FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Since Bosom Buddy® is so unique, women often have questions. These same questions and answers may help you.

Click on the question and we will take you directly to the answer, or simply scroll down to browse through all the questions and answers.

How is Bosom Buddy different from other breast forms?
How is Bosom Buddy weighted?
What is the difference between the teardrop and round styles?
Does Bosom Buddy need to be worn in a pocketed mastectomy bra?
Does Bosom Buddy have a special cover?
How do I determine what size Bosom Buddy to order?
If the breast form doesn’t fit quite right, what should I do?
Does Bosom Buddy work for women with lumpectomies or partial mastectomies?
Can the Bosom Buddy be laundered?
Can I swim in the Bosom Buddy?
Does Bosom Buddy need to be stored in a special box?
How is the breast form shipped?
Is there any mention on the outside packaging that a prosthesis is inside the box?
Do you ship breast forms to countries outside the United States?
Is Bosom Buddy covered by insurance?
Do you give my name to other companies?
If I don’t like Bosom Buddy, can I return it?
Is there a guarantee?
How long will Bosom Buddy last?

How is Bosom Buddy different from other breast forms?

Bosom Buddy is unique because it is all fabric, with no silicone, plastic or rubber used in its construction. It is also weight-adjustable, so you can increase or decrease its weight slightly, without changing the size breast form you wear.

How is Bosom Buddy weighted?

Each Bosom Buddy contains "weighted pillows", which are soft and round, similar in size to a small pancake. These 3" diameter pillows are filled with tiny, smooth glass beads, about the size of a pin head, which are encased in polyester fiberfill, then covered with nylon tricot. The pillows fit in the palm of your hand and easily slip into the breast form through a Velcro-like opening at the end of the form. A different number of pillows fills each breast form, depending on the size. By adding or removing a pillow, you can change slightly the fullness and weight of the Bosom Buddy, but not its overall size.

What is the difference between the teardrop and round styles?

Our teardrop Bosom Buddy is designed to help women with more radical surgeries. It will fill the bra cup and extend one to two inches outside the cup. It can be worn horizontally, vertically or diagonally to add fullness where tissue has been removed. The teardrop style is particularly helpful if you have a hollow area in the underarm or above the missing breast. Our round style is one to two inches shorter in length than the teardrop and fits snugly inside the bra cup, without extending outside the cup. It usually works well for women with modified radical mastectomies.

Does Bosom Buddy need to be worn in a pocketed mastectomy bra?

Since Bosom Buddy has soft, soothing 100% cotton jersey on the back of the form, it hugs the body and generally stays in place without a pocketed bra. We suggest you have a good-fitting bra that holds you snugly in place and provides good support in the underarm band and straps. See our tips for finding the correct brassiere.

Does Bosom Buddy have a special cover?

Bosom Buddy does not need a cover, since there is no silicone or rubber in the form which would irritate sensitive skin. The silky and feminine nylon tricot on the front of the form, which is edged with soft cotton lace, combined with soothing cotton jersey on the back, make Bosom Buddy comfortable to wear without a cover.

How do I determine what size Bosom Buddy to order?

All surgeries are different, but our fitting guide gives you a good place to start in determining which size Bosom Buddy to order. Find your bra and cup size on the guide, then look to the right to determine which size Bosom Buddy is recommended for that bra and cup size. For example, if you wear a size 36B bra, you’d probably wear a size B2 Bosom Buddy. Someone wearing a 42C bra would use our size D Bosom Buddy.

If the breast form doesn’t fit quite right, what should I do?

If the breast form seems too large, remove one or more of the weighted pillows, gently massage the remaining pillows into place in the breast form, and try it on again. If it’s still too full, or just too large all the way around, you may need a smaller size. If it’s not large enough, you may need to add a pillow or two, or get a larger size. If the shape seems wrong, and you’d prefer the teardrop or round style instead of what you purchased, you are welcome to exchange the breast form for another size or style. We encourage our customers to call our toll-free number, 1-800-262-2789, with fitting concerns. We have helped thousands of women over the phone, and we can probably determine just what is needed through a quick call.

Does Bosom Buddy work for women with lumpectomies or partial mastectomies?

Many women are successfully wearing Bosom Buddy after partial breast removal. We suggest you get one to two sizes smaller than you would normally order from our fitting guide. You can then remove a pillow or two, and "cup" the breast form over the breast tissue to match the fullness of the remaining breast. Your best bet may be to call us and discuss your surgery, so we can recommend the size which will work best for you.

Can the Bosom Buddy be laundered?

Bosom Buddy is easily laundered by treating it as you would your fine lingerie. Remove the pillows from inside the form, then hand wash the breast form and let it air dry. The pillows don’t need to be laundered as often as the breast form, since they are not exposed to the skin. After the Bosom Buddy dries, usually overnight, slip the pillows back inside, and it’s ready to wear. Many of our customers like to have a "spare" Bosom Buddy to wear while one is in the wash.

Can I swim in the Bosom Buddy?

Bosom Buddy wasn’t designed for swimming, but many women swim in it successfully. After your swim, remove the pillows and rinse the breast form and pillows thoroughly to remove the chlorine or salt water, and dry separately. Reinsert the pillows when dry. Remember, since Bosom Buddy is a fabric breast form, it will absorb water while you swim, and you won’t be able to wear it home in your regular clothing.

Does Bosom Buddy need to be stored in a special box?

One of the many beauties of Bosom Buddy is its convenience. You don’t need a big, bulky box to store the form, as you do with silicone prostheses. Just slip Bosom Buddy into your lingerie drawer when you take it off, or into your suitcase when you travel.

How is the breast form shipped?

We ship our packages by U.S. Postal Service, usually priority or first class mail. They arrive from your mail carrier within two to four days. We are happy to ship United Parcel Service, if you prefer. We can also ship overnight or second day delivery, with an additional charge.

Is there any mention on the outside packaging that a prosthesis is inside the box?

There is no indication a breast form is inside your package. The return address simply states it’s from B & B Company, with our address. Your privacy is very important to us.

Do you ship breast forms to countries outside the United States?

We have many customers outside the U.S., and we do ship packages internationally. They generally are shipped through the postal service, at the small package rate, with a slight handling charge. You may contact us directly to determine what the exact charge would be to ship internationally. Also, customs regulations require us to state the contents of the package, so it is noted on the box that a surgical prosthesis is inside.

Is Bosom Buddy covered by insurance?

Our breast form is covered by Medicare, which allows one (or one pair if bilateral) every six months. HMOs and some private insurance carriers, however, often require you to purchase a prosthesis from a specific local supplier. You should check with your insurance carrier to determine your own coverage. We are required to file claims to Medicare, and the customer is responsible for submitting claims to other insurance carriers.

Do you give my name to other companies?

We never give or sell our customers’ names to other companies! Your surgery and purchase are confidential and are only given to others with your approval. An example would be to file your claim with Medicare.

If I don’t like Bosom Buddy, can I return it?

You are welcome to return the prosthesis in its original and unused condition, and we ask you to send it back within thirty days. We will promptly refund your purchase price, less shipping and handling charges.

Is there a guarantee?

We guarantee our form against manufacturing defects for one year. Because the breast form is all-fabric and sewn by individual seamstresses, we rarely have manufacturing problems.

How long will Bosom Buddy last?

Like most products, the life of your Bosom Buddy will depend on how you treat it. If hand-laundered and treated like fine lingerie, Bosom Buddy will last for years. Most of our customers purchase additional breast forms not because theirs have worn out, but because Bosom Buddy is so affordable, it’s a treat to have another as a spare.

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