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Prepping for a Breast Form fitting & Retailers

Explore when to shop for breast form garments, how to choose a retailer and prepare for your appointment and what questions to ask during your fitting.

Breast Forms: Fittings and Retailers

Find a Retailer in your Community

There are many retailers across Canada which carry breast care products. Medical specialist shops are one option and they often carry a large variety of products. Larger departments stores and lingerie stores can carry some mastectomy bras and breast forms too.

Consider asking for recommendations from your cancer care centre, friends or family members, or search online to locate possibilities close to you. Remember to call ahead to book an appointment and ask questions.

Preparing for a Breast Form Fitting:

Most fittings are more than an hour – call and book an appointment

Schedule 6+ weeks after surgery

Ensure you don’t have any swelling to find a proper fit

Wait until there’s no drainage at site

You should be completely healed: no wounds or bandages

Bring a fitted t-shirt to test how your bra looks underneath it

Nervous about going into a retail breast form shop?

Call ahead and ask some of these questions:

Do they carry a full range of products?

Can you try all of the products on?

Will they explain the differences in products to you?

Do they offer a private fitting room with a full-length mirror?

How busy will they be at the time of your appointment?

Is the retailer knowledgeable of various surgery types and treatments?

Bra Fitting Tips

Did you know that many women are not wearing the right size bra? Poorly fitting bras can ride up in the back, bulge under arms, straps can dig into shoulders, and lead people to feel self-conscious in their clothes.

If the back of your bra is riding up go down a band size.

The bra band in the most important measurement because it provides 80% of the support. It should be parallel to the ground all the way around.

If your breast is spilling out over the top of the cup, go up a cup size.

If the bra is digging into your breast, go up a cup size.

If there is extra cup fabric, go down a cup size.

Don’t try to make up for a poorly fit band or the wrong cup size by adjusting the straps – you’ll end up with less support and may hurt your shoulders. The straps should sit comfortably and not create any red marks.

You’re not in this alone.

Get fitting support at our Bras & Prostheses Workshop.

More Resources to Explore

What to Wear After Surgery What Breast Form is Right for You? Breast FAQ

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