A mastectomy bra can be one of the most important pieces of clothing in a woman’s wardrobe. All too often, women find themselves buying and wearing these prosthesis bras as a way to meet some societal standard of beauty, but there are plenty of mastectomy bras that can actually make them feel beautiful to themselves! Today, manufacturers create bras for prosthetic breasts with the same materials and attention to detail as they do other women’s undergarments. Choosing a mastectomy bra is not difficult, but there are considerations.
Initially, the a patient recovering from a mastectomy for other breast reconstruction is likely to be limited by their doctor to only the use of soft forms made of foam or spongy material. This restriction is usually lifted after several weeks. During this time, many women think about the future and begin to decide if they will use breast forms and what type to try. The silicone form is a popular model and mimics the movement and weight of a natural breast. If a woman chooses a non-silicone form, it is still easy to buy a bra capable of both in case she changes her mind.
Mastectomy bras obviously have a built in pouch for keeping a breast prosthesis firmly in place, but they often have additional features that women may or may not find appealing. Some cover the entire bosom area and may make a woman feel restrained. Others compress too tightly. Some are incredibly comfortable and have wider straps and lace trimmed edges along with soft microfiber materials. Again, the goal of many manufacturers is to treat the mastectomy bra no differently from a regular bra except for the addition of containment pouches.
There are many, many colors, cuts, materials and sizes available in prosthesis bras for today’s woman. Top companies like Anitia Care, Jodee, Playtex and more all produce quality bras. They are even available in strapless designs, too! For those wishing to save a favorite bra, prosthetic fabric pouches can be purchased and stitched into an existing bra with ease.
The most important thing when choosing a mastectomy bra is the fit. If there is no store locally to try them on, there are plenty of online retailers selling them. When in doubt, call the company and ask lots of questions and ask about return policies. Eventually, you will find a great brand and the perfect size that can be ordered again and again. Find your bra and get on with living!