Hi,

I am getting banded next week. I was wondering what you do about wearing a bra in the days and weeks while you are recovering. Does a bra rub against your port, if not is it uncomfortable putting one on anyway?

I don't recall having any problems with a bra. My port is down and to the left of my breasts.. I think I wore my nightgown & robe home from the hospital and didn't bother with putting one on for a few days.

Your post should be down just above your bellybutton on the left. I had 2 incisions right under my left breast. I didnt wear a bra for about 4 days but after that I tucked some gauze between me and my bra just so the glue wouldnt rip off. It worked just fine. Same with a sports bra.

I didn't wear one for a few days after surgery - one of my incisions was right at the bra line and was uncomfortable with anything rubbing on it.

My port is on the right side below the bra line so it didn't rub but honestly, i didn't even consider wearing it while i was home the first week. The "girls" enjoyed their down & out time & i wasn't going anywhere for anyone to care! LOL

Thanks for your responses! I think I might try to wear one of those camisoles with the "built in" bra (you know the kind that never give you enough support if your boobs are big). I dont know why right now a bra hitting an incision is the biggest cringe factor for me for my upcoming surgery!

I actually wish someone had warned me about bras before the surgery. I was very uncomfortable with my regular underwire bras. I'd recommend getting two or three soft, no wore ones for right after.

Good luck!

I also bought bras that snapped in the front for the first couple of weeks. It was easier.

My girls are no longer as perky as they once were... so my bra band does rub against a couple of my incisions. I don't wear underwire bras and haven't for a long time so I wear soft (as in cotton) bras. I am 13 days out and have only put one on a few times, each time better than the time before. So, I am guessing that like the scars I have from some chest tubes (from 2003), they will desensitize over time.

Didn't your surgeon or hospital staff warn you about it?

I know my surgeon's nurse has been a screaming you-know-what and completely non-helpful. Without ever meeting me she hated me. Oh well, if I have to change doctors because of her, then so be it. Houston is a very large place.

Be well, my friends!

My doctor was checking my incision and my mouth casually said... "How in the world am I gonna wear a bra?" and he said "Just don't wear one" without skipping a beat. Now, I am...umm... about a 44EEE and with a bra my girls take a vacation down SOUTH! I am 7 days post op and haven't left the house or had visitors so letting the girls enjoy their southern vacation is find. However, the thought of going with a bra OUTSIDE the house is messing with my mind. Sure hope these incission heal up quickly. For those of you who are heavily endowed like me, how long before you could wear a bra????

Two words: Sports Bra. I love the Champion sports bras at Target and can wear the XXL one, and I'm a 40DDD now. I was a 42DDD and did fine with them at that size too. I have an incision right at my bra line. It's a very small incision, and it's the cut made to use the retractor to hold back the liver. I don't know that I'd recommend a shelf bra camisole only because those tend to be pretty skin tight around the torso, which can be uncomfortable when you body still had the surgery gas in it and the incisions on the abdomen.

BE CAREFUL OF UNDERWIRES!

I ripped my incision site and got a superficial infection from it which I believe led to subsequent surgeries. When I switched to a soft one it made all the difference in the world.