Bra advice for patients following breast reconstruction

Following breast reconstruction you will need to wear a support bra night and day for the first three months. This leaflet is designed to give you some help and information as to what you require and to help you choose the right size.

You need to do this before going into hospital.

• You will need a minimum of two full cup or sports bras – one to wear, one to wash. Do not purchase too many initially as your size will change as swelling reduces.

As everyone is different and some women experience more swelling than others, we advise you to keep all the packaging and labels intact. Bring your receipts with you into hospital and have a friend or partner on standby who is able to change them for you if they do not fit properly. You will be fitted into your bra before you are discharged from hospital.

How to choose your bra

Here are some guidelines to consider when purchasing your bras. The bra must be supportive, comfortable, and must not have underwire – these are the essential requirements. If possible, it should also be seamless.

• If possible, be professionally fitted to ensure you are wearing the correct size. You will need to buy a bra that is a band size bigger than what you measure but the same cup size. For example, if you are measured as a 34B, you need to buy a 36B. This will allow for any swelling around your chest and any post-operative dressings to be accommodated within the bra.
• It is also advisable to buy a bra extender, which is a small piece that fits into the back of the bra to allow more room in the initial post surgery period. It will save you having to replace expensive bras after only a few weeks.

A nurse in the plastic surgery department will help you with adjusting your bra a few days after your surgery.

The types of bras to avoid for the first stage of your recovery

We recommend that you avoid the following styles of bra for the first three months of you post-operative recovery.

Front fastening bras

While these seem more convenient and easier to put on in the early stages, they often don’t provide sufficient definition of your breasts due to the lack of cups to the front of the bra. This will affect the shaping and settling of your reconstructed breast.

“Post-surgery” bras

This style of bra is usually non-wired and full-cup in style however, they are not supportive enough for what you need in the first three months of your recovery.

A bra that you need to pull on over your head

This style of bra will be either too soft or too compressive for what you require in this stage of your recovery. This style will be difficult to put on due to initial restricted strength and movement in your arm and shoulder.

If you are having reconstruction using tissue from your tummy

If you are having a reconstruction using tissue from your tummy, you will also require firm control support pants. You will need to wear these night and day for three months, so a few pairs are recommended. In the initial period, wearing your ‘normal’ pants underneath can make them easier to get on and off.

When choosing which abdominal support garment to purchase, there are some principles you need to consider. The pants must be supportive (often labelled as ‘firm control’), high waisted and must not have boning. They will probably not be cotton; however, cotton briefs can be worn underneath for comfort if you wish. We advise you buy them in your usual size.

If you require anything different from what is mentioned above, the plastic surgery nurses will advise you.