strapless mast. bra that REALLY works

Thanks Carol for posting the strapless bra information.  Sadly, I am a tall girl, and after a bilateral mastectomy in 2008, I still wear a 42.  I am wearing a 42(A) bra, now, with my prosthesis, but I really want to wear those cute things I used to wear. 

One good thing, I have been feeling great, and lost 30 lbs,...I wanted to.  Anyway, nothing has changed chest size, so I talked to a friend who works at Lane Bryant.  I am in between a size 14 and a size 16 (regular), and LB carries wider sizes, but she told me that they have a strapless that could be used with my inserts, that would fit!  I am so excited that I am going tomorrow to see if I can get fitted.

Being tall, and not petite, is not all it's cracked up to be,..I am 5'9, and 57 years old.  I look thin, but,...compared to regular sized women, things like this, are just not made for me.  I hope this bra fits.  I will post a follow-up to let everybody know if it works.

My friend told me she fitted other mastectomy patients with strapless bras, and that you have to go up a size in the band size, but you may have to drop a cup size.  Since I already wear an A cup, I cannot go down any further, but she seems to think she still has a few that will work.  Also, she said that the prosthetic providers usually give you satin inserts for the prosthetics.  She said you put them in the fabric, and just 'tack' the inserts (with needle and thread) to the inside of the cups, while leaving one end open to remove them after wearing. Or you can use velcro to temporarily attach them!

One more thing about the strapless bras.  If you have lightweight prosthetics, you may be able to wear the tube-type strapless mastectomy bras, but if you have the type that have weight, heft, do not buy those types of bras.  The heavy prosthetics tend to pull the bra down.  It will not stay in place.  If you have the weighted type, like me, you need a strapless that really fits close to your body.  It cannot be lose, and it has to have a solid form to it, not a lot of stretchy material on the front, sides, or back.  

I have to wait until next March to order new prosthetics, but when I do, I will talk to the fitter about the lightweight types.  I love tube-top type bras because they are comfortable, but until then, I will have to make due with what I have.  

Just an aside,..after the chemo, I discovered that I have gray hair, which is not really a pretty gray, so I put a blonde temporary rinse in it, and it looks like I have highlights.  After everything  we have to go through, it is sometimes really difficult to get back to looking like yourself, and some just give up.  I was determined to look like me again, and I am finally getting close, so don't give up!  Believe me, if I can do it, you can too!!!

I am new here, and so glad to have found you all!!!  Wish me luck!  

Robin,

One thought about your band size (38 or whatever). Another woman recently was telling me that her fitter said mastectomy bras need to fit really snug. I do NOT agree with that. You don't want to feel like, as you said above, you're being strangled! And you don't have to. I happen to be sensitive about tight things--I've never liked constricting waistbands or bras, either. I still don't. Even very lightweight breast forms should be more than enough to hold your bra down and in place. No need to be uncomfortable. I've never had a problem with my bras riding up.

Hopefully, since the fitters at your local shop have all had mastecomies, they'll be understanding. But everyone is different. They may be among the women who feel more secure wearing their bras snugly. But not everyone does. So try to figure out what works best for you and go with it.

Barbara

This is great info for me.  I had a BMX a couple of weeks ago and looking around for bras, forms etc and sounds like Kimberly Ashmand's stuff is the way to go.  Can someone repost the sites or where do I find the info on this site?  Thx

i've been looking for a strapless mastectomy bra too...but sadly they don't have A cups ... anybody know of any site with strapless mastectomy bras A cup?