Dressing for special occasion.

geysermom · April 2009

What tips can anyone offer for "filling out" during the reconstruction process with changing breast sizes?

I have TEs after BM a week ago. My TEs make me a double "A". My goal is to end up a C cup which is where I was years ago before pregnancy and breast feeding (and at a similar weight). I was a B cup prior to surgery.

I have a high school graduation to attend 5/22 and several parties and meals out with family surrounding the graduation day. Everyone knows about my surgery but I still want to look as "normal" as possible.

Will I be ready for some type of prosthetic for the graduation? I will be 5 weeks post op.

Will I be able to use a prosthetic since I have small breast mounds with my TEs?

Should I be buying and trying to fill out a C cup mastectomy bra since that is where I am going to end up?

Any advise from anyone who has been through this would be very much appreciated!

Thanks,

Julie

angeljoy · April 2009

Hi Julie,

I had bilateral mastectomy as well. And reconstruction with expanders. A few weeks post-op I was able to get out of the surgical bra and into a more normal one, if not all day at least long enough for social occasions. I found soft, stretchy bras to be the most comfortable. I wore a bra that was the size I intended to eventually be. I filled it out with "puffs", which are filled with fiberfill. As I was expanded, I could remove fiberfill bit by bit. In this way, I was a pretty consistent size throughout the process. The puffs aren't perfect, but they are soft and comfortable post-op. You might not be able to wear everything you wore pre-surgery, but with a bit of trial and error, you'll find things that work for you.

I hope that helps. Best of luck to you and enjoy the graduation and time spent with family!

Angela

roseg · April 2009

Don't buy too many bras because you never know whether you'll like them after the exchange. I was a big WalMart/Target shopper at that point as I kept changing my idea of what worked best as I was expanded.

Won't you have some more fills by 5/22? You could try one of those t-shirt bras with the thin foam cups, they give a smooth appearance.

Experiementing with puffys, old shoulder pads, those silicone enhancers might work. Everybody seems to come to a different way.

geysermom · April 2009

angeljoy,

Thanks so much for the input, especially about going into a bra of my intended final size. I need to check with the store that is "in network" for my insurance and see if they carry larger puffs than the tiny ones that came with the camisoles I got preop.

Any advise on what kind of outfit might work for the graduation? I am petite at 5'2" and 107 lbs.

I don't have any idea what will work with the bra/puffs arrangement.

Julie

angeljoy · April 2009

Julie,

I got my puffs from www.tlcdirect.org (I don't know if I made the link right) TLC is the American Cancer Society's shop. The teardrop puffs I used are in the "foam forms" section of the Mastectomy Products. As far as an outfit, you'll probably have to stay away from low necklines. And a little jacket, cardigan, or vest over a dress or top hides lumps, bumps and uneven-ness pretty well

Angela

geysermom · April 2009

angeljoy,

I was thinking about wearing a jacket or vest with whatever I decide to wear so I guess I am thinking along the right lines. I am used to wearing fitted clothes so I will have to buy something new to wear for the graduation.

I wanted some input from someone who has had to figure this out so I wasn't "reinventing the wheel".

My DH made a good point that I may have had some fills by then and would be ok not to wear any padding for the graduation. I think that may be ok but I am also wondering if I should just be trying to fill out a bra in my future size so my family isn't always seeing my breasts at different sizes. (DH has a bitchy ex-wife who would probably have some rude comment on the size of my breasts always changing - I realize I shouldn't care but sometimes she is hard to ignore)

Julie

Anonymous · April 2009

Hi Julie, I don't know if I am coming in too late on the discussion, so I thought I'd add one more thought.

I was a previous DDD and now am barely a B cup. I don't even wear a bra (have implants).

What I have done to deal with a total change in wardrobe (I used to not be able to button shirts, now I can't hold up a low-cut tee shirt), is get a great seamstress.

Between her, and now wearing more feminine/flowy tops, I feel far more comfortable in my clothes.

For the formal Holiday party for my husband's work, I bought a beautiful black dress with an A-line skirt, and the top had a loose velvety sheer thingy (I know, lousy description!) over a black silk cami.

I bought it on major clearance (originally 250.00, paid 25.00) and therefore had no problems or guilt paying for my alterations lady to make that dress (also 2 sizes too big!) fit me.

The final product was fantastic. It fit, did not show I have nubs for breasts, and I looked like a woman and not a pre-puberty child!

Sassa · April 2009

I used bath puffs to fill out my bras before I bought my prostheses. You might one to buy some in different sizes (I know there are travel sizes as well as different size bath puffs). Walmart had large ones; two of them equal my large DD breast that was remaining before my second mastectomy.

geysermom · April 2009

Whoopsiedoodles,

Sounds like you shop like I do. I like expensive things (like your dress) but would rather not pay the expensive price.

I have been all sizes, C or D before children, DD while nursing, A or B after children and depending on weight. When my PS asked what size I wanted to be, I didn't have a clue. I remember a D cup on my small frame made it difficult to find clothes (especially fitted clothes).

I guess I am just wondering about trying to fill out vs. just going with my small breasts for the graduation festivities. Your response seems to indicate I should just go with what I have for now.

Julie

TexasRose · April 2009

Sassa,

Interesting on the bath puffs. They don't scratch? I am three weeks post surgery and I am getting to the point that I need something on the left side where my boob is gone. I ordered some foam forms until I can get a real prosthesis, but they are going to take awhile to get here. Bath puffs huh? Guess I'll have to try that out. Thanks for the tip.

kmccraw423 · April 2009

I just keep it "busy" on the top - pretty frilly blouse, jacket with a pretty silk scarf. Great pins or necklaces. Whatever takes the eye away from my bust line. I interviewed with a guy my sister introduced me to. Since he knew my sister I knew she told him I had had a bilateral mastectomy. I thought it was kind of cute they way his eyes never left my eyes!

Anonymous · April 2009

I like the way kmccraw described it: busy (my lousy description was more feminine and flowy). I feel like the busy tops with pretty prints kind of hide the fact that I have tiny foobs.

As far as "filling" out, I was just so uncomfortable during my filling process, and hated the feel of anything (and I do mean ANYTHING!!!!) on me. I had a lot of trouble with numbness in many patches and really struggled with wanting comfort as well as looking cute.

Actually, another thing I did was I befriended a small "boutique" and they essentially became my personal shoppers. They knew I had a bilateral and wouldn't stop until they found an outfit I was comfortable with.

I know-the fill process is really a hard time. It is going to be awesome the moment you get that one fill where you suddenly feel like you look like a hooker (I totally felt like I had giant breasts the last day I filled).

dani42 · April 2009

geysermom

I think that what might work for you today, will be totally different when your events approach. I am two months post op from a mastectomy and find that I am buying bras just about every week. What worked in the beginning, no longer works. For me, I can't put anything inside a bra because it is too uncomfortable.

My daughter is graduating in June so I am also concerned about appearance and the hug factor. I hugged a co-worker that I hadn't seen in months and totally forgot for a moment that I had the tissue expanders. You could feel the rocks between us and I could see the look of question on her face. OOPs!

Sassa · April 2009

Texas Rose,

If the bath puffs are scratchy, wash them in the laundry and use fabric softener. The washing will make the puffs nice and soft.

Just a side note, I use the bath puffs in my bathing suits when I want to have something in the mastectomy pockets. They are light weight and dry fast. They also don't seem to float up as much as my silicone foams.

geysermom · April 2009

You ladies are so good at this!

I bought a bra yesterday in a 34C which is my goal size. I filled it out with some of those soft puffs and it didn't look too bad under a fitted shirt (not too lumpy). I liked the input from dani42 about the fact that I will constantly be changing and possibly needing new bras.

I found some of those busy tops yesterday when I went bra shopping. They were pleated across the top, had busy patterns, and flowy fabric so there were three things to distract from my odd shape.

Right now, one of my TEs is rounded and the other is kind of an oval shape that sticks out towards my arm pit. The PS said that the oval one would "round out" when I start my fills but I think I will only have 1 fill before the graduation.

Thank you all for your input and suggestions.

Julie

Dressing for special occasion.

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