My comprehensive guide of what to wear after a mastectomy.
The short answer is: Whatever you want to wear.
If you want to wear the same clothes you wore before your mastectomy (single or double), wear them.
If you want to wear clothes that distract from the fact that you had a mastectomy, wear them.
If you want to wear more revealing clothes, wear them.
If you want to wear more conservative clothes, wear them.
You want low cut tops, v-necks, scoop necks, etc…? Great! Wear 'em!
Fitted shirts? Yep!
Loose shirts are more your thing? Awesome!
If you want to try out new styles you've never tried before, do it!
If you want to stick with what you know, great!
Bikini? Go for it.
One piece? That's cool too.
Want to swim topless instead? Go right ahead, it's probably not illegal as you haven't got breasts to bear and in a lot of places it isn't illegal even if you DO have breasts (but be sure to check local laws first)!
You want to wear a swimming poofy? Awesome, get yourself one or two.
If you don't, that's great, don't get one (or two).
If you want foobs to fill out your clothes so it looks like you have two breasts? Go for it!
If you don't want or don't like foobs, don't worry about it, they're not a requirement for anything.
Still want to wear bras or bralettes even though you've had a BMX? Go right ahead!
What about lingerie? You pick out and wear whatever you want! Chances are your partner is going to appreciate it and love how it looks regardless of how many breasts are underneath because your partner should be with you because of who you are, not because of how many breasts you have.
Basically, if anyone tries to tell you what you "should" or "can't" be wearing style wise after your mastectomy, eat them.
Or just give them a dirty look until they stop talking and dry up from the embarrassment they should rightly feel for being so rude.
Your body is your body whether you have two breasts, one breast, or no breasts, and you can dress it however you want to as long as you feel comfortable; anyone who tries to tell you what you "can't" or "should" wear based on the number of breasts you have is straight up wrong and needs to work on their manners as they're clearly lacking.
It's possible I got slightly fed up with well meaning (but still rude!) people giving me 'advice' on what to wear over the past year, or saying things like, "Are you sure you want to wear that style shirt? It just emphasizes that you're flat!"
Comments
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Thank you for the comprehensive list💕 I'm currently 6 days out from my BMX. I was wondering what to wear once I get these damn drains out 😜
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I think that sums it up extremely well
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Hell yes.
If I ASK you what should I wear, you can tell me. If I forgot to zip my pants, you can let me know. If I'm missing a shoe, you might want to mention it. Otherwise, I'll just do me, and you do you. I might have much bigger things to worry about than looking lopsided or boyish. I might be focused on saving the world, or just my own life.
Just saying, I really regret all the time I have spent reading fashion magazines and worrying about not being attractive enough. I wish I had spent that time studying politics or finance. I could have done so many more things with my life!
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"clapping"...well done
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OMG! Thank you for the laugh and cry and advice. I didn't know foods were a thang. Lol!
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OMG! Thank you for the laugh and cry and advice. I didn't know foods were a thang. Lol!
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Great advise! Do what feels comfortable to you. I will have one flat side and one fluffy side. I will be lopsided but that is okay as it was my decision to keep one of my breast.
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I'm new to this and don't know the acronyms. What does BMX and some of the others stand for
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I'm new to this and don't know the acronyms. What does BMX and some of the others stand for
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BMX stands for bi-lateral mastecomy.
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Hi Emmalee. Here's a link to the abbreviations: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/131/topics/773727?page=1#idx_1
I still go back and check them myself from time to time
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New here, I had a BMX almost 25 years ago. No reconstruction. I wear what ever the hell I want. I mean that. I've stripped naked at the gym. I earned those named scars and I don't think I need to explain them to anyone or why I didn't opt for fake boobs.
Scarfs...I love scarfs in the work place. Isn't life full of double standards?
True story: Right after my surgery, my pastor called me and wanted me to talk to another women who was new to the journey. I listened to her, I told her my decision, and she said, "You must have had small breasts that didn't matter to you". My first thought was of a ballerina. Are her legs more important then mine? I was nice and kept my thoughts to myself. However, it was a defining moment in my life. I vowed to never be defined on some outward manifistation of femininity.
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