Post-lumpectomy bras when boobs are different sizes

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ElaineTherese
ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
edited January 2019 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

It's been four years since my lumpectomy so I'm assuming that my tissue has settled in wherever. During my lumpectomy, my surgeon took out a golfball-sized amount of tissue from my right breast. So, my right breast is somewhat less full than my left breast. At first, I didn't think that it would make much of a difference, but then I started to notice that my bras didn't fit well over the differently-sized boobs. They appear crooked because the left boob fills it more than the right boob. Anyone else have this problem? Any bra style recommendations? I don't like underwires, but otherwise, I'm open to any suggestions.

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  • gb2115
    gb2115 Member Posts: 1,894
    edited January 2019

    Can you stick something in there to fill it out and make it match? I feel like if you look closely you could tell mine aren't exactly the same size, but I don't think anyone is looking, lol!!

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited January 2019

    Elaine, some good stores that do bra fittings also do alterations on the bras. I'm full at bottom but kind of flat at the top, so the woman would fit me, then sew a kind of tuck into the bottom of the cup to take up the extra fabric that gapped.

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited January 2019

    ET - TLC Direct has some small shaped inserts that seek to equalize the bra cups - if you wear bras with any kind of liner or shield you can add these:

    https://www.tlcdirect.org/Molded%20Hollow-Back-Triangle-Shell-Breast-Form-Mastectomy-Prosthesis-American-Cancer-Society-TLC-Direct?did=30

    One of my implants sits significantly lower than the other due to the number of surgeries I have had and this type of item helps add some "bottom" weight to the cup on the other side to conceal that. I wear Coobie bras a lot and they have an open pocket with a shield inside so I can just add the extra one in on the other side to even it out.

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  • 32B
    32B Member Posts: 238
    edited January 2019

    I'm facing a similar issue. I had UMX with reconstruction, but I'm now pregnant so my healthy breast is growing and the other other isn't.

    Someone here pointed me to AnaOno.com. they specialize is bras for BC survivors. The cups have pockets so you can add padding. I actually had a couple of "normal" bras that have this feature too, and I've been stealing the inner layer of padding from the ones I'm not wearing to double up on the smaller side. The pads are breast shaped and fit easily over what you've got to even things out.

    I do still face some crookedness which I have to watch out for in a low cut shirt, but it works pretty well. Good luck! Let us know what solution you find.

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited January 2019

    Wow! Thanks for all the ideas, ladies. I'll try a few different options and let you know what worked best for me.

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  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited January 2019

    I'm really lopsided so wear a good padded bra for work, dressing up etc. (if you haven't checked out underwires, there are some good ones with so much padding around the wire that you don't even feel it). In a sports bra I look for one with enough pad/material so that the nipples won't show through (since mine go in two directions!) but don't worry if I look even or not......if someone is staring at my boobs while exercising, they already have big problems of their own!

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  • AliceBastable
    AliceBastable Member Posts: 3,461
    edited January 2019

    I've always hated underwires, so that's not an option for me. I've noticed that some of my soft bras look okay, and with others the difference is more noticeable. I occasionally use a very soft lightweight cotton sock folded/rolled to fit. I got in the habit of using one after the lumpectomy and re-excision so I wouldn't swell. Also, I think the Knitted Knockers are available for partial fillers. https://www.knittedknockers.org/

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  • alto
    alto Member Posts: 233
    edited January 2019

    I liked Bali Comfort Revolution. They go on sale as low as $15-20. They have light padding and you could put a little form in the smaller side, but the fit and paddingwill hide more subtle unevenness.

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  • OTMom
    OTMom Member Posts: 121
    edited January 2019

    Seconding the anaono recommendation. I've gotten a few things from them and they're all that I've found that's comfortable since the surgery. Also super nice customer service. In looking around online I also found that amoena bras come in a lot of different styles with pockets. I haven't tried them because I'm still too early on to buy a whole bunch of new bras, but figured depending on how lopsided I am once all is said and done they'd be another one to consider for easy padding of one side.

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  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited January 2019

    You can also get a prescription for a 'partial breast prosthesis'.

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  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited January 2019

    I have very different sized breasts but haven't had much of a problem with bras. I usually wear a stretchy/athletic type bra. On the rare occasions I wear more like a normal bra I wear one with slight padding and, while they are different shapes/sizes, I don't think anyone is looking or would notice other than me. ;-)

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