Ford 'SupportBelt' Can Ease Mastectomy Discomfort

Helping bring comfort after a painful procedure

Lynn Simoncini, a creative director at VML, underwent a double mastectomy in 2022 after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Wearing a seatbelt post-op became a painful experience. So, she reached out to Ford experience design director Emily Obert and they conceptualized the “SupportBelt.” The foam-in-fabric device wraps around standard seatbelts to make driving more comfortable.

“The teams have been working on bringing the Ford SupportBelt to market for the past two years,” a Ford rep tells Muse. “Though the idea seems simple, we tried out a variety of shapes and materials to ensure we could deliver a soft and comfortable device that conformed to all body types and minimized irritation to a patient’s surgical wounds. Our development process included consulting with people who received treatment for breast cancer to make sure we understood and met their needs.”

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The SupportBelt costs nothing. Pre-orders are available here. 

“Ford designed and validated the SupportBelt for Ford and Lincoln vehicles,” the rep tells Muse. “To improve patient accessibility to this device, Ford has filed a patent for SupportBelt and plans to open it to other manufacturers so production can be scaled across the globe.”

Ford plans to have thousands produced through the end of the year. In Michigan, the brand teamed up with Corewell Health to include SupportBelt info inside HOPE kits.

According to  the World Health Organization, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer for women in 157 countries.