Newbie question: Does bra ride up

pammm56

I haven't had my surgery yet, but if I have the double mastectomy without reconstruction and I wear lightweight "foobs" or "foobies" (new words for me!) in a bra and then raise my arms, will the bra ride up (because there isn't anything weighing it down)?

 Trying to figure this stuff out before I make a decision 

shells43

Not too much in my experience, but I'm a uni. I have a couple of forms and the heavier one is better for that. I prefer the weighted foam form, it has a little weight and is cooler than the heavy silicone one. I think if you have a matched set you will be fine unless you go swinging on the monkey bars! Good luck!

BonnieK

Bras with pockets are probably the safest bet, but I remember reading something on the TLC site about bras riding up because of incorrect sizing.  Of course, I can't remember exactly what it said but you can find it on the TLC site under breast forms or mastectomy bras. 

I just had an implant removed and, since this is the second time, have decided not to pursue reconstruction again.  Surgery was just a week ago, so I'm stuffing one of those soft, fiberfill forms into a sports bra when I go out and it stays in place pretty well.  It's all new for me too, so maybe we can figure this out together.   Best of luck to you....   

BoobsinaBox

pammm56,

Welcome!  I had a bilat mast in 2006 and currently wear tiny (size 2) Microbead forms from TLC in lightweight sports bras from Walmart or Sam's...the kind with spaghetti straps.  The adjustable straps work best for me, as I am a size 35 and have to buy either 34 or 36.  The 36s are a tad loose and sometimes ride up if I can't make the straps long enough, and the 34s are just a tad tight, but they tend to stay down better.  I also wear camis inside out, so I can use the shelf-bra more as an enclosed pocket.  I do not have much trouble with any of these options.  Good luck in your decisions (I've never regretted my bilat!), and in getting the information you need.

Please consider checking the following site, if you haven't already been there.  It is wonderful!

http://breastfree.org/ is a site by our bc sister Barbara with lots of answers to questions we all have...forms, bras, companies, photos, experiences from other sisters on these boards.  

Dawn 

nagem

Pammm, Yes, I have found that bras do ride up. What works best for me is lightweight forms--microbeads or foam or even fluff-filled ones--held in a stretchy camisole.

Dawn, How does turning a camisole inside-out make an enclosed pocket? Interested, but confused, by this solution.

BoobsinaBox

Nagem,

When the camisole is right-side-out, the forms have to go in the shelf bra next to the skin.  I have found they like to travel toward each other in the middle.  When I turn the camisole inside-out, the shelf-bra elastic forms more of an enclosed pocket, the forms lie against fabric on both sides, and they stay put better.  I cut slits in the lining of the sports bras, so the forms are enclosed.  

These may not work for others, but they have been good solutions for me!  Thanks for asking for clarification.  Let me know if this is still not clear.

Dawn 

nagem

Hmm, I'll have to try the shelf-bra trick. You don't have to sew it in place to keep the forms from slipping out the bottom? BTW, I do the same thing with sports bras--cut a slit in the lining. Thanks for the clarification, Megan

aspen

I have been a bilateral for 5 years.   I wear a lightly weighted form in a mastectomy sports bra to the gym and do free weights and overhead cable machine exercises and I don't have a problem with this bra or my other bras (which I wear with heavier forms) riding up.   I think the most important thing is to have the bras sized correctly.   I'm going to try the camisole trick too.

Erica3681

I also don't have a problem with bras riding up. I had a bilateral four years ago. I wear unweighted foam forms in a Still You camisole for exercise. Otherwise, I wear silicone forms in pocketed bras. My current favorite combo is the new Amoena Energy forms (the 2U shape) in an Elita pocketed bra (I think it's called a camisole bra). I just spent all of yesterday traveling from San Francisco to Boston wearing those and literally forgot I had them on. They didn't ride up at all, nor do they ride up in more traditional-style bras (I like the ABC 114 tee shirt bra and the Amoena Marlena bra), even though I can't stand tight bra bands (never could, even before mastectomy) and wear them ultra-loose.

Barbara

beacon800

Hi, I have bilat for about one year and no trouble with bras riding up.   I use the very lightweight micro bead foobs from TLC and for sports, the regular foam ones from TLC, unweighted.  I wear my bras quite loose (use extenders) even though i am not a big person - it's just preference for comfort.  Happily I have not had ride up issues and I am very active.  Best to you!

Sher

Yes, I sometimes have problems with bras riding up and forms that tend to slide around.  Based on my trial and errors, I think several things can cause this - body type/shape, how much tissue is left after masts as well as the style of bras/camis and breast forms.  But I'm sure that my biggest problem comes from the fact that I'm unable to wear anything too snug over my SNB+ incision and loose camis or bras don't really anchor well. 

Like Barbara, I also am a big fan of the Still You Cami.  On some of them I've cut off the outer cami part leaving just the bra - works great when the weather is warm.  So, you might need to experiment a bit, but there are so many options out there that I'm sure you'll find something that works great for you.  

Blessings!