bathing suits

windingshores

Swimming was recommended to me for rehab after surgery and for some other issues, but I have delayed for months because I did not know what to wear as a bathing suit.

I go completely flat, and bathing suits with soft cup or shelf bras would make me feel strange, honestly. I don't want to buy a "mastectomy" style.

I read online that Land's End made a custom version for someone like me who asked, and now has a version for those who go flat, "No bra/lined." If you go to their site, click on "regular", not "mastectomy" and the "no bra/lined" comes up. It is a "tugless tandk." Solid black or purple.

After I ordered, I called their competitor L L Bean and asked if they carry a suit like this, and the customer service rep wrote a note under my name requesting that the company consider doing this. I think I will call some other retailers too.

Looking forward to swimming!

Spookiesmom

I had thought about doing some pool excercise too, had the same questions. Found a swim shirt and just some shorts at Walmart that would work. Checked with pool people, they okayed it. Much cheaper than lands end. It's a special material, name escapes me now, stupid chemo brain.

ksusan

I'm going with a short sleeve board shirt and trunks because I was told not to be outside without 50spf and I'd rather not put chemicals all over myself.

windingshores

I am in a winter climate. Summer sun exposure is a different story (I have lupus).

The Land's End suit was $39. I wouldn't have spent any more than $40.

I wanted to try some aerobics and thought a suit would be better, we'll see...

Spookie's mom if you think of the material, let me know.

Spookiesmom

sure will!!

Spookiesmom

the shirts are called rash guards. Amazon has them too.

windingshores

Thank you!

Spookiesmom

I like the idea of them, I'm flat too. So I can bend over, or come up for air and nothing happens or is seen.

Dee2010

I do like Spookiesmom and wear swim shorts and a quick dry t-shirt. I've never heard of a pool having a problem with what you're wearing as long as you're covered... (and neither has my DH, who worked in pools for 10 years as a lifeguard and teacher).

On another note, I strongly recommend aquafitness. It is very gentle, the warmth of the water helps with flexibility, and it supports your weight (if you have a weight problem).

mommamac

I read this with interest. I am uni due to recent surgery. I plan on using a mast. bathing suit with a prosthesis until I have the other breast removed(my choice) I was thinking that once I am flat a tankini would maybe work as you can buy them separate. Has anyone tried that when flat?

coraleliz

I'm not sure what is meant by a tankini. I wear a 2 piece style workout bikini. The top is like a sports bra. I go flat without any prostheses.

cp418

http://www.landsend.com/shop/search/womens-swimsui...

http://www.athleta.com/products/rash-guard.jsp

Dee2010

cp418, thanks for those links. There are some great looks there. I prefer the t-shirt type tops, as they are so quick dry and versatile - canoeing, touristing as well as swimming.

And I'll take advantage of this post to wish a Happy and Healthy New Year to everyone!

ksusan

I look at those tankinis and think, That would really hurt my armpits and surgical scars.

Dee2010

I find the short sleeves more comfortable than the sleeveless for that reason...

sbelizabeth

Good for all of you to be swimming. I love to swim, but I stayed out of the pool and ocean the entire time I was a uni. I was waiting for rads effects to settle down before recon and just didn't want to spend the time or dollars to figure out the swimsuit thing.

Erica3681

Hi,

There was an earlier thread on this subject and I wrote the following response, which hopefully will still be helpful:

A few years ago, I wrote a BreastFree Blog entry about my quest to find a swimsuit I felt good about after my bilateral mastectomy without reconstruction. The post is called Swimsuit Edition: BreastFree Style. I include lots of links to places that sell swimsuits, so you can check out some different ideas and styles. I'm not sure all of the smaller companies are still actively in business, but the websites are still there.

I particularly recommend checking out Hapari, which makes some suits they label as Mastectomy Friendly.

My experience with searching for swimsuits that work was heartening. Though I started out very discouraged, I wound up finding suits that are comfortable and look good. I wear them with unweighted foam forms -- heavier forms would definitely drag them down.

windingshores

This is the tank I bought from Land's End (in black) for $39.

http://www.landsend.com/products/womens-tugless-one-piece-swimsuit/id_192574?sku_0=::D71

There is a "mastectomy" version that accommodates a prosthesis (or two). I got the "no bra, lined" version that was made especially for those who have had a double mastectomy with no reconstruction who want to go flat, no prostheses.  This version was custom made for one customer who requested it and they continue to carry the option. I was impressed.

Metta

Hi all, has anyone tried any of the bathing suits at Title Nine? I just got their spring catalog, and many of their suits have the magic words "Removable Modesty Padding," meaning pockets, meaning breast forms might be able to fit, too! I don't have a store near me, so I can't try them on. If anyone has tried them and likes them, let us know!

Kicks

A 'tankini' is a 2 piece suit like a bikini but the top is not a bra only but a tank top that comes down to the top (or just below the top) of the bottom. In other words - for those of who loved our bikinis when young (no longer even close to being young) can find suits that are closer to what we loved years ago and still have our less than attractive midriff not 'exposed'. They don't have the 'look' of 'old women/granny suits' either. They have an advantage in that they can be bought (often not always) as separate pieces/sizes to get the best - fit, top and bottom.

I'm on the 'smaller side' (though definitely not 'petite') and when I started looking for mast. swimsuits, I tried quite a few but none came close to fitting decently. Many of the 'reg.' smaller suits have pockets that come with 'push-up pads' so the pads can easily be removed and pros. put in. I do suggest trying them on though (if possible) first to be sure of how low/high they are cut and how they fit you individually. Last Fall, I was in Sam's Club and found 2 suits I really liked - thought one looked like it would fit better than the other so bought them both - they had both been fairly pricey but were marked down to $5.00 each. So I got one that is fantastic (the one I thought didn't look like the best fit) and another one I like for a total of $10.

(Can also find cute/colorful/$exy bras sometimes that are cheap/inexpensive at WalMart/Target/ShopKo/ect. Again - many have easily remove able 'uplift pads' that have pockets that are easy to slip pros. into.)

AKJ

http://m.swimoutlet.com/womens-water-polo-suits-c10845/

I'm a uni and wear a water polo suit for lap swimming.The neck is high and there's no annoying shelf bra or cups.

amygil81

I'm a D-cup uni, and I have high scars from my chest wall recurrence surgery. This year I'm going to try a Krinkle High Neck suit with mastectomy bra, see http://www.swimandsweat.com/krinkle-chlorine-resistant-mastectomy-high-neck-tank.html . I'll probably wear swim shorts with it. I'll report back here when I see how it works.

Erica3681

Hi amygil81,

That looks like a really nice suit. Please do let us know what you think after you try it out!

Metta

Hi, I just wanted to report back that I got the Title Nine bathing suit in the mail today, and it fits well! The halter top tankini covers all my scars (a little tight under the arms, but snug is good).

The pockets have small openings, though; too small for official breast forms. I've been using bath poufs in my swimsuits, and those fit fine. Honestly, since the pattern is so busy and the ruching/pleats give the appearance of boobs, I could probably go flat and feel fine.

So happy to be able to wear a "normal" swimsuit! Athleta also seems to have a lot of bathing suits with removable modesty pads, too. This lack of reconstruction isn't bumming me out much at all. It sure is better than a gazillion surgeries

Anonymous

I've used the land's end mastectomy tankinis for the last 3 years, but in the last month, I bought a couple of tankini tops from Hapari.com. They have many suits that have mastectomy pockets & they will say mastectomy friendly when you go to the actual suit if it does or not. They have their own forms & 1/2 forms that they sell to go in them, but they also say that other forms may work. My Amoena Essential Light 2s forms and Amoena Swim forms can both fit in them. (When traveling, I don't always take the swim forms so that I can save on weight, lol) I hope to wear one for the first time in the water this weekend. I actually got mine on sale for $19.99. I hope that they will dry faster than the Land's End ones which always seemed to take forever.

floaton

I just got a tankini top from etsy and it works awesome with my compression bra underneath for going half flat and wearing something that still looks like a bathing suit. She made it to my measurements, so the top isn't too baggy , and there's no bra in it. The shop I used is called "modernly modest" - no I'm not getting a cut , had just been looking forever for something like this and didn't see anyone else post this exact option so thought I'd share. I got a sleeveless one with the contrast trim - it's super cute.

glennie19

very cute !

floaton

thanks glennie !

amygil81

Floaton, can I ask what brand of LE sleeve and glove you're wearing?

floaton

amygil81, sure , it's a custom jobst fingertip to axilla with a cross body strap. I back up easily with any elastic or overlap anywhere. I tried nearly everything ots and a custom glovebefore my fitter tried this one, it's the only thing that's worked for me - please let me know if you have more questions about it!

cp418

floaton - beautiful top!! Here is the link.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/ModernlyModest?ref=shop_...