A mastectomy bra is a specialty bra for women who have undergone a mastectomy (removal of breast). The surgery is performed on a woman after she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Following surgery, a woman would need to purchase a mastectomy bra and prosthesis. A prosthetic breast form is a silicone shaped like a breast to fill the area where the breast was removed. The mastectomy bra has sewn in pockets to hold the prosthesis in place. The bras typically are not sold in department or at a lingerie store. You will need to find a specialty store in your area that carry these bras or search on-line. Keep in mind mastectomy bras are more expensive than your normal bra price. If you have insurance, most insurance company will pay for the bras and prosthesis. Check with your insurance company to see how many bras and prosthesis you are to allowed to have each year.

Nowadays, manufacturers are making these mastectomy bras prettier and more comfortable. Having breast cancer and going through the surgery is hard enough. Why should you be forced to wear unattractive bras?

Anita International is one of the manufacturers that have created beautiful, feminine mastectomy bras. The Isabella style has a beautiful embroidery design, anatomically-shaped under the bust band for added support (no underwire), and two pockets to hold the prosthesis. It comes in white, nude, black, and sexy red. This bra will make you feel like a woman again. Anita carries over 10 different styles of bras and they do carry large sizes. Depending on the style of bra, the size range from 32 up to 42 and cup size AA up to E. Anita is a little more expensive than other brands due to their quality, design, and size range.

Another manufacturer that is reasonable in price is TruLife by Camp. They have a wide range of bras to choose from. Some of their specialty bras have front and back closures. The front closure bras are ideal for women with restricted mobility due to lymphedema, arthritis, or surgery. Trulife also carries a sports mastectomy bra. This is a great bra for women who live an active life. You can wear this bra to the gym or during sport activities. The CoolMax material is used for the pocket to manage moisture and provide coolness to the skin. The sports bra has front closures and adjustable back closures.

Another bra that TruLife carries is a three-way convertible bra straps. The attached strap can be worn over the shoulder (as a regular bra), crossed in the back, or as a halter top style. This bra would be ideal to wear under an evening dress, summer tank tops, and backless apparel.

Right after surgery, the ideal garment to wear is a camisole. The camisole is light, loose, and soft to the touch. The pockets are also sewn in the camisole to hold your breast form. The camisole can also be worn underneath clothing.

Women need to be educated and aware that they have a choice in selecting a mastectomy bra. If you go into a specialty store and they do not have the right bra for you, request that they order the one that will fit your needs.