Just need advice on bras and prothetics

I went into a national store that advertises that they have prosthetics, bra's, camisole's etc for women that have or will be undergoing surgery for a lumpectomy or mastectomy.  I caught one of the sale's associates and asked her where the section was and she told me that they do not have a section but that the woman that manages that area could help me as she is surgically (mastectomy) certified.  I told her that I was looking for a post-surgical camisole so she went clear across the store and into some hole in the wall and came back with 1 post-surgical camisole and told me that after I have surgery that I would need to call and schedule an appointment as they do any type of fittings/showing the special bra's by appointment only.  To me that is just plain weird, but as they are very expensive they want to make sure you get the correct size, help, instructions, etc...

I totally agree with you!!!  It is just weird!  Maybe they only show you certain ones as per your insurance?? Or if it is because you are new at wearing them??  I would call them back and ask to speak to the manager and find out why, just out of curiosity..

At Nordstrom's they will sew a pocket into any bra you choose.  They also have regular mastectomy bras.  You need to make an app't with them as well. 

I went to Nordstrom's as mentioned above, and I have bras just as nice or nicer than I had before. I always had to wear underwires, padded cups, etc. as I was large-breasted, but I would not describe my bras as old lady looking. I feel very good in them, as well as the Amoena tank tops I got there. I don't wear the 2 mastectomy bras that I got there though unless all the others are in need of washing. I also wear the Ahh and Genie bras a lot but with my foam forms. The Amoena forms are too heavy for those bras especially since I have them in Size 8.



I also want to say something about my decision not to have recon. There were several reasons including not wanting 8 hours of surgery, having to go through radiation, etc., but even if the surgery were an hour, I don't think I would be happy with the result which I was told would be a B or maybe a C cup. I need to be a D cup to have the proper proportion with the rest of my figure. I've always been a little curvy. I've lost weight and am now a 12/14, but still I know I would not look good that small. I tried the forms so I know. Plus if I went the DIEP route, if I continue to lose weight as I plan to, I might end up with even smaller boobs. I am very happy with my decision.

Denise, I was the same size you were. I ended up having a double mastectomy because of the size issue, but originally I was going to just have one side done then at some point a smaller implant and a reduction on the other side. Insurance has to pay for your 2 sides to "match up". If you are just looking for prosthetics you may have to go online or wear lightweight ones "doubled" in a regular bra. I know how hard it is to find ones you like in the size you need.

As far as finding pretty bras, it doesn't hurt to ask if you can shop the racks. After all, the are in the business to make money in the end. My prosthetics have fit in almost every bra I have tried... Occasionally they slip a little depending on the style and fabric. I agree, I had enough ugly bras when I had big breasts. Bring on the pretty ones!!!

I went to a mastectomy bougtique. They had bras, forms, camisoles, swimsuit, wigs, hats, etc. The problem I had with the lady that fitted me, was that she was pushing fancy, pretty bras on me. I am a plain jane, bra woman. She didn't listen to me either. 

I would say that you got a bad experience. I have heard good things like the women have said about Nordstrums. Is there another mastectomy store in your area? Maybe you will have to speak up and say what you want.

You aren't ready for prettier bras??? What the heck? Unless there was some wiring in it that could aggravate where you are in healing, I don't get her comment. What a lack of emapthy while working in an area the DEMANDS more empathy than a usual sales job!!!

If you haven't worn the bras yet, I would take them back , and let them know how they failed you!

I have very pretty mastectomy bras - defiinately not 'granny' ones.  I may be old (66) but I still want pretty underwire bras. 

After mast. I wore my old bras with a cheap fluff form that I was given by the local ACS for about 2 1/2 months before I got my 'good' pros. and first 2 mast. bras.  The first 2 I got were somewhat 'granny' as it was suggested to not go ahead and get underwire for 6 mths.  When I went in 6 mths later she had ordeered in quite a few for me to try on and I got my pretty underwires in different colors.  She is the only certified fitter within 340 miles and they don't keep many in my size (especially underwire) so have to order ones in.  When I got my pros. they did not have one that was close to right so several were ordered in but still not quite right so some others were ordered in and one was great.  She always spends at least 1/2 hr with me - never hurried or pushed.  Definately not a bad experience at all - quite good infact.

I have no problem wearing tank tops in summer.

Scared2deal,

The problem may very well be the size of your prosthesis and the pocket size in the "pretty bra."

 When I had my first mastectomy, I still needed to match "Massive Matilda" that was left on my left side.  The size prosthesis I needed required an ugly, iron maiden mastectomy bra that was worse than the bras I had to wear for both breasts.

It wasn't until my second mastectomy and I could go smaller in the prostheses sizes that I could wear the "pretty" bras.

Blackcat,

I certainly feel for you.  As mentioned above I was huge breasted (about your size) when I had my first mastecomy.  I got the largest prosthesis available and it didn't match my remaining breast.  It was, however, a compromise I took as to go larger would require a custom form.  I also couldn't have a silicone form as the weight was so heavy (silicone is heavier that breast tossue) that my already tortured shoulders couldn't deal with it.

So there I was: a lifetime of dealing with ugly bras to support big breasts and trying to find clothes to fit over them to having to buy even uglier mastectomy bras with a prosthesis that didn't quite match the remaining side.

That experience lead to my first meltdown of my BC experience out in the car.  I couldn't believe I finall got rid of one of the beasts (not a mispelling) to only have more difficulty in buying even uglier bras.