All things bras & prosthesis
Comments
-
there is a pocket in the genie bra. It holds a modesty shield that you can remove and insert your form.0 -
sounds fab! I have to pick one up! I always forget when I'm at Walmart. I'm always getting dry goods or housewares... Never thinking about clothes. Maybe I'll just get one on line...do they run true to size or how do they run as far as size?
Thanks,
0 -
i think the sizes run weird, but maybe it's just me. I had to seriously size UP to feel comfortable.0 -
ok, best to try on the genie bra then...
Thanks
0 -
The Genie bras and Camisoles, do have a small pocket, but only take a small size in a silicone prosthesis. I can get my weighted foam form into a Genie if I cut the pocket further, to allow easy access, but my size 8 silicone, will drag it down to my waist in no time, not a good look!!! I can also wear the Genie with a Contact form, which attaches to the skin of the chest. I especially like the Genie Camisole with the Contact form, because it is really firm, tucks into what you're wearing and doesn't move.
The bra that Vintage posted is a fantastic option, but same issues if you are a larger size, with a silicone form, with the droop. The lace top does eliminate the "Fall Forward" issue, which is the bra falling away from your chest, when you are bending over, exposing the gap and your scars. This can still occur with the Genie Bra, if there is too much weight in the cup, because it isn't really cut high enough in the front, to stop that issue from happening.
Edited to say, I find the Genie runs small, too.
0 -
agree with M,,, I should have mentioned. I only weigh the Genie with the foam foob,,, the weighted one pulls it down too much. There is no support per se for a heavy form. And I'm only a 34D,,, size 5 in silicon foob.0 -
According to Genni's chart, I should wear a large. The extra large is far more comfortable. I tried on an XL camisole and would need at least a 1X. I do wear my size 6 silicone form in it. It sags, but then so do I on the leftover side. They end up pretty even. I added weight to my microbead form, but it needs even more because it still rides up. I'm thinking about getting one of the lace ones in black. I only have a couple of low cut shirts, but I think the black would be sexy.
0 -
I was in the PS office today leafing through the Martha Stewart Living magazine. In the back was an ad for the Coobie bras - with a discount code for buy one get one free. In the little code/coupon space at checkout type in bogoMSL, and you will get two bras for the price of one. I have found that the full size Coobie is large enough, even though a one-size bra, to fit my prosthesis and my 650cc implant side. I think the regular one is not quite large enough on the side to hold the prosthesis.
0 -
The Genie bras come with a cup side slit and a thin foam liner. You can remove the liner, add fiber fill or whatever foob(s) you have. Hold things in place pretty well.
The lace overlay bras I got at QVC online. WalMart only had black or white. I have a purple, a brown, teal, cream & navy. (2/$20)
FYI even though I am thin (115 lbs) & have a very small chest (before BMX & after!) I wear a sz Large. And I step into the bra, pull it up. I had to do that the first times I wore one after surgery & found it is easiest. LOL wrangling it over my head & arms wasn't fun.
0 -
I may have posted this before, but I really have pain when the bra band slips up on a tiny mound of flesh I have under where my breasts would have been...so I have found the genie cami shaper works very well if I am in a boobs-sort-of-mood. I did buy it a size larger, and it is also a good feel for chest compression. I would have thought it would be too tight for me, but I like the feedback it gives to my brain.
0 -
hi everyone!
I haven't posted in a while...thought I'd check in. I have an appointment to get fitted with a custom prosthesis. Any advice before I go? Honestly, I'm really happy wearing the weighted leisure foob from ABC. Are the custom prosthesis really better?
Best,
0 -
Hi Bettyboops, nice to see you again!
When you say custom, do you mean one of those customized, very expensive, made specially for you forms,or do you mean being properly fitted, for a ready made form?
I have no experience with the super custom made for you, ones, other than having seen them and they look pretty awesome, but I doubt they feel any different to a well fitted regular one, that is the right drape and size for you.
I have collected quite a wardrobe of foobs since my Umx and although I have a favorite contact, which attaches to the chest, or can be worn in a pocket with a removable backing, I actually really like the weighted foam forms by TruLife. I wear them most of the time these days.
I would suggest, if it is a fitter you are going to and you have insurance that covers a few items, ask to try a contact, a swim form and a weighted foam and try several bras till you get one that really feels comfortable. Also ask to see camisoles with pockets and any clothing they have with pockets. You don't have to buy everything, but it is good to try on and know what is out there.
Good luck with it and let us know how you get on!
0 -
Hi Ariom,
I'm a lot like you in that I've amassed quite a collection of breast forms over the years, including a number of silicone ones that look really good. But more and more, I find myself wearing the non-silicone forms, weighted TruLife among them. They're just so darn comfortable that I feel really free with them on. And they look good too. Some of the non-silicone forms I wear (like the old Amoena latex foam forms that are no longer made) have a great shape but are not very huggable. The TruLife forms are better in that respect.
I also agree with you about custom-made forms. If you're trying to perfectly match an existing breast, you might want to go to the trouble and expense of having a form made, but with the variety of non-custom forms available, most women can find a form that's a great match in size and shape and will be indistinguishable in a bra.
0 -
hi Ariom and ladies,
I did go today and I couldn't believe it! My fitter made a plaster form of my breast area, it's completely flat but does have it's own divits etc.. I mean plaster was everywhere. I had to take another shower when I got home! The custom foob is about the weight of the weighted leisure form, which is my favorite. It is soft, made of something like silicon/foam mix but not so heavy. It's supposed to fit against your chest exactly with your shape and is softer than the foam forms. I think the foam forms are really okay so it will be interesting to see if this custom job is any better. My plaster cast got sent to a company of artists! Who caste the foob, carve the foob and paint on a nipple area. I told her I wanted it smooth, no nipple sticking out. Supposedly, you can adhere this to your chest or simply put it in a bra pocket. I know I will just use the bra pocket. She also specified some shaping so I will be able to wear bras/clothes that are a little more low cut and the foob won't stick out anywhere.
This is a luxury. I really like the foam leisure foobs I am lucky that to my insurance pays for most of it. I figured go for it and have another option. I let everyone know if it's really worth it. It takes 8 weeks.
Best,
0 -
Hi Erica, it is a good time for women now, with all the choices available. I learned a lot from your site, when I started looking for forms and clothing.
I will be very interested to hear Bettyboops experience with the Custom form, but it isn't an option for me because our insurance system only pays $400.00 per form every 2 years. I am coming up to my 2nd paid for form, in January, so I have purchased everything else I have, myself, but after reading up on the custom forms, they are definitely out of my price range. I am hoping there may be something new and fabulous released next year that I can try out. I still always seem to end up with my favorite the TruLife foam form. I bought a couple more, just in case they are ever discontinued!
0 -
I was just fitted with a new foob by Amoena and I really like it. However I tried a new one but I can't remember who made it that I really really loved but it wasn't being made in my size yet. Light weight and felt so soft. You could actually fold it in half. Sure hope next time they have that one.
0 -
Kittydog that sounds very interesting. If you find out what it was, could you post here. I love to check out anything new, that I haven't seen before.
0 -
Question: How do you keep silicone foobs "up"? I have one pair of small (A-cup) silicone boobs and I decided to wear them yesterday. I wore them in a pocketed sports bra. After half an hour, the foobs had weighed down the bra so much that the bra band had curled up under the foobs. I had to adjust the darn arrangement every 20 minutes or so, and it reminded me why I gave up on the things originally. Do most people wear them in super-tight iron bras of some sort?
0 -
Hi Momine, I have the same problem if I wear silicone in anything, other than a Mx designed bra. They don't have to feel like an iron bra, they are just engineered differently to take the weight of silicone. The sports bras work ok with light weighted foam leisure forms, I wear them a lot, but you really need to wear a real mx bra, with silicone forms, to be really comfortable. There are many here who wear Genie type bras, but they work only with very small lightweight forms, anything with weight behind them, in silicone, will be going south pretty fast and the bands can curl up! lol
My favorite Mx bra is the Amoena Mona bra. I find I put it on with a silicone form and I can forget about it. The straps are cut in, so they never fall down, they have padding on the shoulder, have flexible side stays that don't sag in and a band that sits comfortably. The cups and the pockets are designed to cover and hold the forms in place. There are many Mx bras on the market, it is worth trying a few to see which feels right on you.
Sorry, edited to say I have had better results with sports crop tops than actual sports bras. They have pockets, and are a wider footprint than a sports bra. They seem to work well on women who have residual pain or LE too.
0 -
Ariom, ok, thanks, so I am not crazy at least
.Thing is, I bought some MX bras at the beginning, but I can't wear them without getting a huge pocket of lymph fluid above the bra band, which then makes the arm swell too. The only thing I can tolerate is a yoga top/genie-type bra. Guess that means no silicone, which is sort of OK, since it costs a fortune anyway (my insurance doesn't cover it).
0 -
Momine, have you tried the light weight foam forms like the TruLife 611? I find I am wearing mine most of the time now, even though I was wearing my silicone form, all the time, in the beginning. I wear a size 8, so not a small form, I am a D cup on my natural side.
I know there are problems with some of the Mx bras if you are prone to swelling. There are some, that have a wider band, but you really have to hunt to find the different styles.
There are other brands of foam forms, Amoena has a new one out and TLC has one. I have found, for me, the 611 is just right. Take a look at Metromedicalonline, they have the best prices I have found anywhere, at 2 for $72.00 or $40.00 each. I find they run on the large side. They have a removable cover for washing and they really do wear very well considering they only have a warranty of 1 year. I am still wearing my first one which I have had about a year and I like how it has "worn in" I am trying to get another one to the same comfortable stage, its like a comfy pair of slippers. lol.
0 -
Ariom, thanks, I may look into it one of these days.
0 -
hi Momine,
Yes, the silicone is really heavy. I'm not sure why they are such an expensive option. Maybe because they are soft like a real breasts? For me, They are not worth the weight. Someone said having some weight is better for your posture. I don't know about that. I am really happy with a weighted foam form made by ABC. They call them weighted leisure forms. They are not heavy though but have enough weight not to ride up in camisoles etc... I have my silicone foob in an Amoena Angela bra. It's a very pretty bra, stylish but it's made of cotton, not spandex or stretchy stuff so the foobs stay put. I wear it with certain close fitting clothes. I hope this helps.
Best,
0 -
I have heard that weight is more important to feel "balanced" with you have UnMX. Not sure if true. I think if you have BMX,, i can't see why it would matter.0 -
Glennie, the fitter kept banging on about having to have the right weight on my missing side too, but I disagree with that theory. The breast I had removed weighed 975gms, that's about 2lbs, in my path report. If I wear a silicone form, I am sort of aware of it, but when I wear my favorite weighted foam leisure form, I feel nothing and it's so comfortable. I don't have any more neck or back pain, like the fitter kept warning me about. So I don't really know if long term use will make a difference.
0 -
Yeah, I'm not so sure about that "theory" either. but I feel it definitely does NOT apply to BMX, for sure!0 -
Hi Momine,I recall that you were at one time trying the knitted knockers that your daughter made for you. Did you get fed up with them?
I am still trying different ideas and thought I would give the KK's a try. Haven't made them yet though. So far, I am fed up with everything else. The least offensive ones that I wear all the time are silicones that I bought from Walmart that are equivalent to an A cup that sit in a thin sports bra. Problem with these though is that they feel flat next to my skin, i.e. no air in between my skin and the "aliens". I wear these a lot because of my physical activity, i.e. golf. I don't want false boobs to get between me and my golf swing LOL.
My clothing has always been fitted because I am small and don't look good in loose fitted clothing. I look swamped in loose fitting clothing. But now all my fitted clothing as well as anything new that I try feels extremely tight next to my chest because of these aliens fitting close to the chest.
All of my unsuccessful trials such as various camisole bras are sitting in my bottom drawer including expensive silicone weights as well as a proper mastectomy bra; the latter which is cut too close to my underarm and is consequently too uncomfortable to wear. It's hard to find something that is comfortable.
I am not a fan of the "flat and fabulous" idea. Unless one has a tummy that is "washboard flat" this look is not that attractive for my figure type. I noticed that some women adorn themselves with scarves to hide their flatness, but I am frequently on the golf course, so scarves are out for me for obvious reasons. (As an aside, I am experimenting with coolsculpting to get rid of the tummy that seemed to suddenly appear after my mastectomy, and if successful, I will then feel flat and fabulous ! LOL).
So to go back to my opening sentence: do you still wear the knitted knockers?
0 -
Painterly, you have a good memory. I do not wear them much actually, but maybe I should dig them out again. I also do go flat sometimes, but for a lot of clothes, I prefer a small "bump" and the silicone is attractive because it feels "real".
Lately my go-to "foobs" are bra-liners made from a fairly stiff silicone. I have also used modesty shields from genie bras. If you stack a couple of those, it works just fine.
0 -
Ariom, I'm wearing a silicone 6. Should I order the Tru Life in a 5? The 6 silicone is starting to feel larger than the real side - not by a lot, but definitely a little.
0 -
I thought the Tru Life ran a little on the large side. The size chart was totally wrong for me. Let's see what M has to say.0
