Mastectomy bras & prosthesis
Hi all, would just like a bit of advice on mastectomy bras and prostheses. I got fitted a few weeks ago in one of the specialist shops and brought them both home with me that day. Maybe I was expecting too much but I thought once I had them I'd be able to go back to wearing some of my normal tops (I don't mean low cut ones) but that isn't the case. If I look down at my chest after wearing them for a little while I can clearly see the prosthesis where it has risen over the rim of the bra. It can be up to 2cms over the rim at times. Also if I lean over, the prosthesis will fall away from my chest and the fact I'm wearing it is really obvious. I assume this is caused by the weight of it and can't be helped but is the other normal? I feel like the prosthesis is too large for the bra and has no where to go except over the rim. I rang the shop earlier this week to ask them about this and they said it was normal but just want to check if other people have had the same experience? They're not cheap so I was expecting a bit more, do I just have to resign myself to wearing very high necked tops for the foreseeable future?
Thanks
Pamela
Comments
O girls not liking the sound of this at all. I'm four weeks past surgery so still in the temporary one so was looking forward to getting my permanent one thought it might b more realistic. I wonder does it make a difference what cup size u are - I would have assumed the smaller ones sit better and unfortunately I'm on the larger side. Any of you ladies out there finding their prosthesis working out ok for you as I'm not even sure I want reconstruction - I can't even think about that yet.
I think I'll ask my breast care nurse the next time I'm in the hospital. I did query it with the shop and went back in to see them, they told me it was normal but I don't see how it could be.
Bizzybee, the prosthesis is definitely an improvement to the initial post surgery one but I was just expecting more from the prosthesis. I can definitely wear tops I wouldn't have worn with the foam boob and you don't have to worry about it moving but I'm very conscious of leaning over and I just assumed that the bras would be made in such a way that this wouldn't be an issue. I'm only a B cup, so this definitely isn't a larger size issue. Hopefully you don't experience this too.
The breast care nurses in the hospital done my fitting ,and also went to the local cancer center in our home town and the girls there done my second one , I am only small so not really an issue for me as I can get away sometimes without wearing any prosthesis, depending on what I'm wearing .Does your prosthesis not fit inside your bra so should not really move ? Wearing the foam one at moment as find the jelly one heavy on my skin after radiotherapy.
Hello girls
I don't have a prosthesis but am I raving when I day that I'm sure my breast care nurses were showing me bras that have pockets where the prosthesis go into. I would suggest if you are not happy then maybe the breast care nurses can give you pointers. X
Just a note first before I forget for Anriocht its never too late to change your mind about reconstruction. I was at a seminar recently and the plastic surgeons were saying even 10/15 years after not too late and its all covered.
On the prosthesis I must be a bit thick I never went past the temporary one. I got a bra from the breast care nurses seriously was soooo sexy 
I got the temporary one and yes exactly the same when bending down etc. you can see it a mile away.
Hopefully this will all be sorted when I get new boobies for Christmas. Sorry cant really offer any help or advice... Maybe call the shop again?
Hi Pamela,
Unfortunately I am experiencing the same with my prosthesis. I went for a fitting in January, but didn't actually get my right size until March! And just like you when I bend down, the prosthesis is very obvious, particularly if the neckline is not high. Now, just like you I am not wearing low cut tops, in fact far from it. I opted not to go down the reconstruction route, when I was first diagnosed Oct 2012 and now regret it. I wish they had explained more about this very problem.
However, if you feel that the prosthesis is too big for your bra, certainly you should mention it to the shop you got it from. Take your time with getting the right size, it is very important that you are comfortable with the size, at least!
The first one I got, was far too big as well, even though I tried it on in the shop. But within a few hours of wearing it at home, it became obvious that it was too big.
It might be best to arrange another appointment with the shop and get the size right at least. Good luck with it!
Much love, Myra.