Type of bra after surg

By Clm123 on 21 Jan 2013

I am 58 years old, 36ddd/f and am scheduled for surgery on February 21, 2013. Very, very nervous!!! After the first dressing comes off, would it be better to get a sports bra or a post-surgical bra with more support and compression? Also, how do you know what size to get considering the swelling?

Comments (7)

Deb uk 2 Feb 2013

Hi CLm123, Please, please try not to be scared! I am 48 and had my BR on 29th Aug 2012 and its the best thing i have ever done for myself. I too was terrified and this part is the worst aspect of the whole BR process! I have had 2 C-Sections and i recovered well but give me a BR any day! Yes you'll be a little bit sore but nothing like an abdominal op. Yes you will be tired- just sleep and rest when your body tells you to. I was a 34 GG/H (UK size) and i am now a 34 Full B/small C. I love my new boobs and for the 1st 6 weeks i did nothing but eat well, (lots of vitamin C) and walk as much as i felt happy with initially in my garden then gently around the village in stages, and each day i had a bird bath; eg washed my hair (my partner did this for the 1st week) and kept my boobs dry for 10 weeks at my PS instruction. I wore a bra bought from the NCT which was just cotton and front fastening for the first 4 weeks. Once my nipple sutures were out and my paper sutures off, i wore a genie bra (i found this brand the best as Ahh bras fray after a few washes in my experience) day and night. I still do now and just 1-2 night a week i go without a bra. My Ps said at 4 months I could wear an underwire if i felt comfortable but it wasn't nice. I waited until 2 weeks ago and it feels better. But Genie Bras (and now i'm back at work) i wear the pads with it and i feel really comfortable. Swelling? You will know. If you wear a soft bra like Ahh or Genie you but your top eg size 12 or 10 whatever. If you buy a wire free bra look what size you think you are and try it on. Any discomfort dont wear it! PLease dont be nervous. A BR is very liberating! x

waited2long 31 Jan 2013

I strongly recommend that you get a surgical bra. Marena makes good ones. Get one with at least a 2 inch band at the bottom, this keeps it from riding up and rubbing on the incisions. I am 8 weeks post op and have tried a variety of bras, but I am still most comfortable in the bra my PS gave me after the surgery. I was 34dd/ddd pre op and was sent home in a size large. It felt tight at first, but became looser as the swelling decreased. You may want to ask Kimmers (community manager on this topic) because she posted a link to a website for surgical bras. If you buy a surgical bra it will be the best $50 you spend this year;)

mcl06 28 Jan 2013

Definitely not a sports bra cause they might be a little tight. I highly recommend 18 hour playtex bras! I bought the "cooling comfort" ones & they work great :)

Clm123 29 Jan 2013

Thanks for the info. I have been hesitant to buy a sports bra because my feeling is that it will not give me the support I need. Of course, as big busted as I have always been, a sports bra has never been an option. How do you buy a post surgical bra if you do not know what size you will be after surgery?

mcl06 29 Jan 2013

Sorry for not adding that part-My plastic surgeon & I discussed how I was gonna be a high b/low c so he suggest I bought a B cup because the 18 hour playtex bras run big. I hope that makes sense. I was a 36DD before my surgery & I bought a playtex 36B so it fit just fine cause it's tight enough but it has some space too for your paddings.

lucy_catgirl 1 Feb 2013

I love that bra!! That is the only one I don't get sore in. It has the right amount of compression and support. I was a 40DDD before surgery so bought a 40D because of swelling concerns. Now at 5 weeks, it is a little to big because of the lipo. Just remember this is a hook closure so you may have trouble with putting it on. Honestly, my PS had me in an ace wrap for the first week and a half and I liked that better than a bra. Good luck!