Underwire experience

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beacon800
beacon800 Member Posts: 922
edited June 2014 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy

I never used an underwire bra when I had natural breasts, but finally decided to experiment with one.  Result is really nice!

I have a bilateral and am using Amoena size 4 foobs with the "full" cup.  These are new for me as of late last year. 

What I tried was inserting these foobs into an all stretch fabric, unstructured Hanes bra.  This bra is to hold the foobs but it is not sufficient to support them enuf.  So, over this I used a Victoria Secret, Body by Victoria full coverage underwire bra.  The result is really attractive!  Basically wearing two bras at the same time, but one is so minimal and actually creates some padding for the underwire one to sit on. 

Never thought I could stand an underwire (even the thought was terrible!) but it really was better than the wireless bras I have as it supported the foobs better and took weight off my shoulders.  I don't use these every day, more of a special occasion use when I want a certain look, but it is a nice thing to do if you feel like it and your medical situation allows you to use an underwire. 

I'm thinking the underwire can have pockets sewn in if I want to skip wearing the Hanes bra underneath, but so far this is a fun and very good looking combo. 





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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited February 2014

    You can get mastectomy under wire bras.  Basically, they're  the only bras I wear.   I have always liked/worn underwires as to me they're the most comfortable.

    You can find some very inexpensive bras the have pads in them in pockets very similar to mast. Bras at WalMart/KMart/Target/etc.   When the pads are pulled out,  pros can be slid  in easily.  I have a couple that are bright/pretty colors.

    Here the med supply place where I get my bras  has to order in bras for me to try on as they don't keep my size on hand in any style - lots of larger sizes but not smaller ones.

     

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  • solsticegirl22
    solsticegirl22 Member Posts: 30
    edited February 2014

    I find the underwire hurts too much on my chest wall because of my sensitivity and nerve damage.  However, I didn't throw my underwire bras away.  I just made a little slit at the end of the underwire and slid the wire out.  I don't need the support cause I wear Amoena Contacts size 4 and they stay put!  This way I still get the prettiness and round shape of the bra without the painful wire. 

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  • beacon800
    beacon800 Member Posts: 922
    edited February 2014

    solsticegirl, that's cool about the Amoena contacts  being comfortable.  So they don't create any skin issues for you?  I've been curious to try them but concerned it would be a problem for my skin.  Do the edges of the foob rub you at all?  When I wear a foob right up against my skin I don't like the edges, but that might be because it can move, unlike a contact foob.

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  • solsticegirl22
    solsticegirl22 Member Posts: 30
    edited February 2014

    Hi Beacon,

    I was really reluctant to try the contacts because I have extremely sensitive skin and allergic to just about everything since rads.  I also have one side that is more concave then the other.  But I got so fed up with the constant adjusting and rubbing of just about everything else and terrified that something might fall out if I wasn't wearing a mastectomy bra that I decided to try them.  I find them more flexible and real-like then any other silicone or foam prosthesis and if you keep then clean, they stay really well, and they don't irritate at all.  You still need to wear a bra though but just a light weight one is enough.  Many women, including myself have found that they really help with lymphedema - less swelling under the armpit.  We're still not sure why.  They come with a soft backing you can put on if you want to slip them into a mastectomy bra and not use them as contacts.  I do that on days when my chest pain is bad or I know I'm going to sweat a lot.  You can wear them either way.  They are quite expensive though - I wouldn't have got them if my insurance hadn't paid half.

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