Bra straps cutting my skin

[Chimchar]

I have stupidly massive boobs, and through wearing heavy duty bras, I have misshapen collar bones.

I can only get one style of bra that fits me, and as a result, the skin on my shoulders is thin and prone to being very dry. This week, the skin has actually broken.

I'm left with a huge, open sore under where the strap goes.
I've been wearing a blister plaster on it, but it's not really healing because I obviously have to wear a bra during the day.

What can I do? Anyone got any ideas or advice please?

[KatharinaRosalie]

Have you been fitted recently? Because sounds like it's the straps supporting the weight, but it should be the band. How about strapless?

[Chimchar]

I wear a 30K so strapless not really an option.
I haven't been fitted that recently. I suspect I need a bigger cup size if anything.... back size fits well.
Thanks for replying.

[KatharinaRosalie]

ah yes I can see the choice can be limited. What's the current bra, maybe there is something on the market with straps in a different place? Like full cups have them closer together than balcony ones.

[Chimchar]

It's a Panache Jasmine.
I have had so much trouble getting any bra to fit, over the years. I don't really have much choice about the style or anything...

I'm not sure if there are any new styles that I haven't tried on.

I hadn't realised about the strap width being different on a non balconette bra.

[Hamsterian]

I had the same issue. Even for your size, please try some strapless bras in a speciality shop because it does help - even if you don’t wear them all day. Do you take your bra off as soon as you get home? Or even in the car/ train if you have a long commute (and change into a less supportive but softer bra). There are also some little prosthetic things which look like mini shoulder pads, and you wear them between the skin and the bra strap. They are soft and distribute the weight. I have had good results with them.

[KatharinaRosalie]

I don't know how supportive Molke bra would be in your size, they work really well for me.

[Chimchar]

Thanks both. I really appreciate you answering.

@KatharinaRosalie I'll have a look at the brand you mentioned.

@Hamsterian Where would I get the little things to protect my skin? What are they called?!

I change in to a bravissimo racer back sleep bra thing as soon as I get home. It's like 'aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh' when I take by bra off! 

Which shops sell k cups with small back size? I really need to try on. As long as mail order do returns, that's fine. Bravissimo is the only one I know of.

[Hamsterian]

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Soft-Silicone-Bra-Strap-Cushions-Pain-Relief-Non-slip-Holder-Shoulder-Pads-new/174130575968?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item288afdba60:m:m5xyUxxsLk9OVAwFQDs1-Uw

I’m not good at links! If you google bra strap cushions or pads, something should come up!

[Chimchar]

@Hamsterian thanks. The link worked perfectly!
They look ideal. I've not seen those before. I'll order them straight away!! Fingers crossed they do the trick once my skin has healed. 👍🏼

[ilovecherries]

I had a reduction earlier this year, previously a K cup, so I feel your pain. My collar bones are probably permanently visually damaged but they no longer hurt. Jasmine was my go-to bra as well, but I just had to find something else to wear on alternate days to reduce the friction - basically spent almost an entire morning in bravissimo your find one. It’s not ideal, but the first thing is to heal any open sores, and I found I could only do that by wearing crop top type bras for about 3-4 days. Obviously couldn’t leave the house during that time. After that I used a combo of body glide or silicone pads (from bravissimo) under the straps to keep them healed. Monkey didn’t work for me at all, but might be worth a try. And yes, like you, I was wearing the correct band size - I think there is just a point where the straps start to HAVE to take the strain as well.

[ilovecherries]

Molke not monkey.

[Chimchar]

@ilovecherries are you happy with your new boobs?
Can I ask what size you reduced too? I worry that if I had new boobs, the rest of me would look much older and saggier in comparison!!

[ilovecherries]

I’m waiting for some revisions - I’m a bit lopsided. I started at a K (sometimes KK). My surgeon insists he got me to a C. Bravissimo and JL say different - I’m still FF. BUT they are hoisted now into the correct position and no longer hang to my waist. I certainly wanted a fair bit smaller but they do look much better and I would say my pain has reduced by 80%. I was 61 when I had it done, and the rest doesn’t look too horrific in comparison at all. I wish I had had it done 20 years ago, even though it’s not perfect.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

I think surgeons aren't actually the best at judging size! Friend had a reduction from 30H, was told she would end up about a d. Nope, FF. Still made a massive difference though.

I'm a similar size to you OP, and my best fitting bras are from a company called Ewa Michalak which is Polish. Their sizes run a little small in both band and cup although it varies by bra (I have lots, happy to advise if you decide to try) but they are absolutely fantastic. They also have (or had at least) a style with extra broad padded straps - they also customise so if you try them and they work they'd probably be able to do you a different style with extra thick straps. You might not need it though, if you could just have a few different bras to rotate it would make a huge difference.

There's also a Bravissimo bra called the Alexa which is a semi racer. It does only go to a J, but being Bravissimo brand it also runs small in the band (compared to Panache and Freya) so it could be worth trying a 32J to see on the off chance. Something like these might help too.

[Chimchar]

Thanks again everyone.

The skin is finally healing after ten days of wearing thick dressings. It's no longer bleeding, just a bit scabby and yucky.

I bought the silicone strap things. Wore them today and they're a total game changer! Much more comfortable and my shoulders weren't dented half as much as usual, so a huge thanks to you @Hamsterian and @StatisticallyChallenged

[Hamsterian]

Great news! Hopefully your skin will heal quickly. PS - sometimes in the Summer the silicone pad things can become a bit sweaty, I just use some talcum powder for that x

[Dm5678]

I also had a reduction 7 years ago. I was a 30H and it's the best thing I've ever done. My posture changed completed. I could exercise without discomfort and embarassment. I went down to a D. I now feel like my boobs are tiny even though people still tell me I have big boobs! The biggest difference is the upper cleavage. I had cleavage in the most modest of tops. I really felt uncomfortable. I did it through the NHS. Quite a few ladies in my family have done it since and nobody has any regrets. Having misshapen collar bones and blisters sounds like agoney.