Disclosed is a method of forming at least a portion of a mask (4) that is structured to engage at least a portion of the face of a patient (52). The method can be generally stated as including employing at least a portion of a data set (74) that is stored on a machine-readable storage medium (72) and that is representative of the shape of at least a portion of the face in generating a configuration for an cushion element (24) of the mask. The cushion element is structured to extend from a support (20) of the mask and to have an engagement end (50) bopposite the support that corresponds with the shape of the at least portion of the face. The method can be generally stated as further including subjecting a workpiece (78) to a formation operation to cause at least a portion of the workpiece to be formed into the cushion element having the engagement end.