Compression clothing after bilateral mastecomy?

georgia67 · September 2017

I had bilateral mastectomy Sept 1st. I have been wearing a tube type compression around my chest they put on at the hospital. I went to surgeon yesterday and had one of 3 drains removed. He told me to keep wearing the compression but the problem is it slips down and leaves some of the incisions showing above the garment. I was cut all the way under my arms towards my back I also am very uncomfortable under my arms that still have swelling (it fells like roll on one side) The left breast which had the tumor had a group of 3 or 4 lymph nodes removed and I have nerve damage down the underside of my left arm that may or may not go away. I have seen other women talk about wearing under armorer compression t-shirts. Have any of you had experience with this and what has helped? I know my surgery is new but just trying to keep ahead of lymphedema.

Bosombuddy101 · September 2017

I had my surgery on August 31, and the nurses refuse to remove my drains. I don't feel any pain from the surgery itself but I am beginning to feel a lot of discomfort where the drains attach to the skin---it's as if my skin is tightening around them. I wasn't given a compression garment to wear at the hospital but the next day after I got home, I woke up with swollen hands and arms. I immediately put on a snug fitting front zip sports bra that I had ordered prior to the surgery and the swelling cleared up. I don't understand why your incisions extend to the back? I haven't had a chance to see mine yet but the bandages aren't very long. I ordered two sports bras from Amazon for ~ $10 each. I hope your recovery is smooth and uneventful.

Mucki1991 · September 2017

I'm cut all the way across and to the sides scar will be in the mammary fold when it's all done. They didn't give me a compression bandage but the bra they have is pretty snug. They advised me to wear it to help move the fluid that was building up over the TE. I too have side boob but that will also be cleaned up at implant exchange. My surgery was July 14th and I still have some fluid and periodic swelling.

MrsWinnie · September 2017

i also had bmx aug 23. Wore bandage for 17 hours then nothing but the tape holding my stitchs closed. That came off today. Drains came out the 31st. I have a bit of fuild build up where my drains were. Surgeon suggestd compression. I went to pharmacist and because im tiny they suggested a wide band tension bandage (for sprain wrists) feels great on when walking or riding in the car..

ravzari · September 2017

I hate that tube top thing; that's what they gave me too, and the compression it provides is laughable and should be in quotes. That said, if it's the same one I had, they should have given you what are basically removable bra straps to hook to it to keep it from slipping; if yours is just a cut out abdominal binder, that's probably not an option though.

I ended up buying this post-surgical gynecomastia (basically, a mastectomy for men who grew breasts) vest from Underworks and it worked nicely and actually provided compression.

As a bonus, you can roll it up over itself for extra compression; I left it undone after it got past my sternum as I didn't need full abdominal compression but there's no reason you can't hook it all the way down.

I wore mine day and night for about 6 weeks then only when sleeping until about 8 or 9 weeks.

georgia67 · September 2017

Ravzari, Did you have the swelling under you arms and did this help? At times I feel like I have a band tightening up around my chest.

Compression clothing after bilateral mastecomy?

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