As a double-board certified plastic surgeon I get to work with a wide range of breast enhancement patients from breast lift to breast reconstruction. I may be a male, but I’d like to think I know a thing or two about breasts. Whether you’re increasing your breast size, lifting the breasts higher up on the chest or reducing them to relieve discomfort, plastic surgery procedures for the breast continue to steadily rise and help women achieve their ideal breast size. When all is said and done, the next step is buying a well-suited bra. I’m generally surprised by the number of women who are not familiar with proper bra fittings, size delineations and maintenance so I wanted to share some tips when shopping for your next bra and things to keep in mind to get the most use out of them.
Let’s start with a few facts:
- Bras have set sizes by cup (A,B,C,D,E, etc.) but not all bras sizes fit the same. A 34C in one brand may fit like a 36B through another company and so on, so forth. It’s similar to the way women’s clothing are sized in that there are a wide range of designers and styles, therefore, it makes it imperative that bras be tried on before purchased.
- Sleeping in your bra at night doesn’t make the breasts perkier and not wearing a bra doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll sag faster than those who do. Each female’s body is different and natural aging causes the breasts to sag over time; the bra merely serves as a tool to keep them upright on the chest.
- The average lifespan of a bra is 6-9 months, depending on how you store, rotate and care for your undergarments.
Let’s say you’re having a breast augmentation. Your new breast implants may be measured in CCs but you will still need to go bra shopping to accommodate your new size. Starting out using a sports bra-type of undergarment is good for your recovery time because there isn’t any extra metal poking into your chest and the stretchy material helps keep the movement minimal to aid in your healing. When you’re nicely healed and cleared by your doctor, I would suggest going to professional fitter to get measured. You’ll want to make sure your bra cups lay smoothly on the chest (no wrinkling or concaving of the shirt). Since the band of the bra actually gives you the most support (the straps just help keep the bra close to the body) it should rest snuggly around the middle of the back when secured on the loosest hook (this is because the elastic will stretch over time and if your snuggest fit is on the farthest loop, it won’t fit as well the more it’s worn and not have as long of a shelf life).
Bra maintenance isn’t exactly something we would necessarily cover during a breast augmentation consultation, but I think it’s helpful to know what will help you get the most out of your bras. Keep in mind the dirt and oils in your skin break down the elastic in the bra’s band. It’s suggested that you hand wash the bra as frequently as possible and rotate your bras frequently so you’re not wearing the same bra more than two days in a row. If hand washing is not for you, put the bra in a mesh garment bag and gentle detergent to avoid it possibly being crushed by the center drum of your washing machine. The more you rotate out different bras, the longer they will last collectively!
To learn more about breast enhancement procedures at Southern Plastic Surgery, P.C., please contact us to schedule a consultation. Be sure to connect with me, Dr. David Whiteman, on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ for more plastic surgery news and updates.