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What To Wear After A Mastectomy Without Losing Style

What To Wear After A Mastectomy Without Losing Style

What To Wear After A Mastectomy Without Losing Style

What To Wear After A Mastectomy Without Losing Style.

What you wear after a mastectomy is so important! Before I had mine, I had to prep the type of clothing I had to wear when I come home from the hospital. Let me tell you they were not cute, but at that time I just needed convenience. The surgery I got was a bilateral (double) mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. My surgery lasted about 9 hours. Ugh, the thought of it already sounds painful. The week before my bilateral mastectomy, I had a sentinel lymph node surgery. Essentially, they took out the first 4 lymph nodes and did a biopsy to confirm if cancer has spread to that area. The biopsy confirmed negative and that is how I was a candidate for immediate breast reconstruction for the following week. I’m not sure if this is a typical process for bilateral mastectomies, but this is what my breast surgeon’s process.

5 Reasons Why What You Wear After A Mastectomy Matters

There are a few reasons why what you wear after a mastectomy matter.

Fall Outfit Ideas Fall Outfit Ideas

Lack of Mobility

After surgery, you’ll lose A LOT of your mobility and upper strength. I remember when I attempted to put on a t-shirt and it was difficult to put on because of my limited range of motion. So you definitely want something that you can easily slip on and slip off. Think of choosing clothing with open front tops (like a cardigan), buttoned shirts, or wrap dress.

Lack Of Flexibility

Lack of mobility also comes hand in hand with lack of flexibility. I could barely stretch my arms out or up. So the thought of putting on something that has to go over my head seems impossible because you can’t lift your arms over your head.

Swollen

Your chest area will be swollen if you have expanders or had immediate breast reconstruction. So my chest needed something that was roomie and loose fitting. Depending on your surgery, you may need to wear specific mastectomy bras. I recommend talking to your surgeon prior to making any purchases. For me, I was told not to wear a mastectomy bra and after a few weeks, they provided one for me.

Access To Drains

Those surgical drains will be there with you for at least a couple weeks. My final 2 drains (I had 4 total – which I believe is the most common) were there for 4 weeks ugh. Which means you need easy access to the drains. Something to hold them together so they won’t get in the way and so you can also easily drain them out.

Pain

After a major surgery which basically amputates a part of your body, you’ll be in a lot of pain. So putting on and taking off clothes is a hassle. Definitely need something you can easily slip on or something that someone can easily slip on and off for you. Therefore, you just want to feel comfortable.

My Post-Mastectomy Clothes

As I mentioned earlier, my outfits post-mastectomy were not cute. Overall, I didn’t mind. I wore something that was lightweight and breezy (for all those hot flashes – thank you cancer side effects) yet very comfortable. I wore these type of pants. And I also went to Target to wear these types of pjs (I also owned floral ones too) that have buttons. Also, I went up a size so that there was room for my chest.

Post Surgery Outfit Ideas

However, when I finally got the okay to leave my house (I was basically bed-ridden and was restricted from doing anything) I did not like my clothing options. I couldn’t wear my normal button shirts because they wouldn’t fit. My chest was still swollen. The only option I had was my buttoned pj tops.  And I had no where else to place my drains. I either let them just hang out on each of my sides or try to safety pin it to the inside of my top. But of course, you can still see the bulge of the drains.

So it definitely added on that feeling that I didn’t feel like myself. Dressing in something I love gives me a boost of confidence. To me, a good outfit is a like a super power. I’m shy and reserved but when I have an outfit I love, I feel more myself and I feel more confident.

What To Wear After A Mastectomy Without Losing Style

Over the Summer I discovered the brand With Grace B. Bold, and immediately loved them. With Grace B. Bold is a fashion brand that focuses on post-mastectomy clothing. The founder, Megan, has a background in fashion designing and after her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, she wanted to create something that combined fashion and function.

What To Wear After A Mastectomy Without Losing Style. What To Wear After A Mastectomy Without Losing Style.

After experiencing and seeing her mom’s challenge post-surgery, she was inspired to create something that she believed would help breast cancer survivors after their mastectomy. She created a garment that is functional post-surgery and at the same time stylish.

Let me tell you that if I just saw these With Grace B. Bold pieces hanging on a store’s clothing rack, I totally would have bought them! It’s so my style! And knowing that they serve a function makes me love them even more! These wraps are seriously the best thing to wear after a mastectomy without losing style. I wish I had them when I had my surgery. I truly think it would have helped me with my confidence.

With Grace B. Bold kindly loaned me these pieces.

With Grace B. Bold Pieces

With Grace B. Bold has 2 pieces for post-mastectomy clothing: The Ann Elizabeth and Eileen.

What To Wear After A Mastectomy Without Losing Style.

The Ann Elizabeth is for sure perfect post-mastectomy. It comes in the colors Warm Grey and Black. In this post, I’m wearing it in black. The reason that the Ann Elizabeth is perfect for mastectomies and breast surgeries is that it has pockets for the drains! The built in drain pockets makes it easier to keep them secure and out of the way. As you can tell in my photos, you can’t see any bulging. I borrowed some drains (not attached to me) so I could test out if they really work. And it totally did!
Post Mastectomy Clothes Post Mastectomy Clothes Post Mastectomy Clothes

The Eileen is slightly different from the Ann Elizabeth because it doesn’t have any pockets for drains. This is great for surgeries that don’t require drains afterwards. This wrap can be used so you can easily take on and off your top. It also comes in the color Warm Grey and Black. I wore the Eileen in Warm Grey.

What To Wear After A Mastectomy Without Losing Style.

Both wraps are incredibly soft! It’s made with natural bamboo fabrics so it soothes and doesn’t irritate the skin especially after radiation. I’m sure you all know due to treatments, you’re experiencing sensitive skin.

I’m seriously obsessed with the style. It’s so chic and it helped me feel good about myself!

Sizing Information

For sizing, I do think they run big. I normally wear a size small and I am wearing an XS for both tops. For reference, I’m 5’4″ and my chest is 32C. I usually wear a size small or size 4 in tops.

My Outfits – Tips On What To Wear After A Mastectomy

I wanted to create 2 different outfits so you can see how versatile the With Grace B. Bold’s wraps are.

Outfit #1

The first outfit is a dressier outfit, and I’m wearing the Eileen in the Warm Grey color. I paired it with sailor wide-leg pants and Marc Fisher pumps. These wide leg jeans fit true to size. These Marc Fisher pumps are one of my favorites! The block heel is what makes wearing heels very comfortable. My cousin doesn’t wear heels often and I convinced her to buy the same exact ones. This is now her go-to pair of heels!

Post Surgery Outfit Ideas

Outfit #2

The second outfit is a very casual outfit. I’m wearing the Ann Elizabeth in the Black color. This is the one with the interior drain pockets. The jeans I’m wearing are the Authentic Stretch denim (ankle length) from Everlane. Everlane’s Authentic Stretch denim are the stretchiest jeans ever. They’re not jeggings at all because they are made with denim. They’re so stretchy that someone demonstrated doing yoga in them. However, they never lose their structure or get stretched out by the end of the day. I dedicated a post about these jeans last year. They fit true to size.

What To Wear After A Mastectomy Without Losing Style. Post Mastectomy Clothes.

If you’ve been following me, you know all I do is talk about Naturalizer. And guess where my white sneakers are from… Naturalizer. If all their dressier shoes are comfortable I knew I just had to try on their sneakers. LOVE THEM! Definitely comfortable sneakers without looking chunky. White sneakers are in and you can basically wear them with anything. I’ve worn them with dresses & skirts. They fit true to size.

Keep Thriving

Hopefully this post was helpful. I hated how I felt after my mastectomy. I felt so unfeminine and hated that I didn’t feel myself. But know that you are not alone in this. Having breast cancer is already bad enough and the experience we have to encounter that goes with surviving is a whole other layer of challenges. But know that you just have to keep believing in yourself and do what makes you happy. For me, it was fashion.

xo RD

 

 

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Comments

  3. roxy says

    What a lovely top! I am impressed by its functionality, and I’d love to wear it even though I have not had a mastectomy. This is such a great, fashionable option for people who have had the surgery!

    Reply

  5. rebecca says

    WOW girl! I can’t believe you went through this! Sounds like these were really great for you and they look good 🙂

    xx rebecca // the crystal press

    Reply

  11. Annie says

    Rach, I have been following your journey for a few months, and I want to start by thanking you for being so candid about your experiences. I’ve thankfully never had cancer myself, but I lost my grandmother to breast cancer and several close friends, and I had no idea about most of the things they (and you) had gone through. Society wants to believe breast cancer is all pink ribbons and “save the boobs” shirts, but there’s (obviously) SO much more to this awful disease, and way more to the stories of the incredible women who fight it.

    Thank you for being honest and talking about your experiences, helping to remove the stigma/shame that might exist and prevent women like my grandmother from talking about what they went through, and most of all, thank you so much for sharing such incredible tips to help women going through this understand that they aren’t alone, that there are ways to feel normal, and like you discuss in this post, that they will still look beautiful, no matter what they have to endure. You are truly a beautiful person, inside and out, and I wish you nothing but the best of health and happiness going forward.

    Reply

    • [email protected] says

      Annie, this comment brought me to tears. You have made my day, not only because of our kind words because you fully understand the message I’m sharing the realities of breast cancer. Thank so much!!

      Reply

  14. Margot says

    This brand is amazing for all the women like you who are going through a mastectomy.
    Theses tops are super useful and super cute !
    Thanks for sharing your story about your cancer. It’s so interesting and I’m sure It can help so many people who are dealing with the same disease.
    I really hope you’re better now.
    xx
    Margot
    https://troughthepasturesofthesky.com

    Reply

  16. Stephanie says

    What an awesome company you discovered! It’s amazing to know that there are brands out there who consider all sorts of individuals and what their personal struggle with style may be. And the outfits you created with their tops are SO cute. I especially love you in those wide-leg pants!

    Reply

  17. Ashley says

    I love that brands like With Grace B. Bold are designing functional pieces for people post-mastectomy that are ALSO cute and on trend. So important to feel beautiful after a major experience like that. You look amazing and I’m loving these jeans on you!

    -Ashley
    Le Stylo Rouge

    Reply

  19. Matija says

    I got a little teary reading this. Good on you for being so open about your journey. I’m sure this post will help many women in the years to come!

    matijascorner.com

    Reply

  24. Marlene says

    Thank you for sharing this post, so important and those tops are cute and functional!! These little things make such a difference and not enough people know about them. My mom had a mastectomy, wish I knew about these tips then! Thanks for sharing

    Reply

  30. Sugar Lane says

    You are so brave for surviving it and for talking about it! I feel a lot of us are so ignorant about problems like that, even when nowadays they are (sadly) so common.
    This reminded me of the issues I had with clothes when I was 13-14, I had to wear a steel corset for a couple of years to correct my scoliosis. I remember searching for clothes that would hide it, and I remember being so jealous of my friends who wore cropped tops and showed their navels… I even stopped hugging people so nobody will notice.
    I am so happy to hear there are people nowadays designing clothes that serve such an important purpose, thanks for sharing this, I hope it helps a lot of readers,
    have a great weekend,
    S

    Reply

  32. Nailil says

    Love your outfits. Even more how resourceful your post is. Pinning in case it can reach someone who needs to see it. 🙂

    Xx, Nailil
    thirtyminusone.com

    Reply

  34. Sarah Lindner says

    What a great post, and looking radiant girl! Not the type of post I see often (or even at all), so it’s refreshing to see a resourceful post helping women who’ve gone through this process. Thank you for sharing! xoxo, Sarah

    Reply

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