Business Selling Post Surgery Bras

[Octopus45]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone thinks there is a market for this.

I'm waiting for breast cancer surgery (a lumpectomy) and I've struggled finding post surgical bras, especially in my size (around a 30DD/32D). The ones that are available are pretty horrible tbh, think white, skin coloured with lots of hook and eyes as fastening, I cannot help thinking that velcro will be more comfortable. Surely its obvious that most women undergoing surgery want to wear things that make them feel as normal/nice as possible.

I'm not remotely artistic and need to do a lot of research so this is just a starting point. At the moment I've ordered one off Amazon that is probably too big (34 back).

Given there are already post-surgery bras on the market (including at least one red lacy one from a quick Google search), I'm not sure there'd be much of a sustainable market for pretty ones in addition.

There is clearly a want for them as you've demonstrated, but what proportion of women will be wanting these in addition to those already on the market, and how long for? As recovery from surgery is generally not more than a few weeks, I am not sure there would be enough women who can afford / want to buy special pretty bras for the sake of a small period of time.

I don't think it's a silly idea, but you'd need to do a fair bit of research to decide whether it's worthwhile and consider what other specialist types of underwear you could offer, as I don't think a shop selling nothing but lacy post surgery bras will be very sustainable.

I’ve had surgery for breast cancer - two lumpectomies and two mastectomies. There a few specialist companies that offer post-surgery bras, but they can be on the pricey side. But supermarkets and the high street also stock much cheaper post-surgery bras that can also be nicer. After my lumpectomies, I used a sports bra - no need for a “post-surgery” bra, before then going back to normal bras. It’s advantageous to have something you can zip up at the front and have it quite tight. Are you referring to immediately after surgery, or something more long term? If the surgeons take a lot out in a lumpectomy you can end up a bit mishapen, in which case you might want to wear a post-surgery bra with pockets permanently and use a prosthesis to fill in the gap.

I've never come across a bra closed with velcro, and google only found one, so that's left me wondering if there's a technical reason that means they're not very good

But places like M&S and Asda have a wide selection (different colours and styles, back and front fastenings, with/without pocket for prosthesis) - they seem to start in a 32 band, but there are (in M&S) 15 styles in that size

Bravissimo don't have such a wide range, but start at a 28 band

And I know there are specialist providers too

Meant to add, I don’t think you could have Velcro as the main fastening - it’ll soon come undone, because the bra has to be quite tight. My hospital gave me one for immediate post-surgery that had Velcro in the shoulder straps to alter the length, though.

@daisypond that's a good point about the velcro. When I visited M&S they hardly had anything, neither did John Lewis. I arranged a fitting at Bravissimo and was told that the company who supply post surgery front fastening bras has gone into administration. Will think about it some more, but suspect its a no go.

Sorry to hear that you’ve joined the club that no one wants to be a member of and best wishes for surgery and beyond.

I am two years post lumpectomy. I find that normal bras tend to irritate the surgical area and a lot of materials cause stabbing and sharp tingling in the areas with altered sensation..
The most comfortable thing I have found to wear is a crop top style with no hard seams or particular built in shape.
M&S do a lovely soft well supporting crop top but they are not particularly attractive. I would love to have something similar in a print or nicer colours.
I’m in a breast cancer support group in FB. May be worth joining one of the support groups to garner further opinion.

Many of us take aromatase inhibitors which can cause major hot sweats so using materials that wick sweat away from skin would help. Soft, flexible but supportive fabric that accommodates the weird shaped boobs you end up with would help.

There are a lot of very good post op bras for just after surgery when you need easy access during recovery but not much beyond that for lumpectomy. I think manufacturers assume that you just go back to normal bras.

Many women find that the change in sensation both permanent numbness and parasthesia ( nerves reconnect but often don’t function normally so you can get weird sensations often painful and spontaneous) is aggravated by texture of material. Something that moves with you is less likely to stimulate sensitive nerve endings.

I have a fitting next week for a prosthetic following a complete left sided mastectomy. My problem is getting a bra (of any sort!) that fits! I'm not wearing one at all at the moment, I'm going around with one saggy boob and one flat side. I need a 44 A or maybe a B, but probably an A. And one that won't ride up on the boobless side. Try getting that size! If you could provide bras that fit more people then go ahead! But if it's just prettier bras in the same sizes that are already stocked, there probably isn't a need.

It might be worth looking to see if you have an independent lingerie shop near you. My local one often posts on her socials about offering fittings post surgery and advice.

@Angrymum22 thanks for your feedback, that's an interesting point about the oestrogen inhibitors and sweat. Thanks also for the info about crop tops, I've got a couple that I bought for further down the line, tbh superficial as it sounds, I feel a bit depressed about having to put all my nice bras away and wondering if I'll be ever to wear them again. I've never been well endowed, but with a decent bra, I've always felt ok in bodysuits, tightish tops or wearing a halter neck or one shoulder top with a strapless bra, just feel a bit sad that all that could be over. I'm not ready to live in baggy tops and jumpers all the time, even though I am 48. Sorry if I've offended anyone saying all this.

Sorry to hear of your operation and hope recovery is going ok.

Just wanted to say if you do go ahead with your plan, and wanted to diversify, you could add post c section pants and pyjamas. There's so little out there that's suitable

You don’t need to live in baggy tops and jumpers. I don’t.

@daisypond that's good to know.

@Mummymummy89 thanks for the suggestion

@ghostbusters that's a good idea about looking for an independent lingerie shop. I know there's a breast cancer charity in Kings Cross that does this, I was going to go there but cannot fit it in next week.

I totally get what you're going through with trying to find post-surgical bras in a smaller size like 30DD/32D. It can be such a pain! In my opinion, one of the best bras for your size would be the Karlee Smith Surgical Bra, which has front closure for easy adjustability and soft fabric that won't irritate your skin. This bra come highly recommended by those who have had similar struggles finding the perfect post-surgical bra. Shopping for bras in non-standard sizes can be tough, but don't give up hope - there are options out there that will work for you!

I've really struggled to buy nice bras since my mastectomy. Yes m&s do them but they aren't pretty! And the specialist companies are £££ so I wear the frumpy m&s ones (which weirdly have got more frumpy over the last couple of years). I'm a 32B so very small.