Post operative brassiere

A post-operative brassiere for use by female patients following cardio-thoracic surgery is disclosed. The post-operative brassiere includes a first breast support cup and a second breast support cup being interconnected by a support strap which is worn about the neck and shoulders of the wearer so as to form an open gap between the first and second breast support cups over the area of the wearer's sternum whereon a surgical incision is located. The conventional torso encircling straps which overlie the sternum in brassieres of the prior art are eliminated. The post-operative brassiere allows access to the incision for routine examination and nursing care while providing adequate support to the wearer's breasts. In one embodiment the breast support cups include elastic panels disposed about the peripheral edges thereof to secure the same in position. In an alternative embodiment, the breast support cups include resilient underwire support means disposed within the elastic panels to counteract the natural downward and lateral pressure exerted by the weight of the breasts against the mid-sternal incision. The support strap extending about the neck and shoulders of wearer is provided with length adjustment means in order to vary the length and thereby adjust the tension created in the elastic panels within each breast support cup to provide a comfortable fit for an individual patient.