthesis?
Partial breast prostheses are most commonly used by women who have experienced changes in breast shape or volume following:
Lumpectomy
Breast-conserving surgery
Partial mastectomy
Radiation therapy
Breast reconstruction
Breast revision surgery
Natural breast asymmetry
Breast-conserving surgery removes the cancer and some surrounding tissue while leaving much of the breast intact. The amount and location of tissue removed can affect the shape and size of the breast afterward.
For some women, the difference may be subtle. For others, losing a relatively small amount of tissue in a particular area can create a noticeable indentation or asymmetry.
A partial breast prosthesis can be used to fill that missing area rather than replacing the entire breast.
How Does a Partial Breast Prosthesis Work?
Think of a partial prosthesis as a carefully shaped insert that works with your own breast.
It can be placed inside a bra to add volume to a specific area. Depending on the style, some partial prostheses can also be worn directly against the skin.
Different shapes are available because breast tissue can be missing from different areas.
For example, a woman may need additional volume:
Along the lower portion of the breast
Toward the side or underarm
In the upper portion of the breast
Throughout part of the breast
In a specific area where tissue was removed
The goal is not necessarily to make the breast larger. The goal is to create balance and a smooth, natural-looking silhouette.
What Does a Partial Breast Prosthesis Look Like?
Partial breast prostheses come in several shapes and sizes. Some are thin and tapered, while others provide more volume in a particular area.
Many are made from soft silicone and have edges designed to gradually blend with the natural breast tissue.
The shape is selected based on where volume is needed and the contours of your individual breast.
This is one reason that a professional fitting can be so helpful. Two women with the same bra size and the same type of surgery may need completely different prostheses.
Can I Wear a Partial Prosthesis With a Regular Bra?
Often, yes.
Many partial breast prostheses are designed to fit inside the cup of a regular bra. Others can be worn in a pocketed mastectomy bra, and some adhesive styles attach directly to the body.
This flexibility can be especially helpful for women who have had a lumpectomy and don't necessarily want to transition to a traditional mastectomy bra.
A properly fitted partial prosthesis can allow you to continue wearing many of the bras and clothing styles you enjoyed before surgery.
What About Asymmetry After Reconstruction?
Partial breast prostheses aren't only for women who have had a lumpectomy.
They can also be useful when there is a difference in breast size or contour following reconstruction or revision surgery.
For example, one breast may have slightly less volume than the other, or the reconstructed breast may have a different shape.
A partial shaper can provide additional volume in the area where it's needed to create a more balanced appearance.
How Do I Know What Size and Shape I Need?
This is where a professional fitting can make a significant difference.
A breast prosthesis should be selected based on more than your bra size. Your fitter will consider:
The location of the tissue loss
The amount of volume needed
The shape and contour of your breast
Surgical changes and scarring
Your bra and clothing preferences
Your comfort
Whether you prefer a pocketed or adhesive option
You may be able to try several different shapes and sizes to determine which one creates the most natural balance.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution.
A Partial Breast Prosthesis Can Be a Simple Solution
You don't necessarily need another surgery to address breast asymmetry after breast cancer treatment.
For many women, a partial breast prosthesis provides a simple, non-surgical way to restore volume where it is missing and create a more balanced appearance under clothing.
And perhaps most importantly, you get to decide what feels right for you.
Some women love the difference a partial prosthesis makes. Others prefer to embrace their natural asymmetry or choose another option. There is no right or wrong choice.
At Peaks and Valleys Health, we can help you explore your options.
At Peaks and Valleys Health, we provide personalized breast prosthesis fittings for women in San Diego after breast cancer surgery, including women who have had lumpectomy, breast-conserving surgery, mastectomy, or reconstruction.
We offer a private, comfortable environment where you can explore different options and find a solution that works for your body, clothing, and your lifestyle. Call us at (760) 642-3033 or book online:
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