Abstract: A padding device for a mammography system that can be removably attached to the face surface of the X-ray plate used within the mammography system. The padding device covers the face surface of the X-ray plate, thereby providing a clean sterile surface for contact with the patient's body. Furthermore, the padding device positions padding material over the top edge and the side surfaces of the face surface, thereby providing cushioning between those points and a patient's body. The presence of cushioning at these points greatly reduces the amount of discomfort experienced by a patient during a mammography.