05.11.2025

The Best Bras for After Shoulder Surgery: My Personal Experience

Struggling to find the best bras for after shoulder surgery? I’ve been there. I though I was prepared for everything my surgery would bring – the stiffness, pain, and endless physical therapy sessions. I didn’t realize my biggest issue was going to be just getting dressed and undressed each day.

As a 63-year old with rotator cuff issues, I already know how challenging it could be to grapple with traditional bras – but after my surgery, all that twisting and reaching had me in tears.

Fortunately, I’ve found a few bras to wear after shoulder surgery that don’t leave me blubbering.

Here they are, rated, reviewed, and ranked.

Bras for After Shoulder Surgery: What to Look For

If you’re looking for a post-shoulder-surgery bra – there are few things I’d recommend prioritizing right now. Don’t worry too much about style, what you really need is:

·         A Front Closure: You absolutely want a front-closure bra. Wrestling a bra over your head when you can’t fully lift your arms is painful – and it can do more damage.

·         Soft, Seamless Fabric: Your skin might be extra sensitive after surgery. Smooth, breathable materials will help to prevent irritation and unnecessary discomfort.

·         Support without Pressure: If you have a bigger bust (like me), support is important, but avoid wires and materials that feel tight or restrictive.

·         Wide straps: Thin straps are a nightmare after shoulder surgery. Look for wide, cushioned straps that can distribute weight evenly across your shoulders.

·         Adjustability: The ability to tweak your straps from the front (instead of reaching behind you) makes a big difference. Healing isn’t linear - some days you'll need a looser fit, and you shouldn't have to undress to get it.

 

The Best Bras to Wear After Shoulder Surgery

If you’re looking for the easiest bra to wear after shoulder surgery (and the most comfortable option overall), I’d probably recommend the Liberare Everyday Easy-On bra as my top pick. But everyone has different preferences, so I wanted to share my experience with a few options I tried.

The Silverts Adaptive Front Snap Bra: Fine for Bed-Rest

★★★☆☆

When I was waiting for my surgery date, my doctor advised looking for some “adaptive apparel” that would hopefully be easy to wear during the recovery period. I found Silverts pretty much straight away, and bought their adaptive front snap closure bra along with some everyday shirts.

I will say, this is a decent, low-cost option if you’re wondering what to wear after shoulder surgery. The buttons are easy enough to open and close, even if you have arthritic fingers like me. There are no wires, and the material is soft and breathable.

You also get pretty thick shoulder straps (although they’re not adjustable, which was a bit of a problem for me). The biggest issue I had with this bra is that it’s really only something I’d recommend for bed rest. It’s comfortable enough to wear while you’re relaxing (and recovering).

However, if you get up and start moving around, or you’re in the middle of a physical therapy session, the front-closure buttons aren’t very secure. They can pop open at the worst time – especially if you have a larger bust. There’s also virtually no support here.

On the plus side, at least you don’t have to tug the bra on and off over your head, or deal with annoying hooks.

The Shefit Lounge Bra: Decent for Physical Therapy

★★★☆☆

I’m not a big fan of sports bras in general, but I felt like it was a good idea to invest in one, before I started my physical therapy sessions. The Shefit Lounge bra felt like a good option, with a handy “zip” front closure, and no pesky wires.

It’s pretty easy to get this bra on and off – although I did find that the zip sometimes snagged, or started to “undo” itself after a while. On the plus side, you also get plenty of coverage (great for when you’re practicing exercises to boost your mobility).

The material is breathable, and seamless, so there’s no painful friction or rubbing. You can also add removable cups if you want a little extra coverage. Again, I don’t think this is one of the best bras for post-surgery recovery if you want something you can wear all day.

The material is quite tight and can feel restrictive after a while. But if you want something for a couple of hours of gentle exercise, this could be a good pick.

The Liberare Comfort Sculpt: The Softest Post Shoulder Surgery Bra

★★★★☆

Now we come to one of overall favorite bras to wear after shoulder surgery (or just in general for that matter). The Liberare Comfort Sculpt bra is something I feel wonderful in – day or night.

The ultra-soft seamless fabric feels amazing against your skin, and the wide, supportive straps don’t dig into your shoulder, or add any extra pressure to your aching joints. There’s no wires digging into your ribs, and the front-closure is fantastic.

What really makes this bra (and all of Liberare’s options) so impressive is the magnetic front closure. The magnets help to guide the two halves of your bra together, so you’re not struggling with pinching and tugging. There are even finger straps for those of us with dexterity issues.

The only slight downside is that this bra isn’t quite as supportive as some of the other options I’ve tried – but it’s great if you want to make comfort a priority.

The Liberare Smooth-On T-Shirt Bra: Best for Larger Busts

★★★★☆

During the first few weeks of your recovery, the chances are you won’t be too worried about giving the “girls” extra lift. But if you start venturing outdoors, and feel a little nervous about the potential for sagging, the Liberare Smooth-On T-Shirt bra is a great choice.

Again, this is one of the easiest bras to wear after shoulder surgery, because of the magnetic front-closure, which makes getting dressed and undressed a lot easier.

The molded cups gently lift and shape your chest, without the need for stiff wires, and the extra-wide wings give you plenty of back and side support, so your shoulders don’t have to do all the work.

This bra is definitely more structured than the Comfort Sculpt, so I wouldn’t really recommend it for just lounging around on the sofa – but it’s the ideal option if you’re going out and about. 

The Liberare Everyday Easy-On: Best Overall

★★★★★

best bras for shoulder surgery

Finally, we come to my number one pick for the best bras for after shoulder surgery. Surprise – it’s another Liberare bra, with the same amazing magnetic closure, handy finger loops, and ultra-soft material. For me, the Everyday Easy-On bra has it all.

You get wire-free support (shaping your bust without any pinching or discomfort), as well as wide straps that are fully adjustable in the front. There’s even a flexible back adjuster which is a blessing for the weeks when your body might be suffering from a little extra swelling.

The first time I wore the Everyday Easy-On, I realized I had gone a full morning without even thinking about my bra. There was no pain, no irritation, no pesky adjusting. After weeks of struggling, that tiny bit of normalcy felt like a major victory.

Honestly, if you’re looking for the perfect blend of comfort and simplicity, this bra will change your life – you’ll love it even after you’re fully recovered.

The Best Bras for After Shoulder Surgery

Recovering from shoulder surgery teaches you a lot, about patience, your body – and even about bras. Before surgery, I took getting dressed for granted. After surgery, I realized just how important the right underwear really was.

If you’re in the heart of recovery right now – I feel for you. The good news? You don’t have to struggle every morning (and night) with a bra that adds to your pain.

My advice? Check out Liberare’s bras today and give yourself the comfortable, supportive recovery you deserve.