Magnetic prosthesis technology available in Fayetteville
Breast cancer survivors face countless challenges through the course
of treatment for their disease. One of those, which has consequences
that are more emotional than physical, is the selection of a breast prosthesis
following a mastectomy. Post-mastectomy patients want a breast form with
the look, fit and comfort of a natural breast.
Following a decade of research and testing, ContourMed, a medical technology
company, began in July 2001 making a revolutionary custom-made prosthesis
that is more lifelike and lighter weight than any other breast form
available. This prosthesis was developed with extensive input from breast
cancer
survivors, who continue to recommend enhancements to the product.
The latest enhancement to this revolutionary product, the ContourMed
Advantage,
features magnetic disk technology to attach the breast form to the
patient’s
chest wall.
L. Daniel Eaton, a board-certified ocularist with the University of
Arkansas for Medical Sciences, specializes in creating lifelike prostheses
for individuals who cannot benefit from reconstructive facial surgery.
He also invented the technology for ContourMed1s custom-fitted, lightweight
breast prosthetics after working with a facial restoration patient who
also was a breast cancer survivor. Eaton1s patient asked why the technology
used for facial prosthetics couldn1t also be used to make more lifelike
breast prosthetics. She explained that the breast forms available at
the time were heavy, hot and uncomfortable.
“Our initial research started with survivors and is really what
makes ContourMed unique. The company continues to listen to these women
for further product developments,” Eaton said. “Now our survivors
have told us they want extra security and more confidence when it comes
to their prosthesis.”
That survivor input led to development of the ContourMed Advantage technology,
which uses a combination of magnets and adhesive to give survivors a
natural and secure breast form that attaches directly to the chest wall.
ContourMed Advantage magnets are nickel-plated for safe, direct skin
contact, and the adhesive discs use 3M hypoallergenic adhesive tape.
The ContourMed Advantage gives women with active lifestyles the security
of a breast form that stays in place, whether they are golfing, jogging
or planting flowers.
Larita Irvin, a retired mail carrier from Texarkana who was diagnosed
with breast cancer in 1994, said the ContourMed Advantage is dramatically
more comfortable than any other prostheses she has tried.
“Heavier products that require a special bra can be very uncomfortable
for women with scar tissue on their chest wall. It’s almost like
wearing a pair of shoes that are too tight,” Irvin said. “You
can wear the ContourMed Advantage all day in complete comfort.”
Irvin says, in addition to the comfort, she likes the confidence of
wearing this prosthesis. “Everyone likes to look nice. I’m
very confident when I wear the ContourMed prosthesis. It doesn1t separate
from your body when you lean forward like many other products do.”
The custom-made, anatomically accurate breast prosthetics are created
using ContourMed’s patented technology, which was developed at the
Arkansas Cancer Research Center at UAMS. Technicians obtain a computer
generated 3-D laser scan of the patient’s intact breast, as well
as the chest wall, to create each custom-fitted prosthesis.
“The ContourMed Advantage magnetic attachment improves comfort
and appearance for mastectomy patients,” said Suzanne Klimberg,
M.D., director of Women’s Oncology and a breast surgeon with UAMS. “The
technology developed at ContourMed is based on many years of research
in an effort to maximize benefits to mastectomy patients. This research
has produced the finest prosthesis available today, one that provides
comfort, function, appearance and well-being to a woman who has experienced
a mastectomy.”
“The scanning technology captures the exact shape, slope and contour
of the intact breast,” said Mimi San Pedro, ContourMed president
and breast cancer survivor. “Because women are custom fitted,
the back of the prosthesis is crafted to reflect every unique detail
of the
chest wall and women are able to wear their bra of choice.”
Each prosthetic is made in the United States and handcrafted by ContourMed
technicians. ContourMed researchers have developed 16 skin tone options
and various nipple designs to help the woman return to her natural look.
Women interested in scheduling an appointment for a custom, 3-D scanning
should call Beautiful Additions at 770-719-9900 and is located at 387
A Fayette Place in Fayetteville. You can also call Renewal at the Winship
Cancer Institute at 404-325-0050 and is located at 1701 Uppergated Drive
in Atlanta.
