Does anyone not wear a bra after implant reconstruction?

I am almost 5 years out from the exchange of bilateral implants.

I was told after the period of time (6 weeks) of required compression garment wearing and a soft bra, that I never needed to wear a bra unless I wanted to.  Well, that has never happened.

It took about a full year until my implants fully dropped and fluffed.  They look like I have a  well fitted bra on and everyone is surprised when I mention I never wear a bra.

I exercise on a regular basis and have worked on regaining my flexibility in my chest muscles and upper body.

Over the years, my chest feels softer and I was surprised one day in Zumba class that I actually had some jiggle and wiggle when I did a shoulder shimmy.

Sassa, that's good to hear.  That's what I hope I end up like.  

Several people have mentioned "drop and fluff,"but I haven't seen it explained.  I can sort of guess, but can you you enlighten me?

Dee, I've had my prosthetics since last October. They were pricey too - $600 for the pair - but my insurance covered it all. I couldn't wear them when I was having rads, but other than that, I've tried to give them a fair shot. I've been wearing them more in the summer since my clothing is less bulky and doesn't hide my deficiency. I can never wait to get home and take them off. I've also tried other sorts of breast forms that are supposed to be more comfortable - fiberfill, microbead. But they all have issues. I put them in a Coobie bra or sports bra that has a pocket for a removable foam cup. These lighter weight forms are more comfortable than the silicon ones, but they are even harder to keep in place. They either migrate to the center to form a uniboob or ride up so I feel like they're on my collar bones. As you said, I'm always tugging or pushing at the bra or forms to get everything where it belongs. If my clothing provides good camouflage, I go flat. It's the only way I'm comfortable. But that means I can't wear some of the things I like to wear. I don't care how many people tell me I look "just fine." In some things, I don't.  I was thinking tonight about a lacy vest I crocheted that just doesn't drape right with no boobs. I got a flush of pleasure thinking that I'd be able to feel good about wearing that again if/when I get recon. That thought confirmed to me that I do want to go forward with some version of recon. It will be a bonus to be able to look good in all sorts of clothes without even having to wear a bra.

Thanks for asking Shelagh about her experience. I'm not worried about a little tightness or pulling. Heck, I have that now just from the mastectomies. I'm working on loosening it up with stretching, but some of it might always be there. It's only potential loss of strength and/or chronic pain that concern me.

Do you know anyone who didn't need implants with their lat flaps? Most of the descriptions I've read said there's enough tissue to build a small or medium sized breast using the lat. That's all I want - small like an A cup or maybe an A+. But the PS was definitely talking about using an implant with it. 

Amy

Dee, I think the size of my frame was why my PS was saying I should go with a B. I'm not tiny. I'm 5' 6" and with a frame that's on the small side of medium I'd say.  For example my wrists and ankles are very thin. I'm going to take my silicon prosthetics in to show him. I find they feel a bit large to me. They must be an A since the bras the fitters set me up with range from 36A to 40A. (I never took bigger than a 36 before BC. The fitters said some of the bras run small hence one is a 38 and one is a 40. How can it "run small" when it's an actual measurement??) Anyway, I want as small as looks reasonably normal.

I'm not worried about revisions. I think that's likely no matter what procedure you have. As you said, they're fairly minor surgeries. In fact, if for some reason I choose not to reconstruct, I want some revision of what I've got left. There's a deflated balloon of skin on the right that the surgeon left me for recon purposes. The one on the left shrunk up from rads. There's also a dog ear on the right incision. I'd want to get rid of those.

My surgery is scheduled for November 11 if I stick with the lat flaps or some other procedure with this PS. If I end up going elsewhere for a different procedure, who knows when it might be. 

Amy

Thanks for the explanation, Sassa. I kind of figured out the drop part, but fluff wasn't intuitive.

After BMX and during fills,  I LIVED in my Genie bras.

After Exchange to 700cc saline implants (and no Alloderm), the PS wanted me in a non-underwire but supportive bra 24/7 for a few weeks (LOTS of pocket work).  

Then I wore underwires during the day and nothing at night. Finally he said it didn't matter what kind of bra I wore as long as I didn't go braless.

I do notice more ptosis 2 years out, but I have VERY stretchy skin from a big weight loss, and I'm 63. They still look way better than the Original Girls.

I often go without a bra when it's very hot outside but I do feel more comfortable with some support in the crease under my breasts... so what I usually do is cut the bottom part of the cups out of the bra, ( leaving the underwire or band under my breast) to get as much of a natural shape as possible.

Yaniza