Help! I need a bathing suit!

In this forum, there's a thread called "swimming poofy". I bought slick black fabric, made pockets in my usual swim suit(which has black lining), and used these "swimming poofies". They are light weight, drain well, fill out the cup - and best of all, I didn't have to buy a new swimsuit! They can be a little tricky to get the idea figured out, but as you follow the thread through, it works great!

Hi Jan,

I've heard that Nordstrom will sew pockets in their regular suits. That might enable you to find one in your small size. I agree, it's hard to find mastectomy suits for small cup sizes and small sizes in general. Anita makes a few suits in A cup sizes, so you might look for those online.

Regarding forms, I've used swim forms, which work well in most suits. But in my Land's End suit I like to use unweighted foam forms (they just seem to work best; the silicone swim forms weigh the suit down a little). You can check with your fitter about whether your Silk form is okay for chlorine and/or salt water swimming. Like Beth, I tend to worry about damaging my regular silicone forms. 

I also like Heidihill's suggestion to buy suits with padded bras in the junior dept. But, Heidi, I have two questions: first, are they very high cut? My super high cut days are over.  Also, does the padding in the swimsuit bras really fill you out? I've tried some padded bras and they are easily pushed in, which I don't like.

Barbara

BreastFree.org 

No, they are not high cut at all. I also bought swim shorts with padded bikini tops which I can wear underneath a sun guard.

I found a regular bathing suit filled with a "poof" worked well for me.  I untied a shower poof and got the size I needed then balled it up.  Like others have said it works well and is inexpensive.  Suits with a shirred (gathered) top seem to work best.  You don't need a mastectomy suit unless you like the style.  Most regular suits can be modified.

Karyn

The last I knew Lands End products can be returned to Sears, not Penneys.

Hi Jan -

I was in your same spot last summer pre-reconstruction.  I bought a suit from a company called Nicola Jane (if you google "nicola Jane" you should see it as the first result.  THe are non-us based but shipping wasn't outrageous and they had some options that looked a little less mastectomy-ish.

I didn't use my "good" prosthesis for swimming but i did go to a regular bra store and bought those silicone insert things (I don't know what they are called but the lady at the store kept referring to them as chicken cutlets.) and that did the trick for me for only $30.  I am a 4 or a 6 and pretty small busted as well.

Good luck shopping. . .I poured over the internet to find the suit I eneded up with. . .bathing suit shopping stinks to begin with much less with the added issue of hiding a prosthesis etc.

Dear Chicago1018 and all,

I don't know about what cities have what concerning bathing suits... but at Loyola in Chicago, IL they have an Image Renewal Center where you can go and try on suits and from what I was told they are very reasonable. Insurance will co-pay for these also... so it may be worth checking into things that might be available through your hospital. The lady there had a catalogue with all the suits with pockets built into them also. It's a wonderful asset to the hospital and the people are great. Just an idea for you.

Valgal  (actually Loyola is in Maywood, IL.)

I ordered a beautiful Amoena swimsuit online a few years ago and my swimform was perfect with it.  Beautiful quality.  Soon after I went on vacation with it  I found the same suit and many others at a store called Lady Grace.  They deal with ladies like us every day.  If you don't have one nearby, maybe you could order online?  

Good luck!  Janice 

I'm small and lost one boob.  I am diver and coach (or was).. Anyway, with a little experimentation i made a poofy and sewed it into my professional existing suit.  It looks perfect.  I't's very comfortable as well.

The poofy is much easier to make then it sounds.. you just make a little boob by kind of rolling the fabric inside out  kind of like a donut and giving it a twist.. You can even make it look like you have a nipple.  I found I had to reduce the size several times.  you don't need much  at least I didn't.