Binder after mastectomy?

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MotherofFour
MotherofFour Member Posts: 24
edited April 2015 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

I had a skin saving simple mastectomy with expander put in yesterday. They sent me home in a bra-like binder. My surgery site feels better when it is off but they said I had to keep it on to reduce swelling. I am home now, and there is an area around my clavicle.that is getting sort of hard..a big indentation is there befween that and fhe former breast. I am going back to have them look at it tomorrow but I was wonderei g if anyone else had to wear this binde

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  • Meadow
    Meadow Member Posts: 2,007
    edited April 2015

    Mother, yes I was sent home wearing one. I wore it until my first follow up, I do think it helped with swelling. It got to be uncomfortable so I asked at my follow up if I could ditch it they said yes. I think it is recommended to wear something, as you are "training" your new body where stuff goes, does that make sense? But hopefully someone else with answers will respond soon. Hang in there!

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited April 2015

    I came out of surgery (and went home) totally 'strapped down'. Non surgery was 'squashed' as flat as surgery side (mod. rad. mast.) Was not 'bra like' thing that could be taken on or off - looked like I had wrapped myself with ace bandage. Stayed on til I saw surgeon and he cut it off. Never any bandages to change. There were no external stitches/sutures, just surgicall glue.

    The only swelling I had was after last drain removed and developed a large seroma.

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  • shelly4321
    shelly4321 Member Posts: 16
    edited April 2015

    MotherofFour I had the same skin saving bilateral with reconstruction surgery as you. The worst part of the whole surgery is the stupid surgical bra. I want to be free so bad. when they took it off at my BS follow up they said I probably don't need it, but to wait for the PS to tell me for sure, because he didn't want to tell me anything that would "Mess up his(PS) Masterpiece. " I don't know why it made me oddly happy that he called my empty skin sacks a masterpiece. So I am stuck wearing it until April 23 which also happens to be my 30th birthday, so I am hoping that the universe will make up to me by having the PS take out my drains and allow me to go without the surgical Bra.Well that was a whole lot about me when i just meant to say that I know your pain, and it is a sucky situation. just wait till the PS tells you what to do.

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