No prosthetic will ever help Kathy Smith forget that she had a mastectomy in December 2015. The breast cancer survivor has used both ready-to-wear and custom-fit versions.

Even though it’s not the same, Smith recommends any woman who has gone through the experience of losing a breast to cancer consider a custom-fit prosthetic if they choose that option over reconstruction surgery.

“I like it because there’s a certain freedom to having it,” she said. “It fits up against my skin, you put the bra on top, and it’s almost like being normal again.”

Smith got her custom-made prosthetic at K&J’s Complete Woman in Seven Fields. It’s one of only a few stores in Butler County and surrounding areas that offers products and services for women who have had a lumpectomy, mastectomy or double mastectomy as part of breast cancer treatment.

K&J’s offers plenty of off-the-shelf prosthetics for women whose insurance doesn’t cover the more expensive custom-built alternative. However, they always recommend women with coverage consider the handmade, hand-painted versions because of the many benefits.

One of the options the store provides to its customers is the custom breast prosthesis from American Breast Care (ABC). It weighs 3 ounces less than ready-to-wear versions and is more breathable, which makes it ideal for wearing during warmer months.

Other advantages include a better fit to the chest wall for a more natural look and feel.

“You also have a better color range besides the standard ivory or dark tone that most ready-to-wear prosthetics come in,” store manager Kelly Graham said. “They more closely match your natural skin tone, plus they’re more durable than off-the-shelf styles.”

A new perk is they’re safe for use in bathing suits, Graham said. “The manufacturer recently shared with us that they’re safe for use in chlorine, so women can even wear them in the pool.”

Not all insurance companies cover the cost of custom prosthetics. Only Highmark, UPMC and Cigna commercial insurance plans provide coverage. “Unfortunately, none of the Medicare Advantage plans cover them,” Graham said.

Every insurance company plays by a different set of rules, she said. Some require co-pays and deductibles, while others pay for everything in full.

“The worst thing we hear from our customers is that they were never told where they were allowed to go get fitted products or that they were allowed to get replacements every couple of years,” Graham said.

The custom-fitting process is designed to help women feel as comfortable as possible. Graham recommends waiting at least six months after a mastectomy to come in for a custom fit.

“It can take that long for the chest wall to heal after surgery to provide a more accurate fit,” she said.

K&J’s prefers women make an appointment for a custom fitting. However, if someone stops by the shop without one, Graham said she will do her best to accommodate them. She or the other fitter usually can work with customers during the same week they call for an appointment. The most a customer has waited is two weeks if they’re experiencing a high volume of appointments.

Women can expect to spend on average 60 to 90 minutes for a custom-fit appointment.

“However, if we’re not quite done, we never rush the process or shove you out the door,” Graham said. “We will never be the facility that shoves you into everything, talks you into everything. We’ll go at your pace.”

The shop uses a software program and a scanner attached to an iPad to take the measurements needed for a custom prosthetic. For the appointment, Graham advises women to wear a comfortable bra. If they don’t have one, she can help them choose one from the options available in the shop. The scanner takes one overhead shot, one shot of the woman in her bra and one out-of-bra shot. “That’s the key piece because it’s making the back of that custom prosthetic that matches your chest wall,” said Graham.

Measurements are then sent to the designers at ABC, and a video call is scheduled to review everything before the custom prosthetic is made. It takes six to eight weeks to get the custom pieces back since they’re handmade and hand-painted. “I will say that 95% of the time when we get these back, they’re a perfect fit,” said Graham.

For the 5% that have issues, a consultation session is scheduled between the customer and the designer to evaluate the problem. Then, the product is returned to the manufacturer for adjustments or a complete remake.

“We never want a woman to feel like she’s stuck with a product she’s never going to use,” said Graham.