Cancer survivor develops bras for women who’ve had breast reconstruction post-mastectomy

There is an obvious need the current marketplace doesn't fulfill: bras for women who've had breast reconstruction after mastectomy. Why? Reconstructed breasts do not move or feel like natural breasts. Implant reconstruction is not at all like implant augmentation because there is no breast tissue (and sometimes chest wall tissue) remaining after a mastectomy. This is the essential problem. An implant reconstructed breast is almost rock hard, and a FLAP reconstructed breast (moving fatty tissue from one area of the body to build and create a breast) doesn't conform to or match the shape of a traditional bra cup.

Yes, it is true most women no longer need to wear bras after reconstruction, however, many still want to. Either because they want to feel sexy or feminine, or hide scarring under a sheer top. What's available in the traditional market mostly involves underwire, which is painful for those who've had a mastectomy. Most bras also have a nipple apex, which leaves gaping in women who chose not to have nipple sparing surgery. Or they have a defined cup, which is difficult to fit because the reconstructed breast often spills over the shape, causes pinching or leaves space between the breast and the cup form because it is firm and immoveable. You may ask, why not a bralette then? The construction in most bralettes doesn't allow for enough stretch needed for stiff reconstructed breasts. This results in having to go up one or two sizes for coverage, and that can lead to fit issues or even sizing out of the market.

These problems are why most women who've had reconstruction are relegated to a sports bra or a shelf-bra camisole. Our research confirms they want more. They want a bra made specifically for their unique needs. They also want a bra that's pretty, comfortable and fits. That's where AnaOno comes in. We provide products that are designed to address their needs, while giving them choices on style, silhouette and material.

AnaOno currently has five bra styles and coordinating underwear. All of our bras and bralettes are constructed with our client's specific needs in mind.

AnaOno's bra styles range is sizes XS-2X, as opposed to the traditional band/cup size. They also feature trim and banding details made to be comfortable to women of all sizes and with scarring. While AnaOno currently does not yet offer a pocketed mastectomy bra, several styles have worked with lightweight prostheses and self-adhesive forms.

After extensive research, questionnaires and focus groups, AnaOno discovered what most women want, and cannot find, is a bra that encompasses all of the following qualities: comfort, soft material, pretty/stylish and no underwire. That's why AnaOno's current collections offer as many of those qualities as possible.

AnaOno launched with two collections, an elegant and casual lace group, and an eco-friendly, sustainable bamboo line, focused on comfort.
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