lop-sided?

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glennie19
glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
edited June 2014 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy

Is it BAD for your body to go w/o your pros??  I went to a new fitter (she says I'm a 34D) and she claims that it is not good to go without it, cuz you are lop-sided and your body gets thrown off trying to maintain symmetry.  I'm not that big, so going half flat some of the time doesn't seem like a big deal.  (Of curse, now I have truncal LE and need compression, but that's a whole other story)


Anyway,,, was just wondering if any of you go w/o your pros,,,  and how you feel.


thanks!

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  • Jennie93
    Jennie93 Member Posts: 1,018
    edited April 2014

    That sounds pretty goofy to me.  Actually, it sounds like something a person who is trying to sell you something expensive would say!  LOL.  Even large breasts like your D cup don't weigh all that much.  And if you are wearing good support for the "uniboob" then I can't see how there would be any issue at all.  

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  • Erica3681
    Erica3681 Member Posts: 1,916
    edited April 2014

    Hi Glennie,

    Many fitters still have the old-fashioned view that even those women who have had bilateral mastectomies need to "replace" their breasts with the weight of breast forms in order to keep their body in balance. For those who have had both breasts removed, that's totally incorrect. As long as one is symmetrical, there's not going to be any imbalance. For women like you, who have had unilateral mastectomies, the asymmetry can sometimes cause discomfort. For small-breasted women, it shouldn't be a problem, since the light weight of their remaining breast simply wouldn't be enough to cause a noticeable imbalance. For someone like you, with a D cup, if you choose to go flat on the mastectomy side or to wear an unweighted foam form, perhaps over time you'll feel a strain on one side. BUT this is all so individual. Especially as you're only a 34 band and you say you're not that big, you may not have a problem at all. Even if you do choose to wear a breast form, it does NOT need to be as heavy as your natural breast -- a lightweight silicone form will almost certainly be fine and probably more comfortable than the older, heavier style of breast form.

    Bottom line -- I'd trust your own body to let you know what you need. You may find that wearing a form when out but not at home works best, or perhaps you don't need to wear a form at all. If the asymmetry is a problem, your body will let you know. Plus, you mentioned that you have truncal lymphedema, so getting the proper compression is probably the most important thing for you and will make the most difference in how you feel.

    Sorry to be so wordy. Hope this helps!

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  • pajim
    pajim Member Posts: 2,785
    edited April 2014

    I don't wear my size D pros some of the time.  Working out, hanging around on a lazy Sunday.  I do wear a bra or sports bra to support the other side.

    None of the fitters has ever said I should always wear my prosthetic.  Seems odd to me.

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  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited April 2014

    Thanks everyone for your replies!  I thought it sounded odd too, as I'm not that big. My breast is mostly droopy cuz of so many years of going bra-less!  I was really small until I hit my mid-30's and then they suddenly started growing!

    The first fitter I went to measured me as a 36C, this fitter says I'm a 34D.  I SO wish I had been measured pre-surgery, but too late for that. However, it seems that either size calls for a size 6 form, and my first fitter gave me a 5 in silicone and a 3 in foam!  (go figure). this fitter says I need a 6, and now I have to wait and see if I can get it with insurance. I've only had the 5 for 6 months so I may have to wait.

    I was comfortable with going w/o the form for some of the day, and I was wearing a sports bra for the right side. However now that I have the truncal lymphedema, I need compression, so I'm wearing a bra for longer portions of the day to help with that.


    I just thought that was a weird thing to say, and was wondering if anyone else had been told that.

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  • TarheelMichelle
    TarheelMichelle Member Posts: 871
    edited April 2014

    I was quite the opposite. I didn't have a full mastectomy but had quite a bit of tissue removed.  I didn't wear a prosthesis at first. Then one day, a few years after my surgery, I went to a bra shop to buy some sport bras and the fitter suggested a prosthesis. I had never worn one. At first I insisted I didn't need one, but the fitted gently suggested I try one. Wow. I realized I had simply stopped wearing snug tops because my breast size was so different. I felt so much better with my prosthesis!  I'm between a C/D and I hated the lopsided look and the feel. Finally did fat grafting a few days ago to replace what cancer had taken away. I don't know how my body felt, but emotionally that lack of symmetry was important and yet I didn't realize it until that bra fitter suggested I try a prosthesis. And I said no several times before I finally tried it. 

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  • music2
    music2 Member Posts: 1
    edited May 2014

    I find wearing a compressive camisole helps me look more balanced when not wearing a prosthesis.

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  • Ariom
    Ariom Member Posts: 6,197
    edited May 2014

    I am also a Uni with a size "D" on the other side.

    I have many different foobs and Prosthesis, but I too, often go without, and don't feel any lop sided issues. The fitter that I went to, for my first bra and Prosthesis fitting, tried to tell me that I had to wear a weighted prosthesis all the time, but I like to wear a firm fitted shape wear tank or a firm Active wear bra or crop top with a zip jacket and yoga pants. I like to be really comfortable during my relaxation time and found this kind of casual wear took the pressure off when I was tender, and healing from the initial surgery and then when I had extra revision surgery. No one seems to notice when I go flat on that side

    One of my favorite forms is the weighted foam form by Tru Life, which doesn't weigh as much as the Silicone forms and feels really natural. I should mention too, that not all forms will be the same number size, they can vary quite considerably, so always check the size chart for the specific brand you are interested in, if you're purchasing without a fitter. 

    It is all just trial and error, you'll find what feels comfortable and suits you.

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  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited May 2014

    Thank you for the information Ariom.  I'm going to look for the Tru Life foam form. It's very hot here in FL in the summer,, which is here already! So a lite one would definitely be desirable.  I've tried a bunch of different bras so far,, and the weird thing is that one I bought on the spur of the moment,, online,, without trying on,,, and ONLY costing $21,  (compared to $80 for most of the rest)  has turned out to be the most comfortable one so far.  Go figure.

    I really didn't have a problem with going bra-less until that fitter told me I shouldn't be "unbalanced", and now that I have some truncal lymphedema and need to keep compression there,, well,,, something is necessary!

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  • Ariom
    Ariom Member Posts: 6,197
    edited May 2014

    You're so welcome!

    I hope you find more options that will suit you and make you feel comfortable o the point where you don't notice anything is different.

    I have recently reached that point and often actually have to feel my chest to check if I have a prosthesis on or not!

    All the best!

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  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited May 2014

    I often feel like that when I have my foam one on,,, the silicone one is heavier so I usually notice that. I want to try the weighted foam cuz I'm hoping it will be in between the two.  The foam one tends to ride up a bit,, and the silicon tends to weigh down if I'm wearing a light weight type of bra. ( my comfortable $21 one)

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  • Ariom
    Ariom Member Posts: 6,197
    edited May 2014

    Hi glennie! It sounds like the classic 3 bears! LOL One is too light, one is too heavy and one is just right!LOL

    I bought some fishing weights to try in a light weight foob, it wasn't a hugely successful exercise, but it did show that I wanted something, just like you said, in between the light weight and the silicone Prosthesis. 

    I get the feeling that you would like the Tru LIfe foam, so if you have a fitter nearby, it would be worth trying one on.

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  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited May 2014

    I have so many suggestions written down on various scraps of paper that I can't find them all!  LOL!!   I have to get organized!

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  • MaryFox
    MaryFox Member Posts: 121
    edited May 2014

    Wonderful lopsided bathing suits I could go for a couple of these if I was younger and slim.

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  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited May 2014

    I really like the orange one.

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