Please follow your own breast care team's advice. This page is general information about bras and fitting. It is not medical guidance, and recovery differs with each operation and each person.
Straight after surgery
Your hospital will tell you what to wear. In general, people are advised to choose a bra that is:
- soft and non-wired,
- front fastening, since raising your arms may be difficult,
- free of seams over the scar area, and
- roomy enough to allow for swelling and dressings.
Many hospitals offer a soft, lightweight temporary prosthesis, sometimes called a "softie" or "cumfie", to wear inside the bra while you heal.
Once you have healed
When your team says you are ready, you can be fitted for a permanent prosthesis if you would like one, and for bras to wear with it. In the UK, breast prostheses are available on the NHS, normally through your hospital's breast care or surgical appliance service. Ask your breast care nurse how it works locally and how often a replacement is offered.
Types of prosthesis
- Full prostheses, usually silicone, which replace the whole breast shape and are weighted to balance the other side.
- Partial prostheses or shapers, which fill out the breast after a lumpectomy or where the two sides differ.
- Lightweight and foam forms, for comfort, sleep, swimming or warm weather.
- Stick-on prostheses, which attach to the chest wall.
Pocketed bras
A post-surgery or mastectomy bra has a fabric pocket inside one or both cups to hold a prosthesis in place. Other typical features are:
- a higher centre front and underarm, to cover the prosthesis and scar area,
- full, soft cups with smooth seams,
- wider straps and a deep band, to carry the weight evenly, and
- non-wired construction in most styles.
They are made in everyday, sports, nursing-style front-fastening, and swimwear versions, and in a wide range of sizes. Ordinary bras can also be adapted with a sewn-in pocket, and pocket kits are sold for the purpose.
In the UK, people who have had breast surgery may be able to buy mastectomy bras without VAT. Retailers that sell them will explain how to claim.
Where to be fitted
- Your hospital's breast care service, for prostheses and advice.
- Department stores and larger retailers. Several UK chains offer dedicated post-surgery fitting appointments with trained fitters, in private rooms. Book ahead and say what the appointment is for.
- Specialist mastectomy-wear retailers, in shops and online.
- Independent lingerie shops with trained post-surgery fitters.
Breast Cancer Now publishes guidance on bras and prostheses after surgery and can point you to services.
What a good fit looks like
- The band is level and comfortable, and does not press on scars or tender areas.
- The prosthesis sits fully inside the pocket and against your chest wall.
- Both sides look level and match in shape under a fitted top.
- The bra stays in place when you lean forward.
- The straps do not dig in. A properly weighted prosthesis should not drag on the shoulder.
If you have had reconstruction, or surgery on one side
A reconstructed breast may have a different shape and position from the other, and it will not change with weight or age in the same way. Fit the bra to the larger or fuller side and balance the other with a partial prosthesis or removable pad. The approach is the same as in bra fit for uneven breasts. Ask your surgeon when wired bras are suitable.
If you choose not to wear a prosthesis
Going flat is a valid choice. Soft crop tops, bralettes and camisoles with a shelf lining are comfortable options, and some brands design specifically for flat chests after surgery.
Your size may change over time
Swelling, treatment, medication and weight change all affect fit in the months after surgery. Re-check when things feel different, and at least once a year.
Frequently asked questions
When can I be fitted for a bra after a mastectomy?
Your breast care nurse will advise. Soft, non-wired bras are usually worn first, with a lightweight temporary prosthesis if you want one. A fitting for a permanent prosthesis and bras normally takes place once the area has healed, often around six to eight weeks after surgery.
Do I need a special bra?
If you wear a prosthesis, a pocketed bra holds it securely. It also has a higher cut at the centre and underarm, wider straps and soft seams. Some people adapt ordinary non-wired bras by sewing in a pocket.
Can I wear an underwired bra after breast surgery?
Many people can eventually, but the timing depends on your surgery and healing, and on any radiotherapy. Ask your surgeon or breast care nurse before you do.