Hi all, I’ll be having a single mastectomy with flat closure in about 4weeks time.
I am looking for recommendations on everything: underwear post-op, pre-surgery exercises, what to do to get comfy during sleep etc etc. Any advice from fellow mastectomy/flat ladies (or as I like to say Amazonians) would be much appreciated x
Hi @lmack95 I’m 12 days post SMX and node clearance, I would say a V shaped pillow is the main item I would recommend. And one of the heart shaped ones too.
Bra wise I found the boody post op bra the most comfy and the cancer research ones. A couple of button or zip tops for ease of wear after the op and a pair of slip on shoes so you don’t have to bend down!
All the best for the op, I’ve been out walking lots and absolutely fine, just do the exercises recommended to get the movement back!
Hope that helps 
Hi @lmack95 , mastectomy flat closure lady here..now 2 and a half years on and feeling fine. I ordered a front fastening bra from Nicola Jane and it’s still one of my favourites, in fact I am wearing it today with nhs prosthesis and no-one can tell its not all me!
Before the op I asked surgeon for a curved scar, after looking at various photos on the Flat friends website. My lymph node was taken from the same incision.
I contacted knitted knockers before the op and they sent me two softies, and a protective bead stuffed cushion for my chest. The cushion was very comforting as well as protective.
Do you know if you will have a drain? I did not but other ladies do so may be able to advise how to cope if that is the case.
Something else that helped a lot was having 4 sessions of scar tissue massage therapy through my local hospital charity some months after the op. It helped me to be more accepting of my new look.
Another tip..when you get your post op pathology report it should state the weight of the tissue removed. This is useful when going to be fitted for a prosthesis as it helps to match the weight.
I wish you all the very best going forward. Love Tulip x
@Tulip29 good tip about the weight removed thank you! I’m writing that down now to ask at my appointment!
I had a single mastectomy without reconstruction in 2020. I did buy one of the Nicola Jane bras but it didn’t suit my body shape. Instead I bought more of the sports bras I knew I found comfortable. I now wear stretchy t-shirt bras from Sainsbury’s as I don’t have any kind of prosthetic.
I would recommend a heart cushion. I still use mine at night. Mine came from some kind of Cancer Research fundraiser that my mother in law went to. If you can sew a bit there are patterns available online.
I had a drain fitted and it came in a little cloth shoulder bag. Not all hospitals provide this, so definitely something to check as Tulip says.
Wishing you all the best with the operation
@Tulip29 and @loupy I think you mentioned a V shaped pillow. Any recommendations on size. Getting it second hand but some seem a little short (like breastfeeding pillows)
Hi @ lmack95, I didn’t have a V shaped pillow myself so just got several ordinary pillows and arranged them into a V shape in front of a couple of other pillows, and then put another pillow under my surgery side arm. Think I ended up using 6 pillows in the end! X
@lmack95 mine is from M&S its the size of two normal size pillows with a bit joining them? I thought they were all the same size but maybe not 
it’s been really good to rest my arm on the bad side and still have support x