Before custom breast prosthesis came about, women could only choose from the off-the-shelf breast prosthesis. Still considerably modern are the silicone prosthesis available in the market. But did you know before that, one would have to consider using foam fillers or fiberfill prosthesis. Custom prosthesis using 3D scanning technology creates a result that is as close to natural as possible.
We’ve discussed extensively the benefits and purpose of a custom breast prosthesis over the commercially available general prosthesis. Now the information below is to prepare you further for the 3D scanning procedure that is to be done by professional mastectomy fitters.
To give you an idea, 3D scanning is a non-invasive process that captures detailed information about an object – in this case, the woman's chest area – to create a digital model. It employs lasers or structured light to record the geometry and sometimes color of the subject. This data can then be processed to construct a three-dimensional, digital representation of the original object. 3D Scanning is not exactly a new technology. It has been around for sometime but improvement of this technology has allowed applications other than rigid or immobile surfaces. In this case, the field of prosthetics has greatly utilized 3D-scanning for creating the most functional yet comfortable prosthesis.
In the context of post-mastectomy custom breast prosthesis creation, 3D scanning ensures an extremely precise fit. How accurate is the precision? It can be as accurate as less than a millimeter.
The first step in this process is to scan the woman's chest area. This includes the remaining breast, if there's one, and the area where the other breast was, prior to mastectomy. The digital model created from the scan data is then used to sculpt a perfectly matching prosthesis. You can expect the level of detail achievable to be astounding, with individual skin textures and nuances in shape accurately represented. Older versions of this technology would only have factored in measurements and general sizing.
Furthermore, the 3D scanning process can be repeated over time to account for changes in the woman's body, such as weight gain, weight loss, or aging. This adaptability makes the prosthesis more personalized and long-lasting, giving women a sense of control over their bodies post-surgery. This is an important update on prosthetics because back then one would have to create a mold which is tedious and time consuming. So now with 3D scanning all it takes is a few minutes compared to the several visits you would need to do before just to get the right sizing.
Some may think that getting as natural as possible in the overall look of the prosthesis is just a matter of physical appearance. More than just having it look natural is how it impacts the psychological and emotional state of the individual opting for custom breast prosthesis. Technology will continue to improve over time almost to a point where you can regularly change prosthesis due to easy production and replication.
At our own store, we do our custom scan using an ipad with a special scanner that creates the accurate 3D image. We also take several photos for our designer, who then uses in his design software to create the prosthesis. Scheduling a custom fitting can easily be done by sending us an email or filling up our schedule form page in the link above.
The whole 3D scanning technology for crafting personalized post-mastectomy breast prosthetics is nothing short of revolutionary. It's changing the game for women as they heal and find their way forward after breast cancer surgeries. Imagine having the chance to reclaim your body with a prosthesis made just for you – it fits like a dream and looks incredibly real. Of course, like with any new tech, we've still got a few kinks to iron out. But you know what? The future's looking bright. The folks in the medical community are pulling out all the stops to make sure more women can access these life-changing advancements.