The perfect mastectomy bra

BRK

Hi,

I am a swedish designer and I have set myself the goal to design the perfect mastectomy bra. I have done some research to see what is already out there, so I have an idea of what is wrong and right with most existing bras, but through this forum I would like to reach out to you, the strong women who actually use these bras and ask you for your experiences with them.

What makes a bra work for you, or maybe more important what are your problems with them?

All your insights are very much appreciated and will help me to ultimately design that perfect bra. Many thanks! 

Kicks

There will never be any one 'perfect' anything for everyone! We are each unique and do not fit into any mold. We also have our own preferences. Personally, I still like underwires at 65 y/o and 2+ yrs post mod. rad. mast.. They are by far the most comforterable/'natural' feeling to me - not for many though. I really believe that post surgery the best idea is to work with a certified fitter in a facility that had a lot of options to try for a correct fit and will order in options to try that you might like. My fitter does not have a large supply of my size so she always orders in others.

otter

My problem has never been the bras. I'm convinced that I could find the "perfect" mastectomy bra -- at least, a mastectomy bra that worked as well as the regular bras I wore before my surgery.

As I've said here before, my problem is with the fitters.  IMHO, they don't have a clue.  Of all the hundreds of mastectomy bras on the market, I was only shown half a dozen during the 2 visits I've made for fittings at a dedicated mastectomy supply store.  Let's scratch half of those as being completely unresponsive to my request for a soft bra with a very lightly filled/padded cup (think a thin layer of fiberfill -- not a styrofoam cereal bowl).

Anyway, I've about given up on professional fittings and commercial supply stores; I'm going with the advice I find on this forum.  And, as Kicks said, there is no one "perfect" mastectomy bra.  Each of us is unique in many ways -- physically, mentally, emotionally.  So are our needs and wishes.

otter

Kicks

Otter - I am so sorry you didn't have my 'gal' to help you with fitting. She is the only certified fitter within over 300 miles ( yeah I live out in the middle of nowhere - LOL) and is at a 'medical supply store'. From day one - she has listened to me and given me great input. When I got my pros. there were several they had that would have 'worked' but not ideal so she order others in.

crystalphm

The perfect mastectomy bra might not be a bra.

 I have trouble with the band around the chest, it hurts, it stops the flow of lymph, and it hits right where my drain was and where my lymph nodes were removed. The band rides up into my incision.

 So I would love to see a snug cami with no band under the breasts (foobs). Everything has a shelf bra...which has that dreaded band.

 I also think in your design you would want to consider the same bra doesn't work for a small woman with size 3 foobs as a woman who wears size 8 foobs... Probably a few different styles need to be created for women of different sizes...

nagem

I'm with CrystalPalm in hating bands that ride up. I'd love a short, gently stretchy, pocketed camisole without a shelf bra, in which I could wear lightweight foam or microbead forms. It would need adjustable straps. If you could make that, I'd be thrilled! 

otter

Oooooo, me too! 

I finally had to concede last week that even my soft, stretchy, "leisure"-type bra (in which I slip a fiberfil-stuffed prosthesis cover) has too much band.  Heck, it's a flat, soft, fabric-covered band -- not even elastic -- and it's an inch wide.  But, it sits right along a thick ridge of fibrosis on my ribcage where my drain tubes came out.  After an hour or so of wearing that bra (okay, any bra), that area of my chest wall hurts.  I strongly suspect the bra band, even as loose as it is, is interfering with lymph flow.  I get that dull, aching feeling reminiscent of the early-stage LE I had 6 months after my surgery.

<sigh>

otter

Momine

"Perfect" depends to some extent on the woman. For me, however, one version of "perfect" would be a seamless, smooth, light bra that would be long like a sports bra. This would be nice for everyday wear.

It would also be nice to have some bras that are as close as possible to "regular" ones, i.e. something pretty, flirty and feminine.

Third, I would like to see more actual clothing items with built in pockets for foobs (but not in the form of shelf bras). Especially for summer wear, this would make so much sense.

Momine

Nagem, I hear you. I was also thinking that those bodies that were so in back in the 80s might work well for us boob-less people. 

Momine

Oh, and BRK, if you are making something like a camisole, sports bra or a dress or top with built in foob pockets, but no shelf bra (the shelf bras can hurt or cause lymphedema problems), the main problem you have to solve is to have the bra/top lie flat against the skin in the arm holes and neckline. The foobs tend to pull the top away from the skin, leaving a gap that is very unsightly.

I am thinking that one way is to have quite a bit of edge between the foob pocket and the edge of the garment. But you would probably have to get a male dummy and experiment with some draping. 

chrissyb

You also need to keep in mind that not everyone has a double mastectomy.  There are a lot of women like me who still have the one hung low and find it difficult to find that comfort desired for the mastectomy side while having the support required for the one that is left.  I used to always wear an underwire bra and did so from the time I started to develop but now I only wear the Ahhh Bra as it is the most comfortable that I have found......the problem with it though is that it squishes the one I have left and has absolutely no shape what so ever!

If you could come up with a design to cover all that is also very soft and comfortable I would be the first on your mailing list!     Good luck!!!!!

Momine

Chrissy, I am struck by how comfort is a recurring theme here. For me at least, that is a side effect of cancer treatment. WIth all the needles, surgeries, poisons and side effects I have been through, I will be damned if I inflict any unnecessary discomfort on myself. In the past I was far more willing to wear those uncomfortable but beautiful shoes or the underwire bra that simulated perkiness.

chrissyb

I was always very comfortable in an underwire bra but since the mastectomy and the onset of lymphadema I go strictly for comfort and not just in a bra...................shoes, knickers, outer clothing as well...................if it's not comfortable, I don't wear it....full stop!  My favourite piece of clothing is a pair of lounge pyjamas....the only problem is that I can't wear them out..........    what a shame!....lol

crystalphm

Yeah!! Other women who think like me, who want comfort, who are tired of pain, who hate those shelf bras but want pockets.

And want pockets in maybe a basic t shirt with no shelf bra!

Kicks

For those who would like a wide band there are longline mast. bras that go to the waist. I tried one on and hated it from the second it was hooked. The last time I got new bras the PO read that longlines were to included in the samples to try - my gal called them and said she was sure that I would not like it but they insisted that at least 1 had to be ordered so she did - it went back.



I hate so called 'sports bras' and I'm a very active person. When I first started dealing with my LE guy he insisted on ordering me a 'sports bra' type that was supposed to be great with LE. Well when it came in I humored him and tried it on - we both broke up laughing when he came back in the room. I looked like I had had a mast. on the natural side. Pros side looked great but it squished natural side flatter than a pancake.



We are all so different so there is no 'perfect' for everyone. What is 'perfect' for me will not be for someone else just as what is 'perfect' for someone else is not 'perfect' for me.

Jo5

I would love non shelf pocketed camisoles with a sewn center stitch to prevent implants from sliding. I purchased cosabella lace bras to wear over my bmx purchased bra just for style the lace cosabella is like a short camisole with no pockets or support. I would love pocketed t shirts, summer pocketed tops. Iwould love thin strapped pretty lace bras with low cut sides to help with LE and a thicker band around the chest but with more adjustment ability seperate from the bra closure.