At Mastectomyshop.com, we offer premium mastectomy clothing for strong women at a great value. One of our best product lines is our selection of surgical bras. Our wide range of post-surgical bras and vests are designed for maximum comfort to speed up your recovery after a mastectomy, breast reduction, breast augmentation, or breast reconstruction.
What is a Surgical Bra?
Surgical bras are made especially for women who have recently undergone any type of procedure on their breasts and are in recovery. Your doctor or plastic surgeon may recommend that you wear post-surgery bras for at least 4-6 weeks after your procedure.
They are built for comfort from ultra-soft, breathable fabrics like high-performance stretch knits and 100% cotton to avoid skin irritation. They typically come with easy dressing features, and some models incorporate pockets for optional breast forms.
Bras after breast surgery are designed with comfort and a gentle fit in mind. They are great for anyone who needs a cushioned, protective bra after breast augmentation, mastectomy, lumpectomy, biopsy, breast reduction, or breast reconstruction. Our bras support women and make recovery less intimidating and challenging.
Why Do I Need a Post-Surgical Bra?
A post-surgical bra provides gentle compression to target areas around your chest wall, underarms, and back. This gradient pressure helps to improve blood flow to the surgical site, flooding the area with nutrients and speeding up your recovery journey. It also helps remove waste products and lymph fluid from the area, minimizing chest and arm swelling and reducing your risk of lymphedema (a potentially dangerous post-surgical complication).
Bras after breast surgery are also crucial for women who have had an augmentation or reconstruction with breast implants. The pressure helps keep the implants in the ideal location, regardless of fluctuations in swelling. This can prevent capsular contracture and implant dislocation.
Features to Look for in a Post-Surgical Bra
When shopping online for a bra after surgery, there are several key features to look for to enhance your comfort during your recovery period.
Adjustable shoulder straps
Adjustable straps allow you to lengthen or shorten the straps to suit your body shape and frame. You can also find adjustable straps with a Velcro closure that allows access to surgical sites for easy wound dressing and cleaning. Look for bras with bra strap cushions for additional padding and comfort.
Front closures
Many women have limited arm and shoulder movement after breast surgery, making dressing painful. A front-zip closure, loop closure, or hook-and-eye closure enables you to put your bra on like a jacket without any overhead motion for easier dressing.
Wire-free design
Your breast surgeon typically won’t recommend wearing underwire bras for several months after your surgery. Post-surgery mastectomy bras feature wire-free support that lifts and holds your remaining breast tissue without painfully digging into the sensitive tissue on your chest or underarms.
Bilateral interior pockets
For women who have chosen to forgo reconstructive surgery, a breast prosthesis offers a perfect option to help you regain your shape. While you can’t wear weighted silicone breast prostheses for at least 6-8 weeks after surgery, you may be able to wear a lightweight foam or fiberfill form to help provide your body with balance and symmetry.
Wearing a pocketed bra after breast surgery helps hold the breast form securely without the need for adhesives that could irritate the skin. It also provides a barrier between the breast form and your chest wall to limit friction and promote better airflow, which is crucial for healing.
Drain pouches
After most surgical procedures, you’ll have drains placed in the surgical site to help eliminate waste and discharge from the healing process. Drainage tubes and pouches can be bulky and challenging to move or sleep in. Look for mastectomy bras with pockets to hold drainage pouches discretely against your body while allowing easy access when you need to change pouches.
Wide bust bands
A bust band that extends below the sternum provides additional support and compression for women after breast procedures.
Popular Brands
In addition to post-surgical and mastectomy bras, we offer other products that help you have a comfortable recovery journey and improve your quality of life after surgery.
One of our best and most popular products is the Wear Ease Compression Mastectomy Bra. It is available in sizes from XS to 4XL and in black and nude to easily coordinate with your post-mastectomy wardrobe.
It can be purchased in three different styles: original, with two removable drainage tube pouches, or with the tube pouches and two fiberfill breast forms. These options allow for significant customization and make the Wear Ease Compression Mastectomy Bra perfect for multiple stages of recovery after any type of surgery.
Another excellent addition to your post-mastectomy wardrobe is the Anita Initial Post-Operative Compression Bra. It is available in bra sizes from 32 to 50 and cup sizes A to E. The breathable material is a blend of polyamide, polyester, and elastane, providing the perfect amount of stretch and compression for augmented breasts and women after a single or double mastectomy. It also comes with pockets to fit a breast prosthesis on either side of your body.
Caring for Your Post Surgical Bra
Caring for your bra is crucial to maintaining the fabric’s stretch and compression and promoting optimal skin hygiene to prevent infection. Many post-surgery bras are crafted from antibacterial material to minimize skin infections; however, regularly washing your bras can eliminate microbes and offer broader protection.
Check if your bra is machine washable or hand wash only. Ensure your bra’s closure is closed and place your bra inside a washing bag; this prevents the bras from becoming tangled and stretched.
Use mild detergent and the gentlest cycle using cool water. Do not tumble dry your bras; lay them flat to dry to help them maintain their shape.
Support Your Body During Recovery
At Mastectomyshop.com, we understand the challenges of recovering from breast procedures, so we stock the right type of bras to support your body in the weeks after surgery.
We also carry a large selection of post-mastectomy swimsuits, camisoles, headgear, compression garments, and mastectomy bras. Use our online store today and let us help you find the perfect bra, swimsuit, or other post-operative wear.