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

I am 2 Months out and have went down 2 sizes in shirts and up 4 in pants. Dr says it is all swelling and could last 6.  Mon.  s.

I've been living in gym shorts and sweats since surgery 3 weeks ago. I'm very swollen in the waist and my pants don't fit me yet. 

I had an abdominoplasty with liposuction on my flanks, and bilateral liposuction on my knees just last Monday, May 12th.  I'm still VERY swollen, and can't tell you how my normal clothes fit because I've not tried them on.  Prior to my surgery, I went to Goodwill and bought 2 pair of stretchy waist pants in a size larger than normal, and I also bought 2 coordinate button-front blouses.  Since I came home last Tuesday, I've not been out of the house, so I have yet to wear any of those clothes that I bought, but I will be wearing them on Tuesday for my post-op appt.  I also bought 2 pair of pajamas (one size larger) that have long pants and long-sleeved, button front tops.  Those pajamas are what I've been wearing around the house. 

Because I had my abdomen done and my knees done, the compression garment I'm wearing is a one-piece that goes from my waist down to about 4" below my knees.  I have to say, because of the work done, and because of the compression garment, the area between my waist and breast is VERY swollen.  I was surprised at how large that area is right now.  My advice is to make sure you not only have larger pants, but make sure you also have some larger shirts to allow for the swelling in the area I just described. 

BTW, I know each doc's advice is different, but I'm not allowed to go without my compression garment for 2 full weeks, then after the 2 weeks, I can start going without it at night only, but must still wear it thru the day.  I expect to have several more weeks of an odd-shaped body due to the compression garment, the swelling, etc. 

Thank you everyone! I was going to return the xl shorts I bought because they really are to big for me right now, but if I add swelling and whatever compression garments the hospital puts on me, they might be one of the few things I can wear. It's spring in New England so the temps are doing the usual roller coaster thing. But by next week, shorts should be perfect, with a blanket or two thrown over if it's chilly. I think I'll keep those XL ones and double-check my shorts drawer for another pair or two I might have kept from before my sleeve surgery. May have to pick up another pair or two this coming weekend.

I'm having a roller coaster of emotions--tears one moment, severe anxiety another, complete calm and acceptance another moment...it's pretty amusing if I step back far enough to analyze. One week from right now, it will be all over and I will be recovering. :)

Maxi dress with spandex shorts underneath.

I have to go back to work this week (three weeks post-op) and I don't know how my work clothes are going to look. Thankfully I have mostly stretchy dress pants (I do a lot of bending, kneeling and lifting at work) but I think I'm going to look like a stuffed sausage for a while. I'm so glad my doctor is not a big fan of compression garments. I wore mine for a few days and then discarded it. He feels it does more harm than good and it was so uncomfortable, I was not about to argue with him!

You do want to be careful to not get anything that is too tight which may interfere with the blood circulation and potentially cause complications like even necrosis, prolonged swelling between the belly button and pubic area.