Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
Mastectomy bras and where to buy them in Hyderabad | CION Cancer Clinics
In Hyderabad, mastectomy bras are sold by the surgical-appliance shops around the large hospitals, by a few specialist mastectomy-wear shops, and by Indian online brands that deliver to the city and the districts. A tailor can also sew a pocket into a soft bra you already own. This page explains what makes a mastectomy bra different, what to look for, and what to wear at each stage after surgery. CION Cancer Clinics’ surgical oncologists in Hyderabad can talk this through with you.
MM
Medically reviewed by Dr. Muralidhar MuddusettyConsultant Surgical Oncologist · MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery, AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh) · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
17+specialists on panel
15,000+patients treated
35+centres across Telangana & AP
4.8★ / 800+Google rating
On this page
- Where can you buy a mastectomy bra in Hyderabad?
- Five places to look, and what each is good for
- What to look for in the bra itself
- A made-for-purpose bra, or your own bra with a pocket sewn in?
- What should you be wearing at each stage?
- What families say, and what is actually true
- What this page cannot tell you
- Common questions about mastectomy bras
The short answer
Where can you buy a mastectomy bra in Hyderabad?
In Hyderabad, mastectomy bras are sold by the surgical-appliance shops that cluster around the large hospitals, by a small number of specialist mastectomy-wear shops, and by Indian online brands that deliver across the city and the districts. A tailor can also sew a pocket into an ordinary bra you already own, which is the cheapest route of all.
What makes it a mastectomy bra
A mastectomy bra looks like an ordinary soft bra from the outside. The difference is inside the cup: a soft fabric pocket that holds a breast prosthesis (a silicone or foam breast form) in place so it cannot ride up or slip out. The straps are usually wider, the band sits higher under the arm to cover the scar, and the seams are flat so nothing rubs the chest wall.
Why an ordinary bra often does not work at first
After a mastectomy the chest is tender, the scar sits exactly where a band or underwire presses, and there may be a drain for the first week or two. A wire digs into the wound, a thin strap cuts into the shoulder, and a cup with no pocket lets a form slide out when you bend. So the first bra after surgery is soft, front-fastening and wire-free, and the pocketed bra comes once the wound has healed.
Your options
Five places to look, and what each is good for
CION does not sell bras or prostheses and does not recommend one shop over another. These are the kinds of places women actually use.
Surgical-appliance shops near the big hospitals
The medical-supply lanes around the large hospitals in areas such as Somajiguda, Banjara Hills and Secunderabad stock mastectomy bras and silicone forms. Choice is limited and fitting is basic, but you can see and try the product.
Specialist mastectomy-wear shops
A few shops in the city deal only in post-surgery wear and offer a proper fitting in a private room. They cost more and you may need an appointment. Ask your breast care nurse which ones are currently open.
Indian online brands
Several Indian brands now make pocketed bras and ship anywhere in Telangana. Sizing is by measurement chart, so measure carefully and pick a seller with a clear returns policy. Search for "pocketed bra" or "post-mastectomy bra".
Cancer support groups and NGOs
Some groups in Hyderabad give soft prostheses and pocketed bras free or at cost to women who cannot afford them. Which groups are active changes from year to year, so ask at the centre where you had surgery.
Your own tailor
Any soft, full-cup, wire-free bra can be converted. The tailor sews a pocket of soft cotton lining inside the cup. The same can be done inside a saree blouse. This is the cheapest option and the one many women in the districts end up using.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistAt the shop or online
What to look for in the bra itself
- A full cup with a soft inner pocket that holds a form without gaping
- No underwire, at least until the surgeon says the scar is fully healed
- Wide, padded straps that do not cut into the shoulder
- A band that sits high under the arm and covers the scar line
- Flat or covered seams, with no hooks or labels against the chest wall
- Front fastening for the first weeks, when reaching behind the back is hard
Side by side
A made-for-purpose bra, or your own bra with a pocket sewn in?
Mastectomy bra from a shop
Ordinary bra, pocket added by a tailor
Pocket, band height, seams and straps are already designed for the scar
Only works if the bra was already soft, full-cup and wire-free
Costs more, and choice in Hyderabad is limited
Costs very little and can be done in any town
Fitting available at specialist shops
You judge the fit yourself, so check it under clothes in a mirror
Sized for a weighted silicone form
Fine for a soft form; a heavy silicone form may sag the cup
Leave a number, we will call you
One field. No form to fill in, and no charge for the call.
Stage by stage
What should you be wearing at each stage?
-
In hospital and the first week or two
Often nothing but a loose cotton vest or a soft camisole, especially while a drain is in. If you want a bra, a soft front-opening one with no wire. Some hospitals give you one; ask before you buy.
-
Wound healing, before any radiotherapy
A soft, wire-free bra, with a light fibre form in the pocket if you want shape under clothes. Nothing should press on the scar line. Front fastening still helps while the arm is stiff.
-
During radiotherapy, if you have it
The skin over the chest wall becomes sore and may peel. Most women go back to a loose cotton camisole or a very soft bra with the band sitting below the treated area. Ask the radiotherapy team what they prefer.
-
Once the surgeon says the wound is healed
A properly fitted pocketed bra and, if you want one, a weighted silicone form. This is the point at which a fitting is worth the trip into the city, because bra size often changes after surgery.
Commonly believed
What families say, and what is actually true
"You have to buy an imported bra for it to work."
A pocketed bra is a simple garment. Indian brands make good ones, and a tailor can convert an ordinary soft bra for very little. What matters is the pocket, the wire-free cup and the band height, not the label.
"She should not wear a bra at all for months, to let it heal."
Once the drain is out and the surgeon is happy with the wound, a soft wire-free bra does no harm and many women feel better dressed. What to avoid is a wire, a tight band or a strap that digs in. Going without is also fine.
"A tight bra will keep the swelling down."
A tight band around the chest does not reduce swelling and can rub a healing scar raw. Fluid under the wound is managed by the surgeon, not by a bra. A swelling arm needs a review, not a tighter strap.
"Nobody in the districts sells these, so she will have to manage."
Online brands deliver to district towns, and any tailor can sew a pocket into a bra or a blouse. Distance from the city is not a reason to go without.
Being straight with you
What this page cannot tell you
This page cannot tell you which shop to go to, what a bra will cost this month, or whether a particular one will fit you. Stock and prices change, and CION does not endorse any seller.
How to measure if you are buying unseen
Measure snugly around the ribcage just under the other breast for the band, and around the fullest part of the other breast for the cup, both over a thin top and with the tape level. Follow the seller's own chart, because sizes differ between brands. If you are between sizes, choose the larger band and adjust with the hooks.
Who needs different advice
If you have had a reconstruction, the surgeon who did it will have their own rules about bras and support, and those come first. If the arm on the operated side has started to swell, avoid any strap or band that leaves a mark, and ask about it at your next visit. If the scar has not fully closed, no bra at all until it has.
If you are stuck, call the helpline and we will tell you the options we know of nearest to you.Questions we are asked
Common questions about mastectomy bras
When can I start wearing a bra after the operation?
A soft, wire-free, front-opening bra can usually go on once the drain is out and the surgeon is happy with the wound, often within the first couple of weeks. Anything with a wire, a tight band or a seam over the scar waits until the wound is fully healed.
Does the hospital give me a bra?
Some centres give a soft post-surgery bra or a light fibre form before you go home, and some do not. Ask the ward or the breast care nurse before discharge. If nothing is provided, a loose cotton camisole is fine for the first days.
Can I just use my old bra?
If it is soft, full-cup and wire-free, yes, with a pocket sewn in by a tailor. If it is underwired, padded with a hard cup or has a narrow strap, it will press on the scar or ride up on the operated side. Bra size often changes after surgery too.
How much does a mastectomy bra cost?
It ranges widely, from the cost of a tailor's pocket in a bra you own, to an Indian pocketed bra at roughly the price of a good ordinary bra, to imported ones that cost several times that. Prostheses are priced separately.
Will Aarogyasri or my insurance pay for it?
Usually not for the bra itself. Cover for an external prosthesis varies between schemes and insurers, and some private policies allow a claim with the surgeon's prescription. Ask the scheme desk or your insurer before buying, and keep the bill and the prescription in case.
Is a sports bra a good substitute?
A soft, front-zip sports bra without a wire is a reasonable choice in the first weeks and many women use one. The compression type that pulls on over the head is harder to get into while the arm is stiff. A pocket can be sewn into either kind.
Can I wear one with a saree blouse?
Yes. A pocketed bra sits under a normal blouse without showing. If you prefer not to wear a bra at home, a tailor can sew the pocket into the blouse lining itself, and a light fibre form goes straight in. Many women in Telangana use exactly this.
I live in a district town. What is the simplest route?
Buy a soft, wire-free, full-cup cotton bra locally, take it to your tailor with a request for a soft pocket in the cup, and use a fibre or cotton form inside it. Order a pocketed bra online later if you want one, or ask us about a fitting when you next come to the city.
Meet the Specialists
17+ senior cancer specialists. One panel for your case.
Trained at AIIMS, Tata Memorial, and leading international centres. Combined 150+ years of experience. Every complex case is reviewed by 3+ of them — together.
Medical Oncologist
Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
Medical Oncologist
Medical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vinay Mamidala
MBBS, MS(General Surgery), M.Ch(Surgical Oncology), FMAS, FARIS(Ongoing)
Surgical Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Hematologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology
Surgical Oncologist
Want a specific doctor for your case? Mention them when booking.
Book Free ConsultationBook an appointment with our specialist
Share your name and number — we'll call you back within 30 minutes to schedule your consultation.
Patient stories
Hear it from people we have treated
Every story is a video, in the patient's own words. Nothing here is a written testimonial.
Accreditation and empanelment
- NABH
- NABL
- ISO 9001:2015
- ArogyaSri empanelled
- CGHS accepted
- ECHS accepted
- EHS accepted
- Major cashless insurers
Paying for it
Insurance, schemes and payment
What you actually pay usually differs a great deal from the sticker figure.
AarogyasriEmpanelled. Bring the card and a referral where you have one.
CGHS / ECHS / EHSAccepted at CION centres for eligible treatment.
Cashless insuranceMost major insurers are empanelled. Pre-authorisation is handled by our desk.
Self-payItemised estimate given before treatment starts. No EMI scheme exists.
Where to find us
Our centres in and around Hyderabad
Addressed by landmark, because that is how this city navigates. A surgical consultation can be booked at any of these centres through one helpline, and your team will tell you where the operation itself takes place.
Warangal
Vizag
Sources
- NHS — Mastectomy
- Cancer Research UK — Breast cancer
- Macmillan Cancer Support — Breast cancer
- American Cancer Society — Mastectomy
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
Keep reading
Related pages
Breast Prosthesis: Choosing and Using OneThe form that goes in the pocket, and how a fitting worksClothing and Saree Draping After MastectomyDressing comfortably in the first monthsThe Drain After MastectomyWhy the first bra waits until the drain is outPreventing Lymphoedema After MastectomyWhy straps and bands that leave a mark matter on the operated sideCost, Insurance and Schemes for Cancer SurgeryWhat Aarogyasri, CGHS, ECHS, EHS and insurers cover
Talk to us
Not sure what to wear, or where to look?
Call the helpline or send us a message. A CION team member will tell you whether your wound is likely to be ready for a fitted bra and point you to the options we know of nearest to you. One helpline serves every centre.