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Your journey · stage 2 of 5

Preparing for surgery

What to pack, what to buy, and what to ask your team.

Woman wearing the white Reco Bra, showing the wide adjustable straps and the front hook and eye fastenings

This is the useful window: enough time to get measured, order, and try things on without pressure. Two bras bought now means one on the ward and one at home, and packing is calmer when the wardrobe question is already answered.

The short version

Measure and order your bras a week or two before the date, sized with swelling in mind
Pack front-fastening tops and slip-on shoes; reaching up and bending down are both harder than expected
A long phone charging cable, lip balm and earplugs are the three most-wished-for ward items
If eligible, tick VAT relief at checkout; it is a short declaration, not a form
Arrange a cushion for the car home to sit between you and the seatbelt

What to pack in your hospital bag for breast surgery

Pack a front-fastening bra you can put on without lifting your arms, loose tops that button or zip up the front, and anything that…

VAT relief on post surgery bras: who qualifies and how to claim

Yes, if you are buying it because of a qualifying medical condition. In the UK, post-surgical bras bought by someone who has had breast…

Worth doing at this stage

Find your size before the day

Two measurements. Buy before surgery so you are not doing this on the ward.

Your surgery type, in detail

What to wear and why, for each operation.

We don't sell any of these services or products. We've included them because recovery is about more than what you wear. Sometimes, finding the right advice, support or specialist is one of the most important parts of the journey.

Nicole de Havilland, in her studio
Chosen by Nicole de Havilland Lymphoedema practitioner for more than thirty years, and designer of the Reco Bra®

Going into hospital

Packing for a mastectomy or a reconstruction, and the one thing most lists leave off.

  • Drain Dollies (opens in a new tab)

    Surgical drain bags that hang from the shoulder, so drains can be carried without lifting your arms. Two for a double mastectomy, one for a single.

    Designed by a patient. Profits go to Prevent Breast Cancer.

Getting to the toilet after abdominal surgery

After abdominal surgery, lowering yourself onto a toilet and standing up again can be uncomfortable while the abdomen heals. Standing to urinate avoids some of that movement and pressure.

  • Shewee (opens in a new tab)

    The original stand-to-pee device. The Reco Brief is designed with a discreet opening so it can be used without taking the garment off.

    Reco Heart works in collaboration with Shewee, and Reco Heart customers get 10% off with the code RECO10. Always follow your surgical team's advice.

Padding, if you have been advised to use it

Some surgical teams recommend soft padding over the breast in the early weeks, particularly after a mastectomy or lipofilling. The Reco Bra® can be worn over padding, as directed by your team.

  • LanaCare breast surgery pads (opens in a new tab)

    Soft wool pads shaped to sit over the breast after mastectomy, reconstruction, augmentation or radiotherapy, in four sizes.

    Sold from Europe and priced in euros. Ask your surgical team before putting any padding over a healing wound.

Lymphoedema: where to start

If lymph nodes were removed, or you have had radiotherapy, this is the part of recovery least likely to be explained to you properly.

Compression, if you have been advised to wear it

Either as a preventative after lymph node removal or radiotherapy, or because swelling has already started.

If surgery is being discussed

A specialist route rather than a first step, and one to raise with your own team.

Future Dreams

The UK's dedicated breast cancer support centre, in Kings Cross and online.

These are other people's organisations and we have no control over what they publish. Nothing here replaces the advice of your own surgeon, breast care nurse or GP.