Chicken feathers, satin bras, and new photos
Okay, so this entire rant started yesterday. Well, no, it really started 6 1/2 months ago when I had my boobies removed. But since then I find myself a little nostalgic when I see pretty bras and frilly girl things. I also get a little sappy and maybe slightly jealous when I see Rach’s blog and her photos of her nipples. I miss my little friends.
I hope you do know this entire post is completely tongue in cheeck, by the way.
So anyway, yesterday I saw some particularly beautiful frilly things and posted on Facebook “I get jealous of women that can buy pretty bras. Funny, always hated them, now I miss the way they can make you feel pretty. Can’t wait until I can go bra shopping! Guess what’s on my Christmas wish list??” That, in turn lead to a discussion with my friend Heather about bras after our surgeries. She had the same surgery I had.
Heather told me that her surgeon suggested she wear bras, especially ones with underwires. Mine did not. He didn’t say I should not, but it’s never really come up. I tried one on several months ago, and it was so uncomfortable that I never tried again. And, honestly, I was chicken to know what size I am now.
But all with these thoughts lately about lace and underwires and feeling pretty, I decided to dust off one of my old bras and give it shot.
And so I did, and was very surprised! I don’t know if I could wear one all day, but I have been wearing this one for a few hours. It is a 36C.
So, all in all I was very surprised and happy with how I feel and look in my bra. I’m surprised to find that it looks like I’m a little larger now than I was pre-surgery, or at least I have more on the top part of my breasts at this point. This is all due to the expander shape, though, and my surgeon has told me my implants will be smaller than my expanders. Fat will be be transplanted to help sculpt my body after my next surgery. You can tell on the side photo that the shape is still a little bizarre, and that I will probably have those two round scars from the drains for a long time.
But since I’ve been talking to some of my friends about bras, I thought I would share that I sucked it up and beat off my chicken feathers and finally tried on some of my girlie things.
And I’m very surprised about how it looks, and feel kind of silly how a little piece of cloth can make me feel like a lady again.
Thanks Heather! I had a great day too! 
Hi Michele,
When you were talking about the underwire bras. My plastic surgeon said absolutely no wires. Regular bras are ok. But underwire i am never supposed to wear with implants.
The bra looks beautiful on you, Glad that you did that. I have only bought sports bras so far. Will someday soon go out and buy a Real lacy bra. I still need to find out my size yet.
You are doing awesome with helping others going thru this-keep up the good work.
Sending you positive healing thoughts.
Jane
August 12, 2010 at 12:14 am
OH HONEY! I am so glad you tried them on! I love the title of your post, it cracked me up. And I am impressed with the way you look in your bra! PERFECT! I have to agree that I felt much better about myself when I put on that one piece of “girly” wear. Funny how that works! In just a few weeks you’ll be able to buy the really frilly stuff and the expanders will be a thing of the past. MWAH!
August 12, 2010 at 8:13 am
Hi Michelle,
I have also been told by my doctor to only wear sports bras for now and I have found a way to make them compliment my waredrobe. My doctor has also told me that with the expanders, I can now go without a bra, which I was hestiant to do. Well, I did it for the first time yesterday and was actually okay with how it looked.
Good luck with your exchange. My prayers are with you always.
Tracey M
August 12, 2010 at 8:16 am
Hey girly girl!!!! Literally.
Looks great. How does it FEEL? I hope you are not uncomfortable.
So proud of you!
August 12, 2010 at 8:41 am
yay for pretty things.
i gave all my bras to my sister a few weeks ago because none of them fit. they were all padded before and i definitely don’t need that now.
i pulled out the tape measure 2 days ago and my ribcage is 32 inches around and around my breasts they measure 35 inches. i have no idea what this translates into cup size but i am guessing 32C…omg…lol…that’s quite large. over expansion is going to be a joke with lots of humour, cuz i have 2 more fills to go. 32 DD…here i come!
rach
August 15, 2010 at 8:59 pm
lol…k… i was just curious while typing my response on how to size yourself and found this informative link…my about prediction was correct! http://hubpages.com/hub/Measure-your-bra-size
August 15, 2010 at 9:03 pm
Hi Michelle,
Thank you so much for your video that I found on youtube. It helped me prepare to what my expanders would look like. I had a bilateral mastectomy on the 13th opting for that over lumpectomy and radiation on my left breast. I have 3 drains in, very lumpy breasts which started with 200cc but I know they will look better eventually. You are inspiring and in turn I have been very inspiring to my friends never letting this cancer get me down.
August 22, 2010 at 6:28 am
Hey there – you’re looking really good in that bra! Since my mastectomy and recon, I’ve been obsessed with pretty, lacy things – I guess I need regular affirmation that I’m still a girl. Thank you for sharing your experiences and your photos and videos. In some ways, we really are all in this together.
August 24, 2010 at 5:14 am
Hey there to you too!
Thank you for your help as well, your blog is wonderful and I visit all the time. I don’t know if I’m truly a mutant or not, I did not get tested, but it’s a great summary of how I feel. Thank you so much for your comments here. I’m obsessed with girly things too, because I rarely feel girly. I don’t know if it’s just the strangeness of the hard expanders, or the numbness of my skin, or the mental thoughts of just not having a real body anymore, but I feel like a cyborg most of the time. And I haven’t put the bra back on since that night, but I don’t know why. Not ready, I guess.
August 24, 2010 at 10:49 am