Comfortable Clothing For Women After A Mastectomy Dr. Constance M. Chen, Breast Reconstruction Specialist Dr. Constance M. Chen shares advice for the most comfortable clothing for women after a mastectomy.
Comfortable Clothing For Women After A Mastectomy
It is critical that the postoperative period for the more than 100,000 American women who undergo mastectomies each year be as comfortable as possible. Dr. Constance M. Chen, a plastic surgeon and specialist in breast reconstruction, asserts that the selection of bras and other post-mastectomy clothing should be guided by the patient’s experience with pain, tenderness, swelling, surgical drains, and other surgical complications.
Dr. Chen, a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in the application of cutting-edge techniques to achieve the best possible medical and cosmetic results for women undergoing breast reconstruction, explained that women cannot immediately return to wearing the same bra, swimsuit, or other garment to support their breasts in the initial weeks following a Comfortable Clothing For Women After A Mastectomy. Your body needs time to heal, and you also need comfort and softness.
Basics Of The Bra
Insurance may cover some of the cost of postoperative undergarments. For instance, the AnaOno bras have an online form for submitting a doctor’s prescription. According to Dr. Chen, since it’s important to keep the breasts supported but not constricted during healing, women typically wear a bra all day, every day. In addition to comfort, there are many other factors to consider when selecting bras, such as whether one plans to undergo breast reconstruction and Comfortable Clothing For Women After A Mastectomy in the near or distant future.
Dr. Chen recommends wearing a soft, breathable bra with a wide, not-too-tight band under the breasts shortly after surgery when the incision and surrounding skin are still tender. In general, front-closure bras are preferable because they are simpler to put on and take off than back-closure bras with hooks and snaps.
Keep in mind that your choice of bra will also depend on things like whether you are getting a mastectomy and breast reconstruction at the same time. Some specialty bras, like the Masthead Elizabeth bra, have Velcro-adjustable areas and removable rings that can be used to hang temporary drains from incisions.
Be Aware Of Swelling
A good rule of thumb is that any bra that fits perfectly the day of surgery would not be wearable in the days or weeks that followed because of the swelling of the breasts. Even if the bra fits perfectly on the operating table, the swelling may prevent you from closing it a few days later.
For two to three months following surgery, or until all swelling has subsided, Dr. Chen does not recommend wearing a bra with an underwire or a tight fit. Dr. Chen suggests avoiding bras that are too tight, particularly those that leave marks or dings on the breasts. However, patients can return to wearing normal bras in the long run.
Breast Replacement
It all comes down to choices Mastectomy forces a major decision: Whether or not to have your breasts replaced? The decision will have an impact not only on your body shape but also on the bras and other clothing you choose.
There is a wide selection of pocketed bras on Amazon that hold removable pads for women who do not have breast reconstruction but still want to give the appearance of breasts in clothing. These bras include lacy bras, racerback bras, haltertop bras, plunge bras, seamless bras, and every combination and variation in between. On the product’s label, look for the phrases “removable cup” or “removable pad.”
Dr. Chen advised that these pads can frequently be stored in pockets on sundresses, athletic wear, and other swimwear. Even if they don’t have breast reconstruction, these options help women look more toned after surgery. Foam is used in the best removable pads and Comfortable Clothing For Women After A Mastectomy, which are extremely light and washable. They might come in A, B, C, and D cups, among other sizes. Different shapes are also available from some brands. The disposable foam pads are also reasonably priced—about $20 for a pair—in comparison to the silicone breast prostheses, which are bulky and float.
After mastectomy, some women who “go flat” don’t want their breasts to show under their clothes. There is no need to wear a bra at all for these women. Compressive flat bras are another option.
Dr. Constance M. Chen
Dr. Chen suggests that, in the end, if you plan to wear bras and other undergarments, you should choose something that makes you feel confident and comfortable. Find something else if something doesn’t feel right to you or makes you feel irritated or uncomfortable. Similarly, while you are healing, try to wear clothes that make you feel like your best self because doing so will help support your recovery and fil Comfortable Clothing For Women After A Mastectomy.
Board-certified plastic surgeon Constance M. Chen, MD, specializes in using cutting-edge natural methods to achieve the best possible medical and cosmetic outcomes for breast reconstruction patients. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery at Tulane University School of Medicine as well as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. read more about Comfortable Clothing For Women After A Mastectomy