What's involved with a fitting?

Well I'm back from my fitting......went on Thursday and came home with 3 nice new bras and my form which is an Amoena Natura 1S 643 size 3. Found out my proper bra size is 38AA......LOL....pretty small! Anyway, the two ladies there were awesome. Very friendly and knowledgeable and made me feel quite comfortable. Mine is tapered towards to bottom to match my remaining breast. With the new bras and form on I look really nice, better than before actually since I never used to pay much attention to proper fit and lift and used to just wear inexpensive sports bras. Since I also have a hard time finding the proper sizes, they will also sew pockets into other items for me such as swim wear.

I found out that for me the Ontario Health Insurance pays for half the cost of the form and a bra and then our own benefits cover the rest. I can get 3 new bras every 6 months and the form can be replaced after 2 years. The ladies at the shop took care of all the forms as well, I didn't have to do a thing except walk out the door wearing my new foob. So far i'm finding it comfortable and was able to wear it all day......very long day......yesterday. I just need to get the lift and tuck down pat and positioning. I like the softness of the form and how it feels real when in a bra. I still have a bit of puffiness around the armpit area but the new bras don't irritate it as much since they are softer and fit better than my old ones. I can use it for swimming as well but chlorine will break it down faster. After that I went on a shopping spree to spoil myself and look better with my new boobie.

I waited 5 weeks which the women at the shop say was a little early but I've healed fast.

Otter.......hahaha......they didn't call me "Flatsy Patsy" for nothing when I was young! I just never new how small till now! I figured I was 36A till I got fitted.........I just never had it quite right and found it awful to try get A sizes any where. But AA.......sheesh! She used the term "Tiny"....ah well, now that things fit right it gives me some OOMPHH!!

I used a fluffy right after my drains were removed and then waited a few weeks after surgery...my fluffy kept riding up and I wouldn't have a clue

til I looked down or my husband told me I was floating....you can get the bra and prosthesis and just wear it when you feel it would be a good thing.. 

Ok Viv where did you find a 36 AA. I had  my surgery right before Christmas. I went for a fitting 2 weeks later ( didn't know any better and the surgeon said it was time). I have worn a 34A since I had kids.  The mast bras in 36A would have fit 2 of me. They told me I'd need a 34AA but noone makes them. I got a form ( size 1 and just wear it inside a regular bra, when I wear a form. I recently tried the lightweight foam form, which is more comfortable and I like better, but it shifts. I wonder if I should try another place to see if anyone actually makes a bra to fit me

Trish

Aw, Viv, why did you have to go and remind me of that???

There is a decent clothing store in my town, and they have a large lingerie section. Actually, the store is part of a large chain.  Well, OK, it's Dillards.  By far the majority of bras they sell there are underwire bras (which--thanks Barbara/Erica--I guess we can "fix" by pulling the wires).  Most of the rest are for, oh, what's the term?:  "full-figured women."  My poor 36A boob is out of luck.  The only racks where they have bras even close to fitting me are racks labeled "youth" or "teen".

Being carded for buying wine in the grocery store is one thing.  Having to buy a bra off the "teen" rack at the age of 56 is a whole different thing! 

AAAARRRRRGGHHHH!

otter 

Trish,

I am pretty sure that Amoena makes 34AA bras (I think I have some of them in my large collection of bras) and I also think that Anita makes mast. bras in a 34AA.  The Amoena bras (in my opinion) run larger than other manufacturers of mast. bras so you would have to take that into consideration.  I have an ABC form that is a size 2 and that seems to fit well in most 34A mast. bras.  I have an Amoena contact form that is size 3 that fits in regular, non-underwire 34A.  I also have an Amoena contact form in a size 2 that fits equally well in a regular/non-mast. 34A.  Long story as to why I have 2 different sizes.

Thanks

I'm glad to hear the Amonea can run large. I was getting kind of down about it. I never had much, but I've worn As for over 30 years. That nothing was small enough just didn't seem right. My regular bras do fit differently after surgery. It might be nice to have at least one mast bra that fix ok.

I'm a 36A, and I hear ya about finding something that fits!  When you've had a unilateral mast, it certainly is a challenge!

I recently bought an ABC Petite T-shirt bra on-line, and it's the best I've found so far.  Their regular T-Shirt runs on the big side, I took a 36 AA in that one, and the straps were wide and rubbed my port.  The petite T-Shirt runs pretty true to size.  The straps are narrower and all elastic, which I really like.  When you're an A or AA, you don't need the support that better endowed women do, so you don't need industrial strength bras.  I never have a problem with the straps staying up with this bra, which I do with many bras.  It has stretch foam cups, and makes up for any "discrepencies" in your remaining breast if you've had a unilateral mast. 

One problem I have is that the silicone form pulls the mast side of my bra lower than my remaining breast, and it's a lighter version.  I bought a couple of the Amoena 126's, and now I'm even.  Plus they don't make me sweat like the silicone does.  I was getting damp even in 20 degree weather, hate to think what it would have been like this summer!  If you're an A or AA, I really don't think that needing the weight to balance you is an issue!  I mean, just how much can they weigh?! 

Finding bras that work is definitely hit or miss.  My insurance only covers certain styles/makes.  There are only 2 shops that my insurance covers.  One of them only carries 1 brand of prothesis, and 2 brands of bras, and they only recently opened a branch that's a reasonable distance from me. As someone else mentioned, too many of the bras are "iron maidens", definitely overkill for someone who certainly doesn't need that kind of support.    I knew before I even started looking that it was going to be a bit of a challenge, since I checked out mast bras online to see what was being offered.  At least some of the bra manufacturers are starting to get a bit more modern in what they offer.  I mean, how many of us want to look like the yeoman from Star Trek??!!  My husband refers to that as "space tits".  Get the "point"?

I got my prosthesis about 1 month after mastectomy. The fitter was a physiotherapist, spec. in bc-patients. Fitting, prosthesis + one bra was included in the operation.

I have an appointment to bc plastic surgeon 5 monts after the primary operation, so the need of the prosthesis will be very short.

I was fitted at 8 weeks.  If I was to do it again, I would have waited longer, both for my body and brain to heal more.  Previously I was a 36C and I brought my old plain jane Playtex X Your Heart with me to the fitting.  The fitter said, oh, you are so petit (5'1") you should be in a 36B.  So I got the Amoena Natura Light in that size (5).  I should have stood my ground and gotten a bigger size.  When I were them, I don't feel too bad, but my husband teases me that he liked the old size better.   When I look at myself, I would have liked the extra projection.  My joke is that I have to get my bottom half sized down to match my top half!  I was thinking of some way to put something behind the Amoena's for more projection.  Perhaps some foam panels or something to fit in a C cup mastetomy bra.  Insurance pays for new forms every two years, so I look forward to getting a bigger size then.

txgrl01

Thanks so much for starting this thread-I'm at 5 weeks (tomorrow) after bilateral mastectomy, and I've been trying several things and avoiding going for a fitting.  Since I'm in central Texas and my surgeon recommended Petticoat Fair, it was really great to hear from someone else who had been there, done that. 

I am (or was) a 36C and always felt slightly top-heavy, so maybe I'll go a little smaller.  My husband disagrees, but was diplomatic to say that I looked a little 'better-proportioned' with my softee fiberfill minus some of the fiberfill!

Thanks for airing some of the concerns we all have.  I sometimes think that even great doctors and nurses deal with this so often that they forget we're a little lost. . .

Shar

This thread has been very helpful but I do have a question.   I'm having a mastectomy on June 9th - four weeks later will have 6 weeks of radiation.   My breast surgeon has said that I will not be comfortable wearing a prothesis for about 4 weeks following surgery but then since I have 6 weeks of radiation he says I will not be comfortable wearing one THEN either.    I looked at him and said - "well - what am I suppose to do that whole time???"     Does anyone have any insight in to this?   I noticed some of you mentioned some little light weight forms.   I do know that they are fitting me with a camisole before I leave the hospital - that has little pockets for the drain AND has little cotton like "boobs".    Any suggestions for the time after sugery AND the time during radiation?   Oh yes - forgot to mention - I will have reconstruction about 6 months following radiation - probably around January or February.   Also - I am very active - what do you suggest to use in a swimsuit?   Do they make special "boobs" for swimming?   Any help on this would be appreciated.   Thanks so much!!

I went to be fitted about 4 weeks post op which turned out to be a mistake, now wish I had waited another 4 weeks.  The landscape of my operative site has gradually changed, all the swelling is gone and the size 5 I walked out of the boutique with is clearly too small.  I am not symetrical and struggle to keep the form on the side of my chest it's supposed to be on, unless I adjust the bra more then the band digs into my ribs and makes me uncomfortable.

Today I went to a different fitter, got resized and am considering a different brand.  Currently the small one is Amoena Natura Light 2s size 5.  The fitter suggested  Trulife 472 silk plus size 7.  No decision will be made until my breast surgeon writes a letter of medical neccessity for the insurance company.  Having already paid for one foob they certainly don't want to pay for a 2nd since it's been about 6 weeks, not two years.  Tomorrow I'm going to make a trip to the boutique and talk with the original fitter.  Maybe she'll work with me???

I did learn something interesting, they may pay for at least part of a custom prosthesis - it is considered a nonsurgical reconstruction.  Also if I opt for the custom form that will not alter my benefits when it comes to surgical rescontruction.  That made me feel better.

hi, i too need info on beening fitted.  Had my surgery mid JUne...why cant we just buy a $8.00 bra (wire one) and put the protheses in???? maybe, it was already said here? Its the waiting time..qeez. I see my doc next week...i pray he says " one more week"