Hi, I have a single mastectomy booked for 20th December and up to now have been avoiding looking for a post surgery recovery bra. It’s too real and they’re not too pretty - already struggling with how my body will change, so the idea of wearing something which will make me feel even less like myself is harder than I thought.
I’ve been measured properly previously (no +4 as is sometimes advised) and am a 32G. There’s a brilliant Facebook group which helps you measure accurately.
So, I’m looking for suggestions of bras I can wear immediately after surgery and also sleep bras. I bought some from Asda, stretchy non wired crop top type ones but they’re not supportive enough and if I go down a size my boobs would pop out!
Please share your bras for the larger bust which are also good to sleep in
@2kittens
I bought a few Marks and Spencer post surgery bras - they were supportive and comfortable . Though I did have reconstruction.. you could buy inserts for your mastectomy side when healed? xx
Check first whether your hospital provides a “softie” which you can use for the post operative period and you can sleep in it. I found high street companies were hopeless when it came to the everyday bras. M&S ones are so ugly! I found a specialist company, Nicola Jane, they do swimsuits too. If you are within reach of one of their shops they are sympathetic, measure you and you can try on. A lifesaver for me as I was so depressed after my mastectomy.
I would also recommend M+S I’m not big breasted but I think the bras go up to a G and the cami style ones are big fitting on the cup . Their Flexi fit crop tops are not strictly for post- op but do have removable pads and pockets you use for softies etc. After er my lumpectomy I’m a bit lopsided and used the pads in the tops to put into other bras to even me up . Also try eloise.com who sell Anita bras ( got one of those free at a support group ! ) and Nicola Jane .
If you’re finding crop tops don’t have enough support you can try wearing one on top of another . I often wore a soft sleep bra or crop top under a post- op bra as it was softer against the skin and gave an extra bit of support .
I went overboard and bought loads of different ones - some of the crop tops never got worn but I think I eventually did wear every style of bra I bought . After radiotherapy my boob swelled so the cami bra that was a cup size too big suddenly became useful , then shrank again ! Xx
Have you tried Amoena they are online and also have a shop in Chichester, Sussex if you live nearby. If you phone them they are extremely helpful. They sell bras, prosthesis, tops and swim wear etc., for wearing post surgery. Their prosthesis, which I continue to wear 7 years post my mastectomy are very comfortable but their bras I feel quite expensive and I find putting one of the Amoena prosthesis (of which their are many different types) in a M&S pocketed bra quite comfy. Don’t forget you get VAT off all mastectomy products wherever you buy them. Hope this helps. Wishing good luck to all you lovely ladies. Take care I am thinking of you all. Sunshine21
