Swelling after abdominoplasty - question about clothes for immediate post-op

This feels like a really dumb question but I'm going to ask anyway because I haven't found a similar question in my searches (I'm sure others have asked; I'm just not finding the posts).

I figure there will be some drainage that may come through to my clothes so picked up some things from the "cheap rack" at KMart. I'm wearing a medium-large now, depending on whatever whims the clothing manufacturer follows. My current clothes fit me nicely now, but they don't have much give, which is why I'm picking up some inexpensive stretchy things. But I'm not sure what size to get. One size up from where I am now? Two sizes? Same size, just stretchy? 

I'm sure everyone's experience is different so maybe nobody can really answer. I'd just like to get close to a good size before I'm stuck at home with nothing but a bathrobe that fits properly, lol.

Thank you!

I was able to use my looser sweat pants when I went out. At home, I was in a big sweatshirt and my compression garment. Don't buy a lot. There's a lot less drainage than you'd imagine - just a little ooze from the incisions for a few days and a little from the drain sites. Most of that is absorbed by the bandages. If you have lipo, there could be more drainage. 

I fluctuate a lot. I have been wearing sweat pants and leggings at home and skirts if I have to be somewhere for work.

I didn't have any drainage that leaked, but I had four drains and a LBL not just abdominoplasty.  I wear the same size (a small in nearly everything), but I don't really want to wear non-stretchy clothes because they aren't that comfortable. I work from home, and I've found I'm more comfortable in a tank top that I wear under my garment and yoga shorts over top.  I got a couple maxi dresses for when I go out so the garment isn't as noticeable (it's a little ill fitting around my waist in an effort to make it comfortable around my hips).  If you have sensitive skin, I'd recommend cheap tanks or tshirts to wear under your compression garment.

I had LBL with BA/BL on April 24, so I'll be three weeks this Thursday.  For reference. 

I lived in stretchy yoga pants the first few weeks (pants I already owned) after my lbl. Pre-plastics my waist was 27 and immediately post-op it was 31.

If you cut a maxipad in the middle and put it around your drains, it will soak up most of the leakage. I did not get any blood on my clothes.

larger stretchy yoga pants or pajama pants were the most comfortable for me. ones with minimal seams were best. i couldn't stand the feeling of any seams near the incision lines. even though you will end up smaller, the IV fluids and fluids your body hangs onto during recovery will probably make you larger than you are right now.

I'm two weeks post-op and still have one surgical drain in. The drains have leaked a little bit off and on and I've just wrapped pads around the sides of my underwear and they've caught everything.  I've been wearing maxi dresses with a cover-up in my standard size (M). They are stretchy. I stopped wearing the binder after five days, with my surgeon's blessing, as it was itching and hurting. I've found that stretchy pajama bottoms and light yoga pants also work really well. I've avoided anything with a button/zipper closure as the pressure just hurts. 

I also went and tried on some clothes today because one of my favorite stores is going out of business and I was hoping to catch some deals. I was hoping to get into a 4 instead of my usual 6 but the swelling wouldn't allow for it. Most of my swelling is the area above the belly button which I did not expect. 

Good luck!

Is your favorite store Coldwater Creek, by any chance? I am so bummed they are closing! I love their stuff and they have petite sizes (I'm really short--petite ankle pants on normal people are perfect for me, lol). :)

Yes. I will miss them. I hope I can wear the stuff I bought. Right now I am still so swollen!