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BreastFree Living Breast-Free Bras and Camisoles

Bras and Camisoles

Bras

Until I had my mastectomies, I never thought much about bras. Since my surgery, I've become bra-obsessed, always looking for the the perfect mastectomy bra—sexy, but also comfortable and secure.

Once you've had a single or double mastectomy without reconstruction, bras take on a whole new meaning, and it's definitely not about showing cleavage. Instead, it's about finding ways to look and feel good now that your cleavage is gone. You may still want to wear attractive low-cut tops, but to enjoy wearing them you've got to feel secure about what will (or won't) show every time you bend over. You may still want to engage in strenuous athletic activities, but you don't want to worry about whether your bra will stay put while you're jogging, sailing, or serving a tennis ball.

There are hundreds of mastectomy bras on the market, but many of them are bulky, constricting, and downright unattractive. When the only breast forms available were quite heavy, a supportive bra was necessary to hold their weight. But with the advent of lightweight silicone breast forms and non-silicone alternatives, mastectomy bras can and should be cuter, sexier, and more comfortable. Manufacturers are slowly awakening to the need for better bras and there are now some good options available.

A link is provided for each bra recommended below, so you can see what the bra looks like and gather other information. Just click on the name of the item you would like to learn more about. Where possible, the link is to the company that makes the bra. In some instances, where links to manufacturers don't exist or don't provide adequate information, links to online retailers are used instead. The retailers are selected from among those included in our Helpful Links section. These are retailers who offer excellent service, fair prices, and a good selection of post-mastectomy products.

As with so many aspects of living breast-free, finding the right bra is a process of trial and error. The bras we feature represent those we think work well. But there may be other options that will work better for you. You'll find a lot to choose from, since a number of companies feature lines of mastectomy bras. These companies include American Breast Care, Amoena, Anita, Classique, Jodee, Nearly Me, and Trulife.

While many women find mastectomy bras that work well for them, others prefer to wear regular unpocketed bras. Still others prefer regular unpocketed bras with pockets sewn in. Some lingerie shops, as well as Nordstrom's department store, will sew pockets for you if you purchase a regular bra (or bathing suit) from them. Alternatively, sew-in pockets can be purchased. The American Cancer Society's TLC website sells Sew-In Bra Pockets. Sew-in pockets are also available from many mastectomy bra manufacturers.

American Breast Care T-Shirt Bra, #105

This T-shirt bra looks very cute and feminine and is designed for a more petite figure, with shallower cups and narrower straps than ABC's other T-shirt bras. The cup size runs quite big, as is true of most ABC bras. There are double hooks in back. Available in beige and black.

Amoena Jada Seamless Bra, #2149

This sturdy seamless bra is a good choice for everyday wear. Some women like to use it when exercising. The shoulders provide lots of padding and distribute weight evenly. There are three rows of double hooks in back and no underwires. The bra is made from a smooth, two-way stretch microfiber fabric that moves well with you. Two roomy pockets are provided so that it's easy to adjust your breast form even after you've already put the bra on. Breast forms worn in this bra tend to look softly rounded. The band stays in place and doesn't roll up. The Jada bra comes in several colors—candlelight, nude, merlot, and black.

Here's another popular Amoena bra:

Anita Mastectomy Bra, #5362

This lovely bra is made of breathable microfiber and has pretty embroidered cups. It has pockets on both sides and does not have underwires. This back-closure bra, with two rows of double hooks, provides a secure, natural-looking fit and is particularly recommended for women who are looking for a more petite bra that does not come too high under the arms. Available in white, black, and beige.

Here are two other popular Anita bras:

Classique Seamless Lace Bra, #769

This comfortable, good-looking bra is made of soft lacy microfiber, with gently molded, seamless pockets to accomodate one or two breast forms. With three rows of double hooks in the back and no underwires, this bra doesn't feel massive, as some mastectomy bras do. This bra provides good projection and the pretty lace pattern will not show through most fitted tops. Some women are irritated by bras that come up high under their armpits, a feature common to many mastectomy bras. If you're one of these women, this Classique bra might be the one for you, as it doesn't constrict you under your arms. At the same time, the thick but flexible band provides security and keeps the bra from moving around. A good choice for day or evening wear. Available in black, beige, and chocolate.

Still You Bra

This unstructured bra is a natural choice for immediate post-surgery wear, but many women find that even after they are healed, it provides a comfortable alternative to more constricting mastectomy bras. This bra is a good choice if you've had bilateral mastectomies or if your remaining breast is very small, since its unstructured style provides little support. It needs to be worn with unweighted or very lightweight forms. The Amoena Leisure Form, Style 126, a foam form described in our Breast Forms section, works well with this bra. Once placed carefully in the bra's pocket, the form will stay in place and feel light as air. The Still You Bra is a great choice for exercising and for hot weather. Available in nude and black.

Trulife Activity Bra, #330

For use as an actual running bra, this is an excellent choice. Made with cotton and lycra, the bra has triple hooks in the back. CoolMax® pocket fabric helps maintain a cool, comfortable environment for the skin. There is elastic binding on the neckline and armholes for support and comfort. The adjustable back straps are rigid, which provides support and minimizes movement. Available from most retailers in gray only (though manufacturer lists white also).

Camisoles

Camisoles are a wonderful way to feel feminine and cool in hot weather. They make great undergarments. If you enjoyed wearing camisoles before your mastectomy surgery, you may wonder if there's one you can wear now. Not only are there mastectomy camisoles, but some mastectomy bras feature lacy inserts that create the effect of a camisole when worn under a jacket. In addition, some resourceful women sew pockets into shelf bras on non-mastectomy camisoles. Wearing a camisole under a shear blouse is a nice way to feel sexy and revealing without needing to show cleavage.

Still You Tank Top

This so-called "Tank Top" is really a classic camisole. It has a shelf bra with pockets for breast forms. The manufacturer recommends wearing its Illusions breast form (a non-silicone form described in our Breast Forms section) with the Tank Top, but that form can be a bit heavy and pull the camisole down. A better solution is an unweighted foam form. As with the Still You Bra (see above), the unweighted form, once put in place, will stay put and feel extremely comfortable. Worn alone or under a T-shirt, the Still You Tank Top is an excellent choice for exercising. It also looks great under a sheer blouse or under an a jacket or open blouse. Available in nude, black, and white.

Still You also makes a Jacquard Lace Tank Top, a dressier version of their basic camisole. Available in black, white, brown, and pink.