Strapless Mastectomy Bras

Strapless mastectomy bras are not easy to find. Actually there are only about a handful of stores that carry this style of post-surgical lingerie.

Strapless mastectomy bras give women who have lost a breast to cancer a chance to wear strapless dresses again.

Strapless mastectomy bras are bras with removable shoulder straps and designed to hold one or two specially created breast forms or breast prostheses. They are usually worn with spaghetti string tops or dresses, strapless or off-the-shoulder dresses, and halter-style tops. You can wear a strapless bra any time you don't want to show your bra straps with what you are wearing. The post-surgical strapless bra looks pretty much like any other strapless bra, but is constructed sturdier to help support breast forms. Many include these features:

• Underwire (but not always)
• Reinforced sides
• Removable shoulder straps
• Inner pockets for breast forms or enhancers
• A small variety of colors
• A limited range of sizes

The American Cancer Society recommends using an experienced and certified mastectomy fitter for your prostheses and post-surgical bras. If your doctor cannot provide anyone locally, try a local lingerie boutique or store. American Breast Care is also offering certified training classes throughout the country through 2007. Ideally, a properly fitted post-operative bra should:

• Be hooked in the center row of hooks on bra band; if the band only has two rows of hooks, then it should be on the outer row.
• The silhouette should be smooth; there should not be any bulges from your skin on the sides of the bra, nor should the breast form be overflowing from the bra cup.
• The underwire, if applicable, should not be digging into your rib cage, nor should it make your breast scar uncomfortable.
• The bra's band should not be riding up your back. If it is, your breast forms may not be properly fitting, as well as the bra.

If your healthcare provider has not directed you to a post-surgical lingerie or personal health supplier, then look in your local telephone book under medical supplies. If that still doesn't help, there are a few places online to purchase strapless mastectomy bras:

Kimberly Ashmand sells a strapless lace bra that is wireless. The bra comes with a pair of removable, clear adjustable straps. The company also sells other decorative, removable straps including rhinestone. It comes in white or black lace and in sizes 34B to 36C. The bra is $79.95 and comes with a free pair of matching panties. The bra is 80/20 nylon/spandex, with the double microfiber pockets and 100 percent polyester padding. All elastic on the bra is Latex-free.

American Breast Care, one of the leading manufacturers of post-surgical bras, has a seamless and strapless t-shirt mastectomy bra available at Sylene. It comes with removable straps and has pockets for breast forms on both sides. This underwire bra comes in beige and in sizes 34A to 42B. The pockets are a cotton/spandex blend that will hold the breast forms securely in place. The bra hooks are made of a non-coated metal. The price is $53. Besides online, Sylene also operates a boutique in Washington, D.C.

For the same price, this same bra is also sold at Women's Personal Health, among other stores, in sizes up to 40D. It also is available in black..

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