These bras arrive pre-washed and packaged ready to be put on immediately after surgery, in the operating theatre. They should generally be worn day and night for the first 6 to 8 weeks, depending on your surgeon's advice, so you may wish to consider purchasing two (one to wash and one to wear).

A front opening is important, to allow easy access for wound care. The velcro shoulder adjusters also allow the bra to fold down for wound care.

Our top recommendations after lumpectomy are:

• Amoena Leyla - for light compression around the chest but not over the breast area. This is our top seller.
• Amoena Pamela - some women prefer Pamela's firmer compression around the chest. Pamela also gives light compression over the breast area, which can be helpful for swelling after lumpectomy.

Covering your scars with a silicone patch or gel helps to improve the appearance of the scar after healing. It helps to prevent the scar becoming raised or thickened.

Silicone patches/sheets/tapes give the best results, but gels may be more convenient, especially in awkward locations. You may need to replace your patches every so often if they lose their adhesiveness.

These should never be applied to an open, healing wound. After the wound has knitted together, you can start using these products. They should be used for at least 12 hours per day, for 3 to 6 months for best results.

After lumpectomy, you may be left with uneven breast size or shape, especially if a large part of your breast had to be removed.

Once you have finished healing (at least 6 to 8 weeks), you may like to use a breast shaper (also known as a partial breast form) to even things out.

The shape you need depends on the shape of your breast. An all-over partial shaper adds volume over the whole breast, to even out size. Other shapers are designed to fit into a cavity left in the breast, and come in various shapes. Click the button below for more information about choosing a shaper.