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Home > Silicone Breast Form Repair Tips
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SILICONE BREAST FORM REPAIR TIPS
Usually once a week we receive a phone call or an email from someone plugging the leak from a silicone breast form just caused by the cats claws, a pin or even an exposed sharp edge on an old underwire bra asking how they can repair the form. The short answer is you can’t but depending on the size of the wound you can patch it (with care) and at least prolong the life of your breast form. Obviously if you have a 2 inch gash across the form and the soft goo is oozing from the wound area there is not a lot can be done. However, small nicks, pin holes etc should be able to be repaired sufficiently to add considerable lifetime to the injured object.
Whether you can repair the breast form puncture is really determined by:
- Size of the hole
- Amount of silicone lost and bleeding from the puncture
- Correct silicone and vinyl friendly products used i.e. is there anything effective
We are amazed that none of the manufacturers have yet come up with a repair kit although if everyone repaired their damaged boobs then perhaps not as many would be sold for replacements so there may not be an incentive there! As always, here at GlamourBoutique.com we like to help save you money where possible and so if we can help you prolong the life of your forms then that’s a good thing.
Most folk have tended to use Scotch Tape that has to be liberally re-applied as the edges invariably curl up after a short period of time. And the more times the tape is replaced the more chance of silicone seepage and enlarging the damaged hole. We have heard of other methods that work better and recently Paedra took time out reveal first hand her success with a new product we had not heard about.
Whilst Scotch Tape is ok to use in an emergency there are better products on the market including 3M medical tape and even vinyl tape that can be bought in hardware stores if it is soft and flexible enough. Bear in mind you need the tape you use for the patch needs to be strong. flexible and preferably in a clear nutral color. We have even had customers tell us they have had great success with ‘gaffer tape’ available at your local Lowe’s or Home Depot but we have yet to see a repair carried out using such a method.
Recently our customer Paedra from Vermont took the time to call us with the results of a repair carried out using the medical barrier/tape called Tegaderm. Tegaderm comes in different forms and Paedra used a section of a larger sheet of this product which is not only light and flexible but extremely durable. Paedra actually used a piece of 2” long by 1.5” wide to repair a nasty gash in a breast form with great results. Since we received the great tip from Paedra we have talked to some of our regulars for their experiences and the following is a summation of what you need to do if you find yourself in the unfortunate position of having to repair a damaged silicone breast form:
- Attempt the repair as soon as you discover the breastform is damaged/compromised Rest/hold the damaged form in such a way so the liquid silicone does not escape whilst you quickly gather the items you need for the repair
- Gather together within easy reach scissors, cotton wool, tissues, sealing product such as Tegaderm cut to size for the repair
- Using cotton wool or soft tissue carefully mop up any liquid silicone residue off the outer vinyl covering of the breastform
- Carefully holding the breastform in such a ways so that the split/hole remains sealed/closed, carefully apply the Tegaderm patch to the area – do not press too hard but apply gently
- Ensure there are no air bubbles and that you have a close seal so that the silicone is firmly sealed in If the edge/seam is split then apply a strip of Tegaderm to each side of the split (i.e. one strip on the back of the form and one on the front) and where they overlap stick firmly together and then trim off excess so the patch is inline with the remainder of the breast form seal
If you use the Tegaderm and take your time then provided the rip is not too large you will have excellent results – certainly a big improvement on the quick-fix of Scotch Tape.
As always a little maintenance can ensure you won’t get to the point of having to repair. Try to keep your forms in their box after use and get in the habbit of cleaning with lukewarm water and gentle soap after use – particularly if you use adhesive and remover products. After washing simply pat dry with a clean soft cloth/towel or allow to air dry. Most breast forms are damaged when not being worn so if you keep in the box you reduce the chances of damage.
Other essential care tips include:
- Do not cover forms in lotions, potions, perfumes and oils etc – you never know what could have an adverse reaction with the vinyl cover on the forms
- If using forms in salt or chlorinated water be sure to wash forms carefully after use
- Check bras for sharp edges before wearing – not only underwire bras but also those with sharp lace edges too
- If you have pets then always store in a cupboard/closet for added protection
- Do not expose your forms to extreme hot or cold temperatures as that will almost certainly lead to a degrading of the silicone
- If you tend to wear pins on clothing then place them on clothes before you dress and check all jewelly before wearing – do not wear jewelry when fitting you breast forms. All it takes is a sharp edge on a crystal to cut through the vinyl outer membrane
Most of the above is common sense but re-fresh yourself and you will have years of trouble free dressing with your forms. They can withstand much wear but try to treat them gently and with care which you would if they were the real thing.
Thanks to Paedra for the great tip - you can read more about Paedra at:
http://secretcabin.net/
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