Some ideas for swimwear

Camillia

Some ideas for swimwear

Camillia

Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 68

Camillia wrote:

I just wanted to share this with you ladies as it has been a little bit of a journey for me to find a bsthing suit. I had a mastactomy last July, right side. I felt strongly about not having reconstruction. I wear a silicone prostesis every day and have no problem with it. I had found yoga tops. Tight fitting clothes was no issue, I looked symetrical. I just have to make sure that the neck line comes up high ehough so that you cant see anything when I bend down.

Winter is ending now and I kinda panicked at the thaught of having to find bathing suits. I am in my thirties and most mastectomy suits I found online (and I searched a lot!) were not my style, a little older looking. I wanted to find a 2 pieces. We spend a big part of the summer in the water and I wanted to feel confident. With just one breast, it becomes obvious quite quickly that something is going on under there when you bend down. I even went to a plastic surgeon and re-considered reconstruction. I still decided not to go for it and went on a shopping adventure instead, lol! I wanted to share this in case anyone else is in that same situation, there are many posts about swimwear. This is my two cents

The challenge was that I am not just missing my breast, but also a lot of tissu that goes under the arm and up to the collar bone so it becomes apparent quickly that my mastectomy side and my other side are not symetrical. But I still wanted something that looked young. Lots of coverage and younger looking was not something that I found was available in the stores/online.

I got foam prostesis on Ebay. Paid $30 for a pair of them. Got 2 pairs. So I have 4 foobs.

I always shopped with the prostesis in my purse and tried them in all kinds of different models/cuts. I found a nice one at TJ Maxx, it is a one piece- I dont have a picture of that one. Paid like $30. It has a pocket for removable padding, which is not perfect as the prostesis does not sit even with my real breast in it. What I did is I sewed the foam prostisis to the inside of the pocket, at the hight that I need it to be. Looks great!

Then I found this one at Khols- they still sell it. I wanted a bikini like option, so I actually cut the bottom part of this one and tucked it in unders the rubber band that goes around under the breasts. Very easy to do. Just a straight stich accross. Then I took an old bathing suit (to have that quick drying fabric) and sewed a pocket inside (it is a lined bathingsuit with molded cups). So easy to do. Bathing suit fabric does not fray, so you dont have to worry about the edges. Now I have a triangular top instead of the tankini look from this picture.

I also found these 2 online at Target.

This one is perfect for me as the shoulder strap comes up on the right side, my mastectomy side. I ordered a size larger so that I could make sure that the other side came up high enoug. I needed a large and I am usually a size 6-8. It has a pocket for removable padding. It actually is at the right height to match my other side but if needed, you can always sew you foam where you need it to be.

Also got this black one at target. I love the wide straps around the neck. The little spagethi ones usually really dont hold anything up for me. This feels nice and sturdy and I love that it hides my non existent clevage. The cups are big (my other breast floats in it, lol!- I am a 34b) and they come up high which is great because it hides everything well enough that you  cant tell the difference between the 2 sides. Padded cups. I made a pocket with an old bathing suit again and I can slide my foam in and out. I ordered a medium. A small may have worked but I am not sure that the cup would have been as big and I needed that to go up high enough.

I hope this helps someone :-)

Momine

They all look great! Enjoy your summer!

Alynne61

really cool!  thanks for posting.  I'm planning to go shopping and now I know what to look for and where to go.

SoCalLisa

I just got a regular bathing suit and sew in an old mastectomy bra cut to fit..

Ariom

Thank you so much for those pics! They are all great, but I love the black Target one with the thick halter it really looks like it would work for me too.

We have just finished summer, so there isn't much left in the stores here, but i'll be looking out for this one online.

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jenjenl

Since i Will be in the middle of rads, I plan on wearing a swim skirt and a rashgaurd shirt with a sports bra under it to hold my prosthesis.

minxie

Great work-arounds here, you should design and market your own line of swimsuits!

Michele2013

I really like the black one! Going to look for other colors in that style.....thank you.

BlancheLin

I'm so happy you posted your ideas!  I have the same problem only I had a double masectomy and reconstruction but one failed due to radiation, tried again and wasn't interested after that! I always have that problem with when you bend down if my shirts or bathing suits aren't super high, I wish I could find more clothing that help with this problem!  Your ideas are great!  Thank you

Natlie38

Camillia, thanks for sharing. This is great!

Camillia

Wouldn't it be great to start a younger fresher looking mastectomy swimwear line? ;-)

I am glad this post has been useful to you ladies :-D