Camisole with pockets but not shelf bra

Hi Lojo,

I've mentioned this camisole a number of times before, but I see that you're new to the forum, so probably it's way far down in the threads. I love a camisole that's made by Still You, a small company. It's called the Still You Post Surgical Tank Top, but it really looks like a classic camisole and while it's a good post-surgery garment, it's also a staple to have in your permanent wardrobe. It has pockets for unweighted or lightweight forms, which are held up by a thin elastic band, so I guess technically it's a shelf bra, but about the least you could get away with and still have pockets. I had a bilateral mastectomy in 2006 and, although I don't have pain or nerve sensitivity, I still find that tight bras and certain fabrics bother me (even when I had breasts, I hated constricting bras). The Still You camisole is made of a soft, comfortable material that always feels good against my skin. 

Now for the bad part -- at $68, it's not cheap. However, I still have the original camisoles I purchased over seven years ago and they're in excellent condition. I machine wash them and dry them flat. So, although purchasing them involved an initial investment, it's been worth it for me. In fact, I've now purchased quite a few of them in all the available colors, since I don't know what I'd do if the company ever stopped making them. They truly are my go-to garment. I wear them almost every day and wouldn't wear anything else for exercise. Worn with unweighted foam forms, I find they give me a very natural-looking shape and once I position the forms in the camisole, they stay put all day. For me, wearing the Still You camisole is as close as I've come to feeling as if I'm wearing nothing at all.

I have no relationship whatsoever to the company, though I've talked to the owner on the phone a number of times and find her to be thoughtful and caring. I've recommended the camisole on my non-profit website, BreastFree.org, because it meets the criteria of being a high-quality, comfortable garment.

Hope this helps!

My favorite is the Amoena Valletta.They make a Camisole with a built in bra with pockets, and also a T shirt with a bra with pockets. Again, as Erica points out, not cheap. I have found a couple on Ebay at reasonable prices.

The bras inside these garments are not tight or restrictive, but as everyone is different and our sensitive spots are in different places, it may not suit you.

My big bugbear is the dreaded "Fall Forward". I hate how the normal camis and tanks are cut too far down the chest so that the weight of Silicone  prosthesis will make it all fall forward if you bend over, showing an empty space right through to your waist.

I have found some higher cut camis and tanks with pockets that can hold a soft foob just like Erica mentioned. I love the Marika  sports bra, which is more like a crop top with pockets which holds a soft foob and it is a really comfortable because it sits much further down on the chest well away from the incision.  It is all just research and trial and error to find what suits your situation.

I spent a lot of time on Erica's site Breastfree.org, when this was all new to me, and I leaned a lot from the women who have told their stories and uploaded their pictures for others to learn from.

All the very best!

Hi Lojo,

Glad you're doing well. It's sounds as if you're already thinking creatively, so with some trial and error (and more healing) I hope you'll be able to find bra/camisole/breast form solutions. Really glad to hear your BS was supportive. I get messages at BreastFree.org all the time from women who aren't so fortunate. 

I can relate to your idea of getting A cup breast forms. I was a B/small C cup before surgery and started out with B-sized breast forms. I've gradually moved to A or even AA size forms and feel that I could go flat without people really noticing. If you choose silicone forms, the smaller the size, the lighter the weight, so that's also a plus. 

As far as the small infected area along your scar line, I assume you've checked with your BS or his nurse about ways to speed up the healing. I had radiation after my first cancer (I had a lumpectomy at the time) and, as I recall, they wanted the surgical site to be fully healed before starting radiation. 

Hi Ariom,

I looked at the Valetta when it first came out but can't recall -- does it have a hook closure in the back of the shelf bra? Or is it elastic all around? I gather it's supportive enough to hold a silicone form. Is that right? I notice that it comes in clothes sizes -- i.e. U.S. sizes 8, 10, 12, etc (maybe different in Australia?). I also recall that the fitter in the mastectomy shop where I looked at it said that the cup size of even the smallest camisole, the 8, was a B. I didn't try it on because it looked too big for me and for my size 3 (A cup) breast forms. 

Don't mean to hijack this thread from Lojo, but I'd appreciate any details on the Valetta as I'm thinking of adding it to my recommended camisoles list--even though it may be too large and structured for some women, others (like you) seem to love it. If I've learned anything on this journey, it's that even the best products almost never work for everyone. Thanks!

Very Good answers! I have found the Still You Post Surgical to be the best, even though I am 4 years from surgery now. My chest is very sensitive, I hate any elastic around me, so the Still You is the winner. I am buying one every other year, I have 2, and the older one is just as good as the newer one. No dryer for it, and I do machine wash but I put it in a lingerie bag.

I also have gone from a C to a B. So yes, you can make yourself more comfortable.