Topic: Bathing Suit Problems

Thanks for the advice about Lands End.  I was wondering...if I get a real mastectomy suit, will the air pocket thing stop happening.  Or is it the type of prosthesis that I wear in the suit?  I remember last summer when I went swimming always getting the air pocket in the front and having to use my had to push it down.  I don't want to be doing that several times during his swimming lesson. 

Barbara - These swimming forms - can they be worn with a regular bathing suit? I cannot find any type of mastectomy suit that I like so I wear regular suits and do my best to pad up - shower scrubbies, little foam inserts, etc. But as Samon mentions, there is always the fear and self conscienceness that the forms and/or scrubbies will move around or stick out. My bandeau bathing suit top snuck down on me in Florida just a bit  - I might as well have not been even wearing a top, I was so embarrassed.

Thanks - Raye

Raye,

The silicone swim forms do need a pocket--I wouldn't risk using them without one. Some regular suits might work with a pocket sewn in.

I have a friend who does something similar to what MB suggests--she sews the Amoena Style 126 foam forms right into her suits.  I've considered doing that with a couple of my old suits that I like, but haven't tried it so far. Those forms aren't too expensive (under $40). I sometimes use them in a pocketed suit instead of the silicone ones.

At 59, although I'm slim, I don't go for the skimpiest suits anymore, which probably makes it easier for me. Still, I must admit, of all the aspects of living breast-free, finding bathing suits and forms that work has been the most challenging. 

On Barbara's suggestion, I tried the Amoena 126 Leisure forms, and found them to be the best for swimming.  The silicone swim forms have the hollow back that traps air.  If you lie on your stomach or someone hugs you, you have the dreaded "boob farts" and a vacuum packed boob that then needs to pop back out.  Not the most attractive sight.  The leisure forms are light and don't stretch out the swim suit.  They do soak up water, so when you get out of the water, wrap a towel around yourself and hug.  That drains the water from the form.  They do take a while to dry, so I have a spare.  I also found that I need different sizes for different suits.  I had recon and deconstruction a year later, and am very flat/concave on one side, up to @ 2" from my colar bone.  This makes finding swimsuits rather difficult.  I found the Lands End high neck tankinis to work best for me.  I get the regular suits and sew in a pocket when they are out of the mast suits. 

MB,  how do you revamp the bath poofy.  I have tried to use them in my suit that I had sewn the pockets into, but it was never really smooth.  When I used mine, I cut part of the bath poofy off so I had a flat back and a rounded front, but like I said it still wasn't all that smooth in the front.  I felt like I could tell it wasn't normal looking when I looked in the mirror.  Of course, part of that is being aware of what really is in there and noone else but my hubby whould know. 

Also, how do you sew it directly into your suit??  Does it come into contact with your skin or what.  I would think that would scratch a little.  Or do you sew it in some type of pocket?

MB, maybe you could have a class on making a poofy boob at pinkstock?

here is a picture... good luck...

Hello MB,

Thanks for your description and picture.  In order to make a bigger size, I guess you could just sew the ends of 2 or more tubes together and just keep rolling and twisting?  I bought the scrubbies at Wal-Mart about a year ago, but could never figure how to keep them from looking lumpy, your idea is great!   

OLBin, MB et all:

I haven't tried swimming with my regular proths yet....too new with it however, I did find a couple suits i liked just recently and had pockets sewn into them. About the boob farts....lol.....will that happen with my regular silicon foob??? What is it like to swim with a regular silcon foob???

MB....your poofies look great! I agree.....we need lessons....I am useless in figuring stuff like that out! How do they compare to silicon for swimming????

For what it is worth..

I am a swimmer and taught swimming for forty years

I had a mastectomy seven years ago and bought an

amoena tria swimform and an ameona bathing suit

I have had zero problems and still use them both..

Hugs all around from sunny San Diego

SoCal