Finding a bikini to wear after my mastectomy.

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Dawn444
Dawn444 Member Posts: 3
edited February 2019 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy

Hi, my name is Dawn and ive had a masectomy without reconscruction and i am struggling to find a pocketed bikini with full coverage in the uk.Thanks.

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  • Erica3681
    Erica3681 Member Posts: 1,916
    edited February 2013

    Hi Dawn444,

    You might check out a blog I wrote a while ago on this subject. You can find it on my BreastFree Blog (http://www.breastfree.blogspot.com/). Just scroll down the page until you come to "Swimsuit Edition, Breast-Free Style."

    In it, I mention two UK websites that feature nice swimsuits, About the Girl and Nicola Jane. There's also an Australian site and a couple of good U.S. sites, all of which I think would ship to the UK.

    Hope this helps!

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  • beacon800
    beacon800 Member Posts: 922
    edited February 2013

    Dawn, I had bilateral MX, no  recon.  I did find a super bikini.  Victoria's Secret "Very Sexy" bandeau top.  It's rausched and crisscrossed in front.  I got it in a D cup so it would have good coverage.  The padding in it is so good I did not need to use a breast form.  The bandeau top comes with a skinny little halter strap, which I didn't like, so I cut the wider straps off another suit and attached them.  Honestly it looks excellent!!  I have posted a photo of it on these boards, so maybe it's still out there.  Anyhow, I am very satisfied and shopping for another color for the coming season.

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  • Dawn444
    Dawn444 Member Posts: 3
    edited February 2013

    Hi Erica ,thanks for your post .I think the only one that may work is the Jamu, as I had my chest wall removed as well so I need one that is high at front. Dawn.

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  • Dawn444
    Dawn444 Member Posts: 3
    edited February 2013

    Hi ,Thanks for your post , what I need is a high bikini as I had some of my chest wall removed as well, Dawn.

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  • Gran
    Gran Member Posts: 104
    edited March 2013

    Hello.  I had bilateral mastectomies with silicone implant reconstruction in 2010, but the implants are driving me crazy (they distort every time I do anything involving my arms or chest) so I am thinking of taking the implants out.  

    I want to ask you flat chested women about the problems you have encountered with bikinis since you don't have anything to hold them in place.  I want to find out everything I can now about the cons of being flat before I remove my implants.  Does the bikini top ride up and become misplaced easily?  Anyone who would care to answer, I would like to hear all of your negative experiences with bikinis, dresses, prosthetics, etc.  Thank you very much.

    Gran

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2013

    Hi Dawn,



    I couldn't wear a bikini but had a difficult time finding a flattering 1-piece that didn't look like something someone very much older than me would wear. Do you have a specialty shop that sells mastectomy bras & prostheses? I found a beautiful swim suit a couple years back in Kohls and the owner of the lingerie specialty shop sewed in a pocket for my prosthesis. Such a deal for $10! Lifted my ego that I had a pretty suit off the rack that was both flattering and pretty.

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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited March 2013

    Gran, I could not wear a bikini anyway, since I have destroyed skin on my stomach from the pregnancy with my daughter. I wear a regular one-piece when I swim. I got a good one from Nike, completely simple, with no bra or lining, and I got a similar one-piece from some other company that also works well. It has an almost entirely bare back, so it doesn't look too dowdy. 

    In one of them I sewed in a set of nipple shields from a genie bra that I backed with a pocket made from an old T. I stick a pair of small breast boosters (cutlets) in there, if I do not want to go entirely flat.

    For me, the hysterectomy I had in conjunction with cancer treatment got rid of the small bulge I had on my stomach (it was from adhesions, it turned out), so now I can at least wear a one-piece, which is cool. My daughter is 20, so it has been 20 years of never going to the beach, which kinda sucked.

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  • gcpommom
    gcpommom Member Posts: 883
    edited March 2013

    I found a mid-kini at Penney's last year...it already had 'pockets' which contained those thin foam modesty cups, so I took those out and put in my foam forms...the foam is light and does not weigh the top down.  They do hold water, but I just give my forms a good hard press when drying off with the towel and they are fine :)  The top is cut straight across the top, and the fringe adds a bit of camoflauge, then I adjust the straps to make it sit high enough.  Here is the top:

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  • beacon800
    beacon800 Member Posts: 922
    edited March 2013

    Love that blue half-kini top.  It is really cute.  I wouldn't mind one like that.

    I have not had any problems with the bikini top riding up.  I tried the light micro bead forms in a suit and they floated all over - didn't work!  I use the Victoria's Secret bandeau with it's own padding and that padding is substantial enuf to do the job!  They know what they are doing.  However the only style they have that works for me is bandeau - the  others don't have enuf coverage.

    If you are removing exisitng implants,  your situation might be different than a non reconstructed mx.  Ask your doctor about this or ask in a separate post.  I thnk there are some issues with loose skin, most likely solvable by a plastic surgeon, but it might pay to ask about this.

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  • Gran
    Gran Member Posts: 104
    edited March 2013

    I love that blue bikini top.  Thanks for posting!

    Gran

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  • AvoirEspoir
    AvoirEspoir Member Posts: 6
    edited April 2013

    Hello, I am Laura Burgess and I am a third year fashion entrepreneurship student at the University of Central Lancashire (UK). For my Final major project my business concept is to create a range of feminine lingerie for women whom have had a mastectomy. 

    Avoir Espoir will create a range of lingerie which will be trend led altering shapes, colourways and prints depending on the season’s trends. The mission is to create lingerie which will make women feel confident and help merge the health and wellness market with luxury fashion.

     I would really appreciate if you can fill out my questionnaire. Please be as honest as possible and constructive comments are welcomed. This will enable me to gain necessary research to create a product which satisfies the customer needs and wants. 

     The survey is in 3 parts, click the links below and it will take you immediately to the pages. Thank you for taking the time to fill out my questionnaire. All of your comments are valued and they will help me with finalising my collection. 

     http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KY6T282

     http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/965RVW5

     http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DYLYNXM

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  • Ladyluck11
    Ladyluck11 Member Posts: 9
    edited April 2013

    Before I had reconstruction I bought several nice, new swimsuits off E-bay.  There were much less expensive than in the stores.  After I decided to have the reconstruction I donated all my cammies, bras, swimsuits and prothestics to the cancer center in my doctors hospital.  assured me that any woman that doesn't have insurance or for other reason cannot afford all this stuff they will fix her up with donated items.  Try E-bay.

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  • Ladyluck11
    Ladyluck11 Member Posts: 9
    edited April 2013

    Gorgeous!!!

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  • Raye99
    Raye99 Member Posts: 1,350
    edited May 2013

    Hi Dawn,

    Check this website out. Cute suits, great customer service. Some of the bikinis are not mastectomy tops per se; however, they do have pockets where you can insert your forms. They even sell forms for I think $19.99, so you don't have to use your nice ones (if you use them).

    http://www.hapari.com/hapari-mastectomy-swimwear/

    Have fun!

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  • Mhutten
    Mhutten Member Posts: 1
    edited February 2019


    Hi Dawn444,


    I live in Holland and we have a special website Zwemkleding.nl for all the swimwear from all webshops there is in Holland. Zwemkleding.nl/dames/prothese


    I hope you will find something there and they can send it to the UK! It's hard to find this kind of bikini's of swimsuits. If i see something new i'll report this here also.


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  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited February 2019

    Mhuten,

    This thread has not been active for over five years and dawn44 has not signed in since 2013. The shop you mentioned sounds great

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