Best Fabrics to Wear for Surgery Recovery

After your surgery or procedure, you may notice a shift in your skin. Extra sensitivity, irritation toward things used in the past. Not to mention the swelling, often pushing skin up against your clothing. Stitches need to be monitored, dressed, and not rubbed. How are you expected to do all this while focusing on your healing, your physical therapy, and your much needed sleep? 

At Hudson & Broome, our products are either a 100% cotton or a cotton-spandex blend. These fabrics combine everything you need for recovery clothing. By adding just 5% spandex, you get the softness and breathability of cotton, with the gentle stretch of spandex that allows your clothing to move with you, not against you.

But what exactly is spandex, and how does it compare to lesser quality fabrics like polyester? Spandex is smooth, soft, and designed to stretch without rubbing or irritating your skin. Polyester can feel rough or itchy, especially after a few washes. Spandex, when blended with cotton, stays breathable and cool. Polyester traps heat and moisture, making it uncomfortable for healing skin. Cotton–spandex blends wick moisture and help keep the skin dry. Polyester repels moisture and can leave sweat sitting on your skin, something that can hinder incisions from healing and make you more uncomfortable during your healing journey.

Spandex offers a comfortable stretch that adapts to swelling and limited mobility. Polyester is more rigid and can feel restrictive. Our clothing can be worn for sitting upright in bed, trips to your physical therapist, and more, whereas with polyester you may feel more restricted in your range of motion.

Spandex maintains shape and softness wash after wash. Polyester often pills and degrades, becoming scratchy over time. Believe us, we know how often you want to wash recovery clothing. And you should be able to do just that!

Our 100% cotton is a soft, smooth texture that won’t scratch already irritated skin. It is also long lasting, and washes well without breaking down. At Hudson & Broome, we don’t take any shortcuts. You’re recovering, you don’t want a nightmare at the washing machine for you or your care taker. Our products wash beautifully with similar colors, and to make things even easier, they can be thrown in the dryer on low. They’ll come out warm, fresh, and loved.

Meanwhile, the polyester set you just got off other brands can feel itchy, rough, or simply plasticky on your raw or healing skin. 

At Hudson & Broome, we also intentionally leave out itchy tags that can scratch surgical sites. Our smooth zippers and simple snaps are not only easier to wear for patients with limited mobility, but they also are a durable choice. We really thought of everything, huh?

We understand how important fabric choice is in adaptive clothing, that’s why our line was designed by us, two women based in the USA who know what it’s like to recover from surgeries, labor and delivery, and even just the importance of relaxation. Browse our collection of soft cotton pajamas, robes, hospital gowns and more.