• How to Fit a Breast Form in a Bra

• Notes About Fitting Your Breast Form

How to Fit a Breast Form in a Bra

• Begin by lowering your bra strap on the surgery side.

• Pull the cup away from the chest wall.

• Insert the form from the inside top of the cup.  Turn the form in the direction that best fills the bra cup and looks the most natural.

• Adjust the strap on the breast form side matching the level of the bust point on the natural side.

• Look at the fit.  Both sides should match and the bra cup should cover the prosthesis completely.  The prosthesis' top taper should prevent a blouse from sinking in.  The underbelly should match the natural side as closely as possible and the side taper should have adequate fullness.  The form should not fill and not bulge at the top of the cup; plus the form should settle into the bottom of the cup.  The straps of the bra should not cut into the shoulders.

• Check for proper balance and fit by stretching the tape measure across the chest from one bust point to the other.  If the bust points are even the tape will be straight.  If uneven, adjust the strap on the surgery side until the tape is straight.  Generally the bra strap on the natural side will be tighter, while on the prosthesis side it will be looser.  The prosthesis is usually worn lower on the rib cage.

• Next, using the tape, measure from the midpoint of your neck down to the bust point on the cup.  If the measurement is the same, then you are level and the forward projection is equal.

• The last check is to measure from the center of the bra over the bust point to the side seam of each cup.  If the numbers are within 1/8" of each other then the projection is equal. 

Notes About Fitting Your Breast Form

• If you have been without a natural breast for some time, you may need to build up your wearing time if you have chosen a weighted form.

• Comfort Covers can be worn with Nearly Me Prostheses.  We recommend that women wear them for increased comfort if they do not wear their form in a pocketed bra. 

• If you choose a non-pocketed bra and later wish to sew in a pocket for extra security, Nearly Me Ready Pockets were designed for that purpose.

• If you have trouble deciding between two sizes of prostheses, an option is to go with the smaller size and use a foam pad for extra fill.

• Symmetrical forms fit both the right or left side and can be turned in different directions for the best fit.  Asymmetrical forms only fit the right or the left side and only fit one way.

• The fitting guide suggests alternative sizes depending on the amount of tissue that has been left after the surgery.  You may need to go up or down a size depending on your body shape, remaining breast and bras style that you have selected.  Example:  36B down to 34C; or 36C up to 38B.

• If you have had partial surgery or a lumpectomy, try an Equalizer.  Place the Equalizer over the mismatched area.  If the equalizer doesn't provide adequate coverage, try a So-Soft Prosthesis.