Garment and system for post surgery clothing enhancement

Abstract

Provided herein is a garment configured for use following upper body surgery, the garment comprising a front comprising at least one of a fixed volume of material in the breast area and a fastener configured to receive an accessory module; a back; a neckline configured to withstand gaping; and a front and back expandable element below the breast area. Also provided are an accessory module and a garment and module system for use following surgery.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A garment configured for use following surgery, the garment comprising:
 a front comprising at least one of a fixed volume of material in the breast area and a fastener configured to receive at least one of accessory module, a strap module, and a sleeve;   a back;   a neckline configured to withstand gaping; and   a front and back compression element below the breast area.   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the neckline comprises at least one of elastic, a stretchable fabric, a fabric stiffening agent, and an upward arc. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the fastener comprises at least one of a hook fastener, an S hood fastener, a snap fastener, an elastic fastener, a zipper fastener, a button fastener, a loop fastener, a magnetic fastener, a frog fastener, a slide fastener, a pressure fastener, adhesive, medical adhesive, and a Velcro type fastener. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 1  further comprising a fold down flap adjacent to at least one of the neckline opening and the arm opening wherein the fold down flap is attached to the garment on one lengthwise side and open on the other and is configured to hide the fastener when the fastener is not in use. 
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the neck edge, the armhole edge, and the compression element below the breast line comprises elastic. 
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the garment front further comprises a pocket configured to receive and retain a breast prosthetic. 
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the fixed volume of material comprises at least one of a drape, a cowl, an over-shoulder panel, a ruffle, a scarf, a smocking, a rushing, a panel, shaped fabric, stitched fabric, gathered fabric, knit fabric, a non-fabric material, an interior padding, and an area of sheer material inserted within the extent of the fixed volume of material. 
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 1  further comprising at least one strap wherein the strap is at least one of fixed, adjustable, elastic, detachable, and removable. 
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 8  wherein at the least one strap removably fastens to at least the front of the garment and further comprising a drain pouch configured to receive the discharging end of a post-surgical drain tube wherein the drain pouch is at least one of fixed and removable. 
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 1  configured to be worn upon hospital discharge and during recovery from upper body surgery, wherein the garment front and back comprise an elastic recovery tube and wherein the garment further comprises a fixed volume of material over at least the breast area and an extension of material attached to the lower edge of the elastic tube and configured to hide a drain bulb pouch. 
     
     
         11 . The garment of  claim 1  further comprising a cut-out area that is at least one of open and filled and having the material adjacent to the cut-out area at least one of attached to the filling material and configured to attach with adhesive to the body of the user. 
     
     
         12 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the front and back compression element is configured to hold the front and back of the garment closely to the body of the user below the breast line and wherein the garment has a vertical extension of at least one of immediately below the breast line, waist length, and hip length. 
     
     
         13 . The garment of  claim 12  wherein the vertical extension further comprises a closed crotch area and leg openings, the garment comprising material appropriate for at least one of a body suit and a swim suit. 
     
     
         14 . An garment cover configured to be worn over the garment of  claim 1 , wherein the garment cover comprises a front, a back, a fastener configured to receive an accessory module, a ventilation slit at the juncture of the front and the back, and at least one of a finished armhole and a sleeve, the sleeve comprising at least one of sheer material, translucent material, opaque material, and UV light deflecting material. 
     
     
         15 . An accessory module configured for use with at least one of a garment and an garment cover, the accessory module comprising:
 a fastener corresponding to at least one of a fastener on the garment cover, a fastener on the garment, a fastener configured to receive a removable strap, and a fastener on a second accessory; and   an accessory body comprising at least one of decorative panel, a decorative object, an object, a strap, a sleeve, and a belting module.   
     
     
         16 . The accessory module of  claim 15 , wherein the accessory body extends across at least one of at least half of the horizontal front of the garment, at least one shoulder of the garment, across at least one of the front and the back of the garment, from at least one of the front and back of the garment around the neck of the user to at least one of the front and back of the garment, continuously around at least one of the front and back of the garment, and vertically downward from the center front neckline of the garment to create an illusion of cleavage. 
     
     
         17 . The accessory module of  claim 15 , wherein the accessory module is at least one of fixed and detachable and comprises at least one of a drape, a cowl, a sleeve, an over-shoulder panel, an empire waist panel, a ruffle, a scarf, a smocking, a rushing, a panel, shaped fabric, stitched fabric, gathered fabric, bubble fabric, fur, leather, filament, knit fabric, non-fabric material, and UV light deflecting material. 
     
     
         18 . The accessory module of  claim 15 , further comprising a fastener positioned in at least one of the neckline center and below the neckline center of the accessory body and configured to receive at least one of the upper and lower extreme of a at least one of vertical object and a second accessory of sufficient weight to compress the underlying fabric and create an illusion of cleavage. 
     
     
         19 . The belting module of  claim 15 , comprising a strip of material of sufficient length to encircle the garment at about waist level when worn by a user, a lengthwise foldable flap attached to the strip of material and configured to cover a fastener, a first fastener configured to secure the belting module around the body of the user, and a second fastener configured to receive at least one of the first fastener and a corresponding fastener on a second accessory. 
     
     
         20 . A system for use following upper body surgery, the system comprising:
 a garment comprising a front comprising at least one of a fixed volume of material in the breast area and a fastener configured to receive an attachable accessory, a back, a neckline configured to withstand gaping, and a front and back compression element below the breast area;   an accessory module comprising an accessory body and a fastener corresponding to at least one of a fastener on the garment, a fastener on a garment cover, a fastener configured to receive a removable strap, and a fastener on a second accessory, and wherein the accessory body comprises at least one of a decorative panel, a decorative object, an object, a strap, a sleeve, and a belting module.