Your actual rib size vs your bra band size……?

So, my rib size measured a 32.
Some bra manufacturers recommend a 34 band, some a 36…
even before my BA some 34 would fit me but some would be too tight and leave me with marks round my middle. So I would usually buy a 36.

Some websites say I’d wear a 32 as that’s my rib measurement, but I can’t imagine a 32 fitting me.

What’s your actual measurement round your ribs vs the band size you wear?…….

my nurse measured me as 32 i always wore a 34 post op my surgeon said get 36e and thats wat im wearing atm .. im assuming once recovered fully ill be back to 34 x

Hey hun

Your band size is the size underneath and around your boobs there is no vs anything. I think your best bet is to go to an established lingerie outlet and get measured the good old fashioned way. I used to work in selfridges lingerie dept as a fitter several years ago. A lot of women in my experience tended to want the largest back size they could get away with for ease and comfort. If the back size is too big for your actual measured size you will not receive sufficient support for your boobs or posture. Some also complain about back fat and markings.
My mother is naturally huge with a small back largest she was is a 32G/H but because she wears the correct size her boobs don’t look massive on her size 10/12 frame.

Try and visit three and see what they say instead of relying on online stuff that will just confuse you. Marks and Spencer is always a good standard place to start!

Some of the best bra fitters are those who can go by ur under bust measurement and judge from the shape and fullness of your boob rather than sets of measurements and subtracting to get a cup size.
Implants measure bigger than natural boobs too.

Depending on how well you have dropped you should be able to get measured from 6-8wks post op.

Any earlier than this and your breasts may not have dropped enough or filled out/softened to even be placed in a bra so you wouldn’t be able to get an accurate fit as the boob may not fall into the bottom or squish into the cup.

Certain things like bra fitting are an art form and best when you actually get fitted in person. Ask your fitter to show you how your bra should sit on your breasts, breast bone and how tight the straps and band should be. I would explain but it’s better for someone to visibly show you the differences while your being fitter so you can get a feel for what to look for when trying on bras to see if they’re fitting correctly. Your meant to get measure every six months die to changes in the breast and weight fluctuations plus many girls say their boobs change within the first year of a ba.

Apologies for the essay but I hope it helps

Fxx

Thanks @Fran that’s really interesting.

Can you tell me, when a bra is tight and you get those bulges above the band at the sides of you…? Are they supposed to be there? As that’s what I get sometimes in a 34, which I don’t like, as you can see it through clothes.
If you get those does it mean you should increase your band size? As that’s when I buy a 36 so I get a flatter look, as I prefer not to see them.

Also should a bra band leave marks on you? – again some 34’s do this to me? So I can only imagine a 32 would definitely leave them?

How tight is it supposed to be? It’s really confusing. Should it be comfortable? Or should it leave marks? ……….help!!!

Hey hun

The band should not restrict your breathing ie. Shouldn’t be so tight it hurts ur chest. The boning at the front (that sits in the middle of ur boobs) is meant to lay flush (flat) to ur breast bone.

It should be comfortable so the wires aren’t digging into to ur boobs and the straps don’t cause too much pressure. The band should be parallel all the way around your body and should not ride up at the back. This indicates the boobs are too big for the cup and are being holstered up by the straps being pulled too tight.

The bulge ur talking about is what most women complain about but it’s normal to have honestly and isn’t an indication that your overweight!

When u buy a bra u should always start by closing the bra on the last hook (furthest outside) and work inwards during the life of the bra as it gets slacker through wear. You shouldnt be able to pull the back of the bra more than a cm and a bit away from your body (if u put two fingers underneath the band and pull outwards) and usually you shouldnt be able to put more than two fingers underneath the band when u pull.

Marks are going to be left especially while u are breaking in a bra that has wires and if it’s tighter than you are used to. I get marks on my boobs from wearing non wired crop tops that are a size small. Ive tried size medium but the shoulders are too baggy and it’s not tight enough in the band therefore not providing enough support. That alone demonstrates that I need the smaller size to hold up my boobs and support them.

If you buy the next band size up due to comfort/marking you will not get much wear out of the bra because already it is starting off slightly bigger. You may find you will have to start on the second set of hooks when fastening to get the right level of support.

As I said before my mother is naturally really large and I’m used to going to her fittings and seeing her remove her bra. She never has angry markings on her breasts but usually has an imprint left from her bras after she removes them. It’s a natural cause and effect I belive from material compressed on the body for long periods.

My surgeon advised me not to wear a push up bra for a year post op as they can displace the implant. I personally have no intention of wearing one again as I belive they are part of the cause of why I needed a mini uplift (wearing them daily for 16yrs).

I personally also intend to only wear a formal wired bra for occasions that require proper coverage in a dress for example at a wedding or something formal. I feel I can get good support and comfort from my crop tops and non wired John Lewis bra but that’s just me lol.

Defo go and try a specialist fitter like bravissimo, John Lewis, debehnams or Marks and Spencer and ask them the same questions each time. Also bare in mind that some stores will offer you a sister size if they dont have your back/cup size in stock or for a particular style of bra to give a particular look. For example an extreme cleavage in a push up bra, if your not happy with the look you get with your actual measured size going down a cup and up in the back should squeeze them together a bit more because the cup is smaller

This sister size is found by going down a cup size and bigger in the band size eg. 32B = 34A. 34D=36C.
This isn’t always ideal as yet again the bra will not necessarily give you adequate support and the bra wiring will be smaller than you need therefore not accommodating all of your boob.

When I went for my fitting the store didn’t have 28FF so stuck me in a 30F the bra did fit but was too loose on the back and I immediately asked the fitter to put it on the second hook. She said to me I’m defo a 28 back! I wasn’t prepared to buy the bra for like 30 quid if it wasn’t a 28 back because I want to get as much wear out of it!

Hope that all helps fxxx

Here’s a sister size chart, just look for ur size and follow the colour grid it falls into to see what you could possible be offered/fit Instore
Fxx

You should check out boob or bust on Facebook there’s an accurate bra size calculator on there. Seems crazy, I always thought I was a 32B but I’m actually 28E/F, hard to believe I know but it explains it all on there! X

Thanks Xx

@ClaireJ I’ve joined and done their calculator.
So far on that I’m coming out as a 32E
Will be interesting to see what I do actually fit into at 6weeks 🙂

I’ve just been on that boob or bust calculator and it’s saying a starting size for me is 30j !! 🙂

Boob or bust put me at a 32E – which is bang on so far. And very comfortable to wear in wireless support bras.

I’m amazed a 32 back band fits comfortably, but feels very supportive.
I can’t believe I ever thought a 36 wasright for me at size 12!

[Author]

Posts