Bras and vest tops

Hi Charlie01 

I didn’t purchase any post surgery bras. I just used my normal sports bras as the critical thing was to stop the boob moving around. I am too large for vest top / cami things but I would be wary of anything that doesn’t hold you still. You can’t see what is going on internally but it has to be able to heal. 

Hi Coddfish,

Thank you very much for your response, I really appreciate. I will stick to the post surgery bra's, to be safe.

Thank you

Hey Charlie01 

I think the world of post surgery support really depends on your size. I didn't wear a bra at all for a few weeks after surgery and just wore a tight fitting cami vest as underwear during that time. When I was ready to start wearing bras again, I went for the bralette style and found them to be so much more comfortable than the underwire style I'd been wrestling with for the previous 30 years! However I do have what my surgeon described as "little boobs" so I found it all quite easy to manage.

Hope you find what works for you. x

Hi,

I bought M&S post surgery bra in my size of 38F. The padded cups were at least 1 size too large. I suggest trying one on for right fit before surgery if you can. Best wishes

Bras are like all women's clothes the size is totally random. It depends on the store, the manufacturer , the fabric even the bloody colour of an item. The only way to actually know something fits is to try it on. Post surgery bras are no exception. You need a bra without wires, from support that fits close to give you support. That means no jiggling. Jiggling means pain. Front fasteners are easiest. Buying a size too big means jiggling.

M&s do a firm control in a box. It is their best selling bra. It isn't front fastening but it is good for the job. But you must try it on before surgery. They are not too expensive but make great work bras afterwards.

I had my surgery nearly 3 weeks ago and was using a sports bra 2 sizes too big for me however due to my swelling I'm finding these a little tight & I had a 5cm by 5cm mass removed.  I tried one of those vest tops with supportive inserts but I think I would need them about 4 sizes bigger to fit me at mo. I was hoping by now the swelling would of gone down but no it's about the same and feels rock hard to touch.  Hope you find something that works for you.

Hi,

I bought post surgery bras from M&S in my usual size and they were great. October being Breast Cancer awareness month means many more options in shops that don't usually sell them- I picked up a couple in Primark that turned out to be really good too. You'll likely end up buying various ones as you heal. I definitely found front fastening easiest. I'd also recommend button up shirts and zip up hoodies- basically avoid needing to pull anything over your head until you've got less pain/more mobility, which doesn't take long if you do the exercises they give you frequently.

I'm two years post-surgery now, and still on the hunt for the perfect bra (hence reading your post and seeing others' comments!) as I had all my lymph nodes removed. I find crop top bras most comfy but the OT says I need more compression due to my lymohodema. 

Best of luck with the next steps in yout treatment. Surgery is a massive milestone, and in my experience wasn't at all as bad as I had imagined it would be x

Hi,

I've just ad the same operation 2 weeks ago. I had been to M&S for a bra fitting a week before and got several 'total support' bras. I'm a 36E. I bought the same size and they have been fine, still wearing them 24/7. Only problem is that I've developed a really bad sweat rash in various areas. I've tried a variety of things and an anti chafing cream seems to give the most relief. 

The operation went okay but I've got a few weeks to wait for the results.

I was a 48E before loosing 5 stone now im a 42D but even after them removing 5cm by 5cm from my left breast the 48E sports bras that i kept are very snug on my left breast and MASSIVE on my right.  I had my Op 3 weeks ago tomo and have found on the last 1 week my breast has got bigger im hoping that is just more swelling as it heels.  I have been taking arnica tablets 

Hi Woodmouse. I got sore easily after radiotherapy. Not with the burn more because the skin was delicate. BC nurse suggested the Canesten with hydrocortisone. It was 20 years ago so things may have changed. My boobs didn't and I would use it during the summer with good result up to the double mx.

Another little win for not having any boobs