Your first fitting after breast surgery
What to expect at a first fitting after a mastectomy or lumpectomy, when to go, what to bring, and how a certified fitter helps.
If you are reading this before a first fitting after surgery, you may be feeling several things at once. The fitting itself is usually calmer and kinder than people expect. Here is what happens, so there are fewer surprises. This is a guide, and the advice of your surgical and oncology team always comes first.
When to go
In the early weeks, soft, wire-free, front-closing bras are the norm, chosen to stay off the incision while it heals. A weighted silicone prosthesis is usually introduced once healing has settled, often around six to eight weeks, though the Canadian Cancer Society notes it can be eight to twelve. The timing is your surgeon's call, so confirm it with them before you book.
Finding a certified fitter
A certified mastectomy fitter is trained specifically to fit prostheses and pocketed bras. In Canada that training usually comes through manufacturers such as Amoena and Anita, and a good boutique will have private rooms and take its time. You can look for boutiques that list post-mastectomy fitting as a specialty.
What to bring
A prescription or referral from your surgeon or oncologist, which most provincial funding programs require.
Your receipts, if you plan to claim funding.
A close-fitting top, so you can see the result under clothing.
A support person, if you would like one. Most boutiques welcome a companion.
What happens at the fitting
The fitter first checks that the surgical site has healed, with no open areas. She measures the chest wall, then selects a prosthesis shape and weight to match your remaining breast, or both sides after a bilateral mastectomy. She settles it into a pocketed bra and checks the balance, weight, and comfort, and shows you the result in the mirror, with and without a top over it. Before you leave, she explains how to clean and care for the prosthesis. You set the pace, and there is no obligation to buy.
Afterward
Being refitted later is normal, especially after radiation, as the body keeps changing. Most provinces help pay for the prosthesis, and the details vary a lot by province. Our after-surgery guides cover the funding, and you can find a boutique with certified fitters near you.