Breast cancer survivor who 'felt like a boy' launches prosthetic nipple company

'I couldn't bear looking at myself'

A New Jersey-based woman has been selling prosthetic nipples to recovering cancer patients since 2011.

Michelle Kolath-Arbel was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 and is currently in remission herself.

After undergoing a one-sided mastectomy that left her without one nipple, she decided to take matters to restore some normality to her body.

“I remember I felt like a boy,” she told The Independent.

“I couldn't bear looking at myself and used to shower in the dark.

“I felt like returning my lost nipple would make me feel like I was before the cancer hit me.”

Kolath-Arbel went to her surgeon and asked for a reconstruction surgery, however, she was told that her skin was too tight and too sensitive for the operation to be successful.

This is a common problem for mastectomy patients, whose skin is often made incredibly thin by the radiation they’ve gone through as part of their cancer treatment.

Left without any other options, she began looking into mastering the art of prosthetic nipples herself.

What started out as a DIY hobby soon led Arbel to quit her job as a full-time marketing director and launch Pink Perfect.

The site offers women who have undergone unilateral or bilateral mastectomies unlimited style options when it comes to choosing their prosthetic nipples.

They are adhesive and made from high quality silicone to ensure that they appear as realistic as possible. They are also waterproof and can be worn in the shower.

With Arbel’s “do it yourself” packages, women can make their own moulds themselves and choose from hundreds of shapes and colours.

They can even send in pictures, with Arbel claiming that she can “literally make everything” her customers want.

The prosthetic nipples range from $240 (£182) to $440 (£182) and can be ordered exclusively online.