Bras 24/7 after pre-pec reconstruction?

Dovely

Hello! So I am about 9 months out from my double mastectomy and I'm still sort of confused about the whole bra thing. I had pre-pec implants with alloderm and have healed quite well. I have been wearing pullover bras 24/7 and I'm starting to wonder if that's really necessary. My surgeon said I don't have to wear a bra all the time, but I'm paranoid about them shifting or sagging. I'm starting to feel a slight irritation from wearing them constantly and feel a lot of relief when I take it off for awhile. I'm curious what others that have had this type of recon do about bras.

DebAL

Dovely, I don't care for bras either! My PS said no under wire. I did it once and now I know why. Bra shifted and since I'm numb in certain areas I couldn't feel it. There was a pretty good dent which could have gotten worse and possibly broken the skin. I really don't need under wire for support like I did before BC anyway.

I just came back from a vacation in the south. Didn't wear a bra once lol. Too hot and would have been uncomfortable. I wear a soft Cami at night. I won't go braless all the time but its nice to have the option sometimes. Winter is another story. I will want the extra layer to keep them warm.

It all depends on PS and what make you comfortable. Hope you are doing well!

FrenchPorsche

I was told that after 3 months I didn’t need to wear the tight sports bra all the time anymore. I mostly still wear one during the day but swap to a soft pull over one when I get home, and no bra to bed anymore. I’m not sure if this is the right thing to be doing but that’s where I’m at at the moment...

SimoneRC

I am in a bra 24/7 except for showering. I have not gotten to the stage where I can ask the PS if I can stop. Had my original exchange last summer. 535 cc’s. They felt heavy without a bra, even sleeping. So I slept in a sports bra. The right one began to bottom out so I downsized this spring when I had my hysterectomy. Traded down to 440 cc’s. He did not do fat grafting at the time as I was having so much surgery that day. I was already scheduled for fat grafting last week. As luck would have it, that darn right implant bottomed out again. So along with fat grafting, he did major pocket work. It looks super strange right now. Usually after surgery they look perfect! Not this time. Trying to remain calm and positive. Thin and thin skin, blah, blah, blah:-). So, I hope to report back that at some point I am not in a bra 24/7!!

Good to hear from you ladies! How is everything looking for you ladies? Are you happy? My left side is awesome. Hoping right side gets with the program!

Dovely

Hi SimoneRC! Sounds like it's been an ordeal for you. I'm curious what “bottoming out" is exactly? Do you have alloderm? Supposedly that stay put with that stuff, but maybe not...?

I'm doing pretty well. Mostly made some lifestyle changes, started to exercise everyday and do yoga. My chest muscles are thanking me for that. My implants are 240cc, so not that heavy. They look great and natural in clothes, but in the flesh there is a serious step off (I have almost no extra fat on my chest) and they look like “foobs". But my hubby doesn't seem to care and I'm not often wearing plunging neckline evening gowns so 🤷.

For the last couple nights I've gone without a bra and it feels wonderful. The skin around the mastectomy site is happy to have a break from restriction. Hopefully you'll get there soon!

SimoneRC

Hi Dovely! So great to hear you are doing well! That daily exercise is so great and for me it is the best mood lifter! And it sounds like you are pretty happy with your results which is awesome! And, plunging BACK evening gowns can be so hot! Sleeping without a bra sounds divine. Enjoy!!!

I have Alloderm and also thought these implants could not go anywhere. But both times the right implant slid down despite the Alloderm. My scars are infra mammary. The implants sit above the scar. When it bottoms out, it slides down so you can see the bottom of it below the scar. One side is then lower than the other. Hopefully this surgery fixed it!

I am also a zero upper body fat person. It was funny when I could start exercising again after the hysterectomy, I would hit it hard and then eat full fat yogurt, nuts, avocados, etc.... as my BMI was 20 and I needed some fat for the fat grafting! One of my doctors actually told me to eat burgers. Put olive oil on everything possible. She put it in my after visit notes:-). Like living in 2 worlds at the same time! Exercise then go eat fat!

Shall cross fingers for all of us that we wind up comfortable, aesthetically happy, and most importantly HEALTHY!

Best to all!!

MrsGreenJeans

Hi Dovely,

I totally understand your concerns. My implants are pre-pec as well. I am on my second set (had anatomicals switched out to smooth rounds after first year due to some issues) and have had the rounds now for almost 2 1/2 years. My PS told me to wear an underwire bra, but they are uncomfortable to me and the end of the wire also sits right along my scars. One of my scars went hypertrophic so it is raised and very sensitive.

I chose to wear mostly the pullover, stretchy style bras for comfort. At first I wore them to bed, but gradually stopped. I also sometimes wear camisoles with the bra shelf, and occasionally go braless. Now I am wondering if these decisions were mistakes.

One of my breasts feels as though it may be bottoming out, and I can feel the edge of the implant along the lower pole. Not sure what the issue is, but I need to have my PS take a look. Of course I have no idea what may actually be going on, but I am left wondering if not wearing the most supportive bras and even going without may have caused the problems I'm now having.

I hope it's nothing big, but if it is I will definitely wear what my PS recommends in the future.

Best of luck on your continued recovery, and I hope you find the solution that is right for you.

WC3

My PS told me I could take the bra off some number of days after my drain removal but the weight pulled the skin over my port so I continued to wear one during the day. My exchange surgery was more invasive than anticipated and put me back in the bra 24/7 for a few weeks.

I am now healed from that and no longer have my port and am able to sleep without the bra but I still wear one during the day due to the reasons that you cited.

Shadie

I completed recon last April, and I need to wear a bra 24/7. My implants are just shy of 500ccs. It can be a loose bra, but I always wear something because otherwise they feel too heavy--especially when I am lying down.

wanderweg

I have prepec implants and also had virtually no fat on my upper body. Now my breasts feel heavy and they’ve sagged a little. My PS has said she can reinforce the inframammary fold to boost them back up a little. I’m considering it but I’m not eager to have another surgery. I wear a stretchy bra or tank top at night, and most of the time where a supportive bra (but not underwire) during the day.

OCDAmy

Recovering from surgery to lift my pre pec implant. I was told bra 24/7, not sure for how long yet. My PS also said he’d prefer I wear an underwire for additional support.

Askmissa

I had nipple sparing double mastectomy with Prepectoral implants. My plastic does NOT want underwire as it irritates the incision. At least my incision is under the breast in the fold. I am loving SheFits bras - https://shefit.com/collections/shefit/products/ultimate-sports-bra-white

wanderweg

This is another nice wire-free bra. Best of all they have them in my weird size (32D):

https://smile.amazon.com/Bali-Comfort-Revolution-Wire-Free-Black/dp/B01MTNTC0R/ref=pd_rhf_ee_p_img_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=YH6ZFGNPEX6HKCDH1AC8