women's wear...

A couple of questions to throw out here tonight.

1. Post-op, at least for the first few weeks while there is some pain in healing: regular bra vs sports bra? front hook vs back hook (I'm wondering if I will be ok reaching back to hook and/or turn it around once I hook it in front of me).
2. Spanx? Abdominal binder? Tight wrap Ace Bandage? Other ideas? I know I have read and heard people say it hurts less to be able to keep your stomach pulled in, and these are the ideas I have seen so far.

Any other clothes (for women or just in general) suggestions for the first few weeks?

I didn't have any trouble with hooking my bras either front or back closure. The first time I got up out of bed was the absolute worst for pain, but every time I got up the pain was more tolerable (I might add that my surgery was laparoscopic).

The hospital gave me an abdominal binder and I found that it helped me a lot. It was really only sore for a couple days and then I was fine, but I did wear the binder for the first whole week think (could have been longer). I just had my surgery in March and I still don't remember for sure. It all goes by so fast.

I didn't use a binder, and actually was really lucky with minimal pain except for when I first came out of anesthesia. I realize not everyone is so fortunate, but that's how it was for me. Actually, I found my Spanx to be less comfortable than undergarments with less spandex. I also did not find getting into, out of, or wearing any style of bra to hurt. My RnY was laprascopic. At almost 6 weeks out, I still feel that way about wearing Spanx. You can get yourself a binder or spandex-y under clothes to prepare, of course, but it is also possible that you may find yourself preferring less constriction around your incisions.

As far as other clothes go, I felt the less constriction around my waist the better. Luckily I have found myself to be dropping inches there quite quickly, so even skirts with previously tight waistbands have fast become roomy.

I had no problem with bras. I wore the binder and it helped a lot.

No binder for me after surgery, even while being so heavy on my surgery day. Bras were no issue either, though I have to admit for the first couple days I didn't even wear one my pets didn't seem to notice!

Bras were not an issue. I did wear a flimsy bra (think genie bra) home from the hospital- for ease of putting on and feeling like I was wearing nothing.

A regular bra would have been fine. Ive never worn binders/ spanx etc.

For me: bras were fine and I didn't need a binder or spanx (laparoscopic surgery).

I didn't use a binder at all... and I remember finding a sports bra too hard to put on/off... I just used my regular bras and I was fine.

Spanx only as I was losing to hold things in, but not while I was healing.

I probably wore a sports bra simply because it was more comfortable. I did wear a binder and that helped enormously. I came home from the hospital with one. Sometimes if I was simply sitting watching TV I would take it off but otherwise it really helped.

Came home from the hospital (middle of winter) in an oversized t-shirt, sports bra, and a pair of sweat pants (elastic waist even though I had my DS done laparoscopic). You want comfort. Fortunately I didn't have to go back to work for a month so clothes weren't an issue.

I didn't have any problem with bras post-op. However, some people end up with incisions that are right where their bra straps would go. So be aware that this might happen and maybe check with your surgeon pre-op.

I didn't use any abdominal binding and it was fine. I never felt like my stomach was going to fall out although I can see how that would be more likely with an open surgery instead of a laparoscopic one.

As for clothes, they're expensive and it's both cool and annoying to have to buy new things that fit as you lose weight. I switched to wrap skirts early on and that has worked out super well for me because I'm still wearing the ones I bought 100+ pounds ago :D