Questions about what to wear after bilat.

Options
RhondaM
RhondaM Member Posts: 68
edited June 2014 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy

 I'll be having a bilat on Dec. 30th but won't have my reconstruction until this summer. I need to know what to wear and how soon I can wear it until reconstruction.

If I had decided not to reconstruct (very tempting actually) I would not mind going flat...but I am a private person and I just don't want the entire world seeing me go from normal to flat to reconstructed. This process is my business and I'd just rather leave everyone else in the dark.

I go to church and would like to get back as soon as I am healed enough to go. I know that in the beginning I can wear the camisoles with the puffs. They will hold the tubes and all.

But, how soon after my bilat can I start wearing something with breast forms or a prostheses or something? About how long does it take to heal?

 And what exactly do you wear? A bra with forms inside? Should I shop now or is this something I need to do in person after surgery? Do I need a fitting or something?

Thanks very much,

RhondaM.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • 1Cathi
    1Cathi Member Posts: 1,957
    edited December 2008

    Hi Rhonda,

    The standard to receive a script from your surgeon for prosthesis is @ 6/weeks post surgery. It takes several weeks of healing before you will want anything rubbing at your incisions anyway.

    If you were small chested to start (I was hardly a good B) the change for me when I was dressed was not all that dramatic, my daughter and a few friends actually told me I looked quite slim and athletic.

    You should be fitted for the bra's and prosthesis, I went to a specaility shop "boutique" but many department stores also offer the service.

    Before having my prosthesis, I did alot of layering, little cotton/silk T's and a sweater or blazer and I felt fine in public. 

    Good wishes  - Cathi

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • RhondaM
    RhondaM Member Posts: 68
    edited December 2008

    Thank you Cathi. Sounds like I just to get several of the camilsoles with the puffs to wear under my clothes for the first 6 weeks. In fact, maybe I can get away with that until restonstruction.

    Thanks again,

     RhondaM.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Daffodil
    Daffodil Member Posts: 829
    edited December 2008

    Dear Rhonda:

    I had a public appearance 2 1/2 weeks after my bilateral w/reconstruction (but there wasn't much there). A couple of days before, DH drove me a recommended health boutique, where a very nice woman fitted me with a good bra (wide sides & back, built-up straps). I used to wear a 36 B; this one was 38 due to swelling I still had. It had a light foam liner for smoothness and soft pockets for the polyester pouffs. She chose "small" pouffs and took away stuffing until I had a nice "presentation"~~~I looked normal and nice in clothes! I didn't buy any special camisoles for drains, as I didn't have to go anywhere much except doctors' offices. When I did, I wore the bra, which was as comfortable as you could expect. In my case, as the fills increased, I removed more "stuffing" and continued to look pretty good! It cost about $50, which insurance should cover.

    Good luck to you!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • angeljoy
    angeljoy Member Posts: 128
    edited December 2008

    Hi Rhonda,

     I did pretty much the same thing post-mastectomy, except I ordered "leisure bras" with pockets and also puffs from the TLC catalog online.  At first I used the puffs in the bra pockets with all the "stuffing".  As they filled my expanders, I used less and less of the "stuffing".  I had bought a post-surgical cami but wasn't comfortable in it.  I didn't feel like I had enough support.

    Best of luck to you on your surgery and wishes for a speedy recovery!

    Angela

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Mykidsmom
    Mykidsmom Member Posts: 1,637
    edited December 2008

    Hi there - I just had a BM w/ TE 1 1/2 weeks ago, so I have not had too much experience. But I don't think much shows if you wear a blouse w/ a suit coat. I don't think turtle necks, tight sweaters or t-shirts would work, but blouses tend to balloon out a little and look full. After my lumpectomy I started wearing only sports bras which do nothing to enhance your size, and I found that suit coats and blouses worked very well. Originally I also was not going to do reconstruction, but my oncologist suggested that I would recovery emoitionally faster if I did. At this point I think he is correct. Good luck and know that there are a lot of us there with you. - Jean

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories