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Breast Forms are
MUCH more anatomically correct than even 10 years ago and more closely match
a woman's remaining breast in look as well as weight. EACH breast form is
designed to match a particular type of breast and surgery and each bra is
made differently to match an existing breast type and breast form.
Each woman will wear a different style and size.
For example, imagine
3 women who all wear a 38C bra. One is 25 years old and still has nice full,
rounded breast; one is 45 years old and has breast-fed 3 children, and the
3rd is a 65 year old who lost all elasticity in her breast tissue years ago.
They all wear the same size bra but certainly not the same style. The first would need a 'full' bra / breast form, the second perhaps an
average and the third woman, a very shallow bra / breast form. When you consider the
different breast types talked about above, the many different types of surgery
and the fact that bras are made differently, these 3 women may wear the same size
bra but none would wear the same style bra or breast form.
For these reasons, we highly recommend that your initial fitting of a
breast prostheses and mastectomy bra be done by a Certified Mastectomy
Fitter and then, ideally, checked once each year, especially if you gain or
loose weight.
We strong recommend that
you not be fitted for, or wear a silicon breast form and a regular pocketed
mastectomy bra until 5 to 6 weeks after your surgery. Prior to that time you
are still swollen and your incisions have not yet healed.
Try a leisure bra with a
soft 'puff.'
We do understand,
however, that there are people who simply don't have access to a boutique
with a Certified Mastectomy Fitter, or who already know their correct bra
and prostheses size, or for whatever reason, cannot be fitted personally.
Following is a sizing chart. It is just a beginning since each woman's
breast and each surgery is very different.
THE BRA BAND SIZE
With your bra on,
measure underneath your bra band, starting from the center of your chest.
Measure around and back.
Add 5 inches to this.
Example: 33" + 5" =
38". This is a size 38 bra.
If there is an uneven
measurement, with the added 5", go to the next even size.
Example: 32" + 5" =
37". Go to 38".
THE
CUP SIZE
Again, with your bra on, measure over
the fullest part of the remaining breast from the center of your chest to
the center of your back.
Double this
measurement.
Example: 20" x 2 = 40"
Subtract the Band
Measurement From the Cup Measurement
Cup Measurement:
40
Band Measurement: 38
Difference is
2
Your bra size is 38B. THIS IS A
GUIDELINE
If this measurement
is:
The same or up to 1"
larger than the bra size
....A cup
1-2" larger than the
bra size
. B cup
2-3" larger than the
bra size
C cup
3-4" larger than the
bra size
D cup
4-5" larger than the
bra size
DD cup
How to measure
for a bra and cup size with a double mastectomy:
Measure for the bra
band size using the above directions.
You may be any cup
size you want but do take into consideration your height, weight, and figure
type.
Measuring for a Form
|
|
|
|
|
Bra
Size |
|
|
|
|
Cup
Size |
32 |
34 |
36 |
38 |
40 |
42 |
44 |
46 |
48 |
|
A |
2 |
3 or
4 |
5 or
6 |
7 or
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
B |
3 or
4 |
5 or
6 |
7 or
8 |
8 or
9 |
9 or
10 |
9 or
10 |
10
or 11 |
10
or 11 |
11
or 12 |
|
C |
4 or
5 |
6 or
7 |
8 or
9 |
9 or
10 |
9 or
10 |
10
or 11 |
11 |
11
or 12 |
11
or 12 |
|
D |
5 or
6 |
7 or
8 |
9 or
10 |
10
or 11 |
11 |
11 |
11
or 12 |
11
or 12 |
12
to 14 |
|
DD |
6 or
7 |
8 or
9 |
10
or 11 |
11
or 12 |
11
or 12 |
11
or 12 |
12 |
12
to 14 |
14
to 16 |
In the above example, your bra size is
38B so you would wear a size 8 or 9. This is not very precise which is
why we STRONGLY recommend you be fitted by a Certified Mastectomy Fitter
before ordering.
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