Experiences buying breast forms with a woman helping you

[Joanie]

Yesterday, I called a breast form boutique located in another city that is fairly close to two large hosptials. Since they have boutique in their name, I asked if they sold lingerie and was told, no, mainly breast forms with pocket bras being the only type of undergarment they carry.

I then said..."I hope you won't be offended, but have you ever helped us guys buy these products for ourselves?" Without missing a bet, she replied, "All the time but we can only help you with an appointment either before of after our public hours as there are a number of our female customers who would be offended." Having known women who have suffered (and succumbed) to breast cander, I told her I readily understood. She then steered me towards an appointment in October, on a Saturday before they open.

I know a number of you girls here have purchased breast forms via the internet and some in person with female sales assistants. Just curious as to your experiences buying these "in the flesh" so to speak. Did you show up in drab as I plan to do? If so, did they take the attitude of pick out what you want and buy it or were they actively helpful in measuring and suggesting as I imagine they would be by the nature of their work. Did you have to take your shirt off for a fitting? Part of the reason I want to go this route is just for the sheer thrill of the experience, sort of like when I went to my first Merle Norman for a makeover. As always, thanks to all.

[Nataliecan]

Yes I have done this before....but I found out the best place to buy breast form is "The breast form store" on internet....they help me online (phone 1-800)....perfect fit....perfect service...perfect delivery....they are perfect....!

;-)

[Mitch23]

Not breast forms per se but breast enhancers were part of the lingerie night experience on friday. the girls had no problems whatsoever in playing with our breastforms, trying us out with their enhancers, measuring us for bras, helping us try on suitable ones, helping us into our corsets, suspender belts etc, doing up our stockings for us, while they were dressed the same! If they have given you an appointment, they will have no problem with you arriving en femme or drab as you prefer, will act with the utmost professionalism, actively help you to make an appropriate choice and you will have a good time at the same time!

mitch

[Joanie]

Thanks, sounds like a good time was had by all.

[sandra-leigh]

I know a number of you girls here have purchased breast forms via the internet and some in person with female sales assistants. Just curious as to your experiences buying these "in the flesh" so to speak. Did you show up in drab as I plan to do? If so, did they take the attitude of pick out what you want and buy it or were they actively helpful in measuring and suggesting as I imagine they would be by the nature of their work. Did you have to take your shirt off for a fitting?

I have gone to three different professional fitters, and two of the three actively helped me in chosing the style and size that would be right for me; for the third, I already knew what I wanted and it was a matter of trying on the sizes (and I could tell they weren't as good.) I wouldn't hesitate to recommend one of the ones here; unfortunately I'm half a continent away from you, and from some of the stories I've read, there appear to be some excellent fitters in California (L.A. especially, it sounds like.)

I recommend that for the best fitting, that you take with you two different tops, one more drapping and the other more form-fitting (no pun intended). And take a bra in about the size you think you'd like to end up in -- possibly a stretchy one in case you decide to experiment with larger forms (and if you are going to be fitted, chances are that you will want to try a couple of larger pairs "just to see what they look like".

Know your budget: you'll be looking at medical-grade forms, and they will be expensive, hundreds of dollars each. You might tell yourself that you are just going for the thrill of it, but if you are the type of person who walks into a store "just to have a look" and walks out having bought something that "looked nice", then you need to be prepared for the possibility that you will "fall in love" with a pair of forms three price brackets higher than what you were thinking of "at most".

But do take those tops: you'd be surprised how a D-cup form "doesn't look like much" underneath dress-like or draping material, and yet might look "silly big" underneath something stretchy. Even if the second is just a T-shirt, you should be aware of the full range of appearances of the forms before you make a choice. But at the same time, don't take -just- something T-shirty or stretch-fabric, unless that's what you are going to be wearing all the time: something with more drape looks very different over forms. I can wear D cup and even G cup forms "as a guy" and if the fabric drapes, people don't pay much attention. Forms that a good half the people here consider to be "too big" (D-cup) can, in my experience, be pretty much "hidden in plain sight" on a person my size (6', 37-38" chest). The second (and better) of the two professional fitters that I went to, said quite clearly that the D-cup (size 7) forms were too small for my build, and showed how the wall curvature wasn't right on them and how the gap between them looked unrealistic. But whatever you zoom in on, you have to be comfortable with. If what you want are forms that you can wear underneath your work clothes while you are at those weekly meetings with the boss and everyone else, then take -those- clothes with you.

Will you be asked to take off your shirt? In my experience, Yes. It is important that the form have the right chest-wall curvature in the right place, and the area near the centre of the breast-bone (where your chest curves inward) can be hard to get right. And if you try asymmetric forms (which are not priced for beginners but are wonderful inventions!) then fitting right underneath the armpit is important.

[janet1234]

Can you give us the address, phone of that store?

[sandra-leigh]

unfortunately I'm half a continent away from you, and from some of the stories I've read, there appear to be some excellent fitters in California (L.A. especially, it sounds like.)

Opps, read too quickly, you aren't in California at all! (But you're not much closer to us than LA is, so the local fitter here probably still isn't of interest to you.)

[debbiejoanne]

Yes I have done this before....but I found out the best place to buy breast form is "The breast form store" on internet....they help me online (phone 1-800)....perfect fit....perfect service...perfect delivery....they are perfect....!

;-)

Could not agree more, they are more than good they are excellent. E-mail them and you will be surprised at how helpful they ate and how good they make you feel about your purchase.

DJ

[debbiejoanne]

Could not agree more, they are more than good they are excellent. E-mail them and you will be surprised at how helpful they ate and how good they make you feel about your purchase.

DJ

oops should have been "helpful they are" so much for spell check

DJ

[Stephenie S]

I know a number of you girls here have purchased breast forms via the internet and some in person with female sales assistants. Just curious as to your experiences buying these "in the flesh" so to speak. Did you show up in drab as I plan to do? If so, did they take the attitude of pick out what you want and buy it or were they actively helpful in measuring and suggesting as I imagine they would be by the nature of their work. Did you have to take your shirt off for a fitting? Part of the reason I want to go this route is just for the sheer thrill of the experience, sort of like when I went to my first Merle Norman for a makeover. As always, thanks to all.

Dear Joanie,

If this is a mastectomy boutique they will, of course give you a proper fitting. I agree with the other girls who say be prepared to fall in love with something WAY beyond your budget.

While you will not have to arrive "dressed", it is important to take clothes that you will be wearing with the forms. You have to see what they will look like over clothes.

I would be VERY cautious about going for the "sheer thrill" of the experience. If the fitter gets even a hint that you are not serious and that you are there just for the thrill, she almost certainly will ask you to leave. That could be very embarrassing.

Lovies,
Stephenie

[sandra-leigh]

I would be VERY cautious about going for the "sheer thrill" of the experience. If the fitter gets even a hint that you are not serious and that you are there just for the thrill, she almost certainly will ask you to leave.

Stephenie's words, in conjunction with the other posters, reminds me of a Pet Peeve of mine:

If you go to a bra store that happens to carry a couple of forms, or you go to a CD-boutique, then there is a certain amount of expectation in those places that you might be "just experimenting" with no real intent to buy (but might decide to 'splurge' once you actually try them on.) Such establishments have their place, but if you are going to a mascectomy specialist, then such people are professionals who earn their living through their experience. If your intention is to use their skills to find the perfect forms, and then to turn around and shop electronic or ebay, then you are asking them to give away their livelihood. In my mind, that's just not fair, not unless you make the situation clear to them in advance and let them decide whether they want to assist you "for fun" (or as a public service, or whatever.)

When I bought my asymmetrics at the beginning of the year, the second (and local) fitter appeared to me to be giving her full professional consideration; for me to have turned around and ordered the final recommendation off of a web site would have felt to me like stealing from her. And it did happen that I did not buy from her: the style I really wanted to try was one she didn't have any of and could not get, but a store the next block over plenty of that model in stock. But to my mind, I owed her, and I went back later and paid her a professional wage for her professional assistance.

By no means do I mean to imply any slight to The Breastform Store, which has been highly recommended over and over again, but they are "catalogue shopping", great if you already have a good idea of what you want. But if you are looking for The Pair With My Name On Them, a professional fitting with an experienced fitter with a good stock of samples is like getting a custom-tailored shirt: pricy, maybe, but you have a much better chance of coming out with Just What You Wanted.

If you've never worn any forms before and just want to see what they are like, then people say that PALS are an excellent stepping stone.

[KandisTX]

Been there done that Joanie, just like you. I set up an appointment afterhours (at the boutique's request), went in in drab, wearing bra, and was fitted on the spot by the female manager without any hesitation. Wonderful experience.

Kandis

[sandra-leigh]

I ended up buying 2 Amoena size 10's (C cup), but probably should have gone with B cups, in spite of my large frame.

Datapoint: my Amoena size 10s need a 40G bra for full coverage of the form; my (non-Amoena) size 7 forms nead a 38D for full coverage. By "full coverage", I mean that the form sits snugly and is completely covered by the bra material; "full coverage" bras are get increasingly difficult to find after 36B's.

Minevera's frame must be noticably larger than mine.

Amoena size 10 are fairly large forms. I love the look of mine, but they get a bit tiring to wear.