The 8 Best Mastectomy Swimsuits, According to Our Community
These days, there are so many cute options when it comes to post-mastectomy swimsuits. Many are made specifically to fit breast forms (also called prostheses), and even more can easily be adapted for prosthetic use. The best swimwear comes down to what you’re most comfortable in. We asked members of the Breastcancer.org Community what they’re loving these days to help save you some dressing room time.
What to Look For
As you start shopping, our Community members suggested keeping a few things in mind:
Avoid suits with underwire, which can irritate or chafe, especially if you’re in active treatment or going through reconstruction.
When it comes to flat-friendly suits, truly anything could work. Pick something you feel confident in and decide whether you prefer pads or no pads. Adjustable straps are always helpful here.
Many non-mastectomy suits have pockets for breast pads that can be repurposed for prosthetics.
Found a suit you love that doesn’t quite work the way you need it to? Have a tailor add breast pockets in the lining, or sew in sides to a shelf bra to customize your suit for prostheses or padding.
Best for foobs
Lands’ End was a frequently recommended swimsuit brand. “Post-mastectomy- pre-reconstruction, all my swimsuits came from Lands’ End. They are awesome,” says Mary Snyder Jackson. They offer several styles that accommodate prostheses, like the Slendersuit Grecian, which has a soft cup bra with pockets on each side. As a bonus, the brand regularly has big sales so you might be able to catch a bargain.
Judy One piece, Post Swim $167
Several members swear by Post Swim’s suits, which are designed to support women after surgery. The Judy one-piece has a sporty, sexy design and is made with a supportive compression fabric so prosthetics stay where you put them and the compression is a great help after surgery or reconstruction. “Check out POST SWIM made just for breast cancer survivors by a breast cancer survivor 💕 specifically designed for support post surgery needs,” says Kathy McConnell Ker. “POST SWIM is the only acceptable answer 💕,” Emily Bond adds.
Best for foam inserts
Swimsuits made specifically for breast reconstruction or prostheses aren’t your only option — and they can be expensive. Many women we heard from suggested finding a great suit that has foam cup inserts, like this two-piece long-sleeve rash guard suit from Amazon. Community member Petrina Garrity says,“I have had a single mastectomy and am awaiting reconstruction. I just buy normal swimsuits and bikinis that have the pockets and then cut one of those shower roses (squishy things) to size - I buy them in our local beauty outlet.”
Women's Tugless High Neck Strappy Back Tankini Top, Lands’ End $75
Though not specifically a mastectomy suit, Lands’ End offers high-neck tankinis that our community says do a good job of holding pads in place via the sewn-in soft cups. “l have a Lands End tankini top that has pockets, [and] is relatively high-necked. I keep the padded triangles that came with the suit (which I sometimes used pre-surgery) and add padded triangles that come from my Coobie bras, which I wear without any official prosthesis. The double padding gives the illusion of something there, though relatively flat, it doesn't hold water, etc,” says lojo21.
These suits work great with prostheses, too. Glennie19 says, “I wear my Land's End MX tank w/o a foob, and I'm a uniboober…there is so much padding for the shelf bra that you really can't tell I'm half flat. Not that my remaining breast is very large, but still…I find it really comfortable.”
Best for flat chests
The Sidestroke, Summersalt, $125
Lots of women told us that they appreciate one-shoulder suits — especially those that really pull you in tight like Summersalt suits. The Summersalt Sidestroke comes in a variety of colors and flattering patterns. There are no cups or padding here, but the tight compression works beautifully for wearing flat (no weird extra space in the cup area).
“I am currently half flat with a 650cc implant on one side and found a one-shouldered suit — genius,” says specialk.
Best for large chests
Beach Living Blouson Tankini Swimsuit. Lands’ End, $80
This tank top from Lands’ End is a favorite with larger-chest ladies thanks to its roomy design. Amygil81 just got the Beach Living Blouson Tankini Swimsuit and says “It's working well for me. It holds my D-cup foob in the pocket just fine.”
Best for managing lymphedema
The mock neck, long sleeves and SPF 50 on this Lands’ End suit ensure you’re protected from the sun while still looking stylish. This rash guard has no lining or padding inside so you can layer underneath in any way you’d like. “I have two of the rash guard tees from Lands' End. I wear them flat,” says Zillsnot4me. “I have…[lymphedema]. They work great. No worries about getting exposed or burnt.”
Other members agree. “I'll second the Land’s End SPF swim shirts - I wear these with a compression tank underneath for my truncal [lymphedema], and they're great,” says floaton. “The patterns make it so I can go half flat without it being too noticeable. My even-more-sensitive-after-chemo sensitive skin likes the sun protection. And I like not having to put on so much sunblock.”
Best for those who want to conceal and distract
Sometimes the name of the game is some slight (cute) concealment. Ruffles, like the ones on this Blooming Jelly one-piece do a great job of distracting the eye from asymmetry or port scars or the like. “My favorite one is from Amazon. I bought swim foobs from Amazon and they fit perfectly 😊” — Petrina Garrity