Hello ladies,

Since my surgery July 29, I've gone down in band width of my bra from a 44 to a 42. Now I have to buy a new bra before returning to work Monday.

As you all know, good bras are expensive and as I hope to continue losing weight, I'll be buying them often.

My question is, do I buy the size 42 or do I buy a 40 and use bra extenders so I can get a little more use out of it?

What do you ladies do to keep the girls in proper place while your size keeps changing?

And what about underwire? I haven't worn a wired bra since surgery, but are they a thing of the past now? Granted, they were never comfortable, but they did help with lift.

I'm usually too lazy to try on a bra before buying, so as a result, I have a draw full of bras that don't fit - all too small. So at least I don't have to go out and buy any new ones as the girls shrink (lol).

Most women underestimate their cup size, and overcompensate on the band size. Here's a handy guide for measuring.

Measurement # 1 - Band Size: Put on your best-fitting, unpadded, under wire bra. Measure underneath the bust line and make sure to measure tightly. Be sure the tape measure is straight across your back.

The general rule of thumb for all measuring is: less than ½”, round DOWN, more than a ½”, round UP. So if your measurement is 32 ¼”, call it 32. Write this number down. This is measurement number 1.

If measurement 1 is UNDER 33 inches, add 5 inches. If this number is odd, round up to the next EVEN number. If measurement 1 is OVER 33 inches, add 3 inches. If this number is odd, round up to the next EVEN number. Write this EVEN number down. This is your band size.

Measurement # 2 - Cup Size. Measure over the biggest point of your bust line. This is a looser measurement. Make sure the tape measure is straight. Write this number down. This is measurement # 2.

First subtract measurement # 1 from measurement # 2. Then consult the following chart to find your cup size.

I like Cacique, which I think may be a Lane Bryant in-house brand.

Hope this helps.

Joan

Hello ladies,

And what about underwire? I haven't worn a wired bra since surgery, but are they a thing of the past now? Granted, they were never comfortable, but they did help with lift.

There's no reason why you can't get back into underwire. I've had a reduction and have scars all the way across and I'm back in underwire. It may take a few months to be comfortable but it's doable. If your underwire was never comfortable then you had the wrong bra or, more likely, the wrong size bra.