Imagine if putting on your seat belt was so painful, you sacrificed your safety by not wearing it. Or, you sacrificed your mobility by stopping driving altogether.

That’s the reality that over 100,000 mastectomy patients can face every year. The pressure of wearing a seat belt fastened across their chest can be agonizing.

To solve this problem, Ford Motor Company, aided by Corewell Health breast surgeons, developed a groundbreaking device: The SupportBelt — a discreet, contoured belt that wraps around a regular seat belt, relieving pressure and reducing discomfort on the chest.

“I want to commend Ford Motor Company for thinking this through and prioritizing the needs of individuals, especially ones with specific medical needs,” said Nayana Dekhne, M.D., section chief, breast surgery, Corewell Health East. “This is truly an innovation that is long overdue.”

Dr. Dekhne and Amie Hop, M.D., section chief, comprehensive breast clinic, Corewell Health West, were both involved in the SupportBelt project.

Dr. Hop said she has had patients who have gotten into car accidents who were not restrained by their seat belt.

“They can have different injuries from that, and we don’t want to add to what they’re already going through,” she said.

The SupportBelt development team chose flexible and supportive foam, wrapped in suede-like fabric constructed from nearly 40% recycled PET from water bottles, that wraps around a seat belt using a Velcro fastener. Its concave design allows SupportBelt to conform to different body types, providing a more personalized fit that reduces the risk of chafing or irritation.

Ford will initially offer SupportBelt — the only device of its kind designed and validated by an automaker — to mastectomy patients in the United States at no cost. The company has filed a patent and plans to open it to other manufacturers so production can be scaled worldwide. 

Dr. Dekhne said she can see this device benefiting any patient who has had breast or chest surgery, like medically necessary cosmetic surgery reductions, open heart and lung surgeries.

“I have no doubt products like this will enhance the quality of life of mastectomy patients,” she said. “And I hope this is an inspiration to others in the industry to create products that will improve the life of surgical patients.”