Is anybody else having trouble getting summer dresses to fit their ‘operation side’. Anything with straps or just sleeveless gapes and is unwearable almost as though the shoulder has dropped. Any ideas or places to shop would be good.
Have you had an MX? Cos of course the ‘flat’ side won’t fill out a dress as well as the ‘normal’ side.
I’ve had an MX on the right side and I find that as long as the top of the dress is high enough, or of a jersey (clingy) fabric, it is fine. I don’t have an issue with straps or a drooping shoulder per se.
Have you tried ‘tit tape’? I keep meaning to get some, to help out where the bra/prosthesis shows just a little bit.
Hi Flora Thanks so much for reply and within minutes too. No haven’t had Mx just the standard stuff , so it’s a mystery - anyway the tip about tit tape is brilliant . Do you think Ann Summers sells it? Oh God now I’ve got to pluck up the courage to go in there … still recovering from when I accidentally wandered in looking for long sleeved red flanneled nighties last year !!
sorry posted twice
I get body tape from Eylure. I get it from Amazon. I usually buy a few packs at a time then I get free postage. I would recommend it.
Maude xx
Thank you so much Maude think I’m sorted then … have found a cracking seamstress who has said she will alter ‘stuff’ and am off to order tape from Amazon bless both of you for your help. have a good weekend.
Lovely photo Flora bye Steph XX
Do you know I laughed when I saw this thread this evening! Just been out to try to buy nice summer dress.It looked great when I was standing in the changing room, so I brought it home, and changed…sat down and of course my prosthesis just ‘fell’ away from my skin!! I was so upset, which sounds so ridiculous when we are dealing with life and death on a daily basis, but it is just another pain we have to put up with!! I am getting a new ‘sticky’ prosthesis on Wednesday, although, the fitting lady doesn’t reckon them. Then again, she is the same lady that told me I had to wear ugly larges strapped beige bras, and I am only a ‘b’ cup! She was wrong about that, so hopefully she will be wrong about the sticky prosthesis. Has anyone had any experience of them? If it doesn’t work, I will try the tape, I think.
Things we have to put up with!!
Best wishes, Jax
Hi Jax
I haven’t tried the sticky prosthesis, but my bcn told me she has seen lots of ladies who have, and really like them, I will be trying them as soon as I am able to… good luck with them…
Tracey
Hi Ladies,
I am now the proud owner of a prosthesis! l asked the surgical appliance lady about the sticky ones, she said they were no good, at that was it! when l questioned her she changed the subject, l thought how strange, then l asked about the tape, she said no not to use it, make the skin itchy! l gave up then, so will be interested to see how you get on, and hopefully l will get one.
You would think these ladies doing there job would be a little more helpful, after all we have gone through, but hey ho!
Sandra x
Hi I know what you mean,. lol. was a size 8 UK now a size 14UK, I think it might be to do with my chokalate cookies im eating…
I am wearing my strappy summer dress without anything!! Who cares if there is a gaping hole in this weather?! Well, while I am safe at home anyway! I do wonder about these ‘appliance’ advisors and whether they have actually ever tried what they advise? When I first went along a couple of years ago, she told me to bring my bras with me. Well, I am a bit of an undies freak; I like matching undies and why not? She took one look at them and shook her head. Next thing I know she is strapping me into these ugly bras that I wouldn’t bury my grandma in! I was so upset! She was going on about shoulder strain and everything!!
We went into M&S feeling totally miserable as I looked for the bras she advised, took them home and thought, ‘stuff this!’ and took them all back again! I have had quite a lot of correspondence with M&S about their policy of selling 600+ lines of matching undies, yet they sell their post surgical bras with hardly any matching sets!! Do we lose our femininity when we lose our breast? Are we not meant to care what goes on under our clothes any more? I think its degrading and wrong, when you look at the limitations imposed upon us by the retailers. It is ok if you can afford the prices charged by the mastectomy bra companies but I just want cheap matching knickers!! I know I am getting on, at 54yrs of age, but my brain still tells me I am 18, and so does my OH!
I will let you know how I get on with the sticky one next week!
Best wishes,
Jax
Morning everyone - Nice to see it’s not just me wanting to wear ‘nice cool stuff’ It’s a really an important psychological milestone in getting back to normal. Considering how long people have been having extensive surgery why oh why have manufactures not got these problems sorted. Jaxw I’m over 60 and I still like pretty undies and will come back to haunt any of my nearest and dearest if they bury me in winciette undies.
Have just seen Pricilla Queen of the Desert yesterday utterly brilliant and laughed all the way through - till I inadvertently through the remains of my wine over the lady next door to me when I clapped oooops not a happy bunny and I had to really grovel after the show ended!!It was lovely to watch something that didn’t refer to BC in any way , shape or form. My girls booked this up when I was first diagnosed and had no idea of the outcome or whether I would be in a fit condition to even go BC, Plebitus, Pulmonary Embolism and one heart attack later I got there in the end . Try and go girls it really will give you such a boost XX Steph
if you can find a good seamstress/tailor near you get them to put a wee tuck on that side - no-one will notice and you will feel more comfortable
LR xx
Cool summer dresses for me, now with a mastectomy, are those with a yoke.
The yoke falls to pleats or tucks and so hides/disguises any lack of symmetry underneath. I even go without a bra at all in this heat and feel fine. Never thought I’d ever be writing this five months after mx!!!
However if you like tight fitted clothes these styles may not be for you. I like a bit of space around my body in this hot weather…
Welsh girl
Was so pleased to see some comments about strappy clothes! I’ve been having same problem, so great to get some ideas! Does the tape thing work in hot weather and is it comfortable? I’ve been looking on internet for some clothes for my hols but seem to be just vest tops . Have come across somewhere called Belovely Designs recently that seemed different. They’d got some strappy sun dresses and halter tops with pockets. Wondered whether anyone has tried any of their stuff and whether any good?
Hi Ladies, just been reading through the posts and wanted to comment on the ‘sticky boobs’ - I have had several sticky on ones over the years before I had a recon and I found them to be excellent. What on earth the surgical appliance woman was talking about is beyond me. They were terrific and I would definitely recommend them. I got mine free at the time from the Breast Care Nurse at the local Hospital, but you can buy them from places like ‘Nicola Jane’.
Anyway, just thought I’d put my two pennorth in! Hope you are all well today, take care. Love, Dianne x x x
hey I found this amazing tittape few days ago . you can check it out it works well adhesivebreastlifts.co.uk/product/tit-tape/ its really awesome…