By Clyde Noel

Photo by Monique Schoenfeld, Town Crier

Business Profile

Siloette has women looking, feeling good after the mastectomy

Lee Stivender offers hundreds of customers who have been victimized by breast cancer an opportunity to retain their physical appearance.

Siloette, a small retail boutique on Second Street, is where Stivender provides mastectomy clients a place to be fitted for prosthesis and other mastectomy items, in a dignified, intimate setting.

“When I started this business I knew I wanted a place that only catered to women who had mastectomies,” Stivender said. “I wanted a place where my customers could have a sense of intimacy, privacy and receive one-on-one attention.”

Siloette features the latest in products like Airway, Amoena, Camp and others. Stivender said more than 80 percent of women who have had a mastectomy choose an external breast form rather than reconstruction.

The message is clear through experience and surveys. Women want a breast form that’s as natural as possible.

Stivender, in her 60s, opened her shop in 1993. She spent a year in training and was certified as a specialist in fitting mastectomy patients. “It’s the only way you can represent a manufacturer by being certified,” she said.

Prosthesis come in a range of sizes, weights and colors, including “tawny” for women of color. She offers special bras with pockets to hold the prosthesis or a patient may bring a favorite bra and Stivender will have her tailor adapt it to the woman’s needs.

A popular new product Stivender carries is a breast shape that can be attached to the chest wall with a set of tapes, allowing a woman to wear a backless dress or no bra.

A breast prosthesis lasts about two years. Costs range from $175 to $500 for one. The average is $269, plus the bra or bathing suit. Insurance pays for breast prostheses. Stivender is an official provider for Medicare, Kaiser and Stanford.

Stivender’s biggest difficulty is not with some of the clients, but dealing with the insurance companies.

“Medicare will allow a certain amount for different items, but I fit them in what is best for the customer instead of what the insurance company will pay,” Stivender said. “I do not charge them for the difference and accept consignment.”

There is a large support system for women who have had breast cancer and surgery. Stivender has 1,600 customers who have had breast surgery which is indicative of the prevalence of breast cancer in this area.

Stivender, a tall graceful woman, possesses the warm personality suitable to her business environment.

“I love what I do,” Stivender said. “Women come to me throughout this area. They are referred to me by doctors, nurses and hospitals who appreciate the services I provide. Helping breast cancer survivors is what I want do to.”

In Siloette, there are no shelves lined with products for other parts of the body like a drug store. Every shelf is dedicated to mastectomy prostheses and all the prostheses have a surprisingly real feel to them.

There are racks of specially designed bathing suits with pockets and lacy bras in a variety of sizes and styles made especially for holding the prosthesis in place.

Siloette is located at 343 Second St., No. 6, Los Altos. For more information, call 917-1771.