This article is for general information and is not a substitute for the instructions your cardiologist and hospital give you. Follow their advice on site care, activity and medicines.
Angioplasty is a much smaller procedure than open-heart surgery. There is no long incision and most people go home within a day or two. That means the clothing question is smaller too, and an honest answer starts with this: many people do not need special clothing after angioplasty. What matters is a short list of things that can rub, press or hide the puncture site. This guide covers those.
Where the puncture site is
The catheter is passed into an artery through a small puncture, either in the wrist (radial) or in the groin (femoral). Which one your doctor used decides what to avoid.
If the puncture was at the wrist
- Avoid tight cuffs and sleeves over the site for the first days. A shirt with a snug cuff, or a bangle, bracelet or watch on that wrist, can press on the puncture and the bruise around it.
- Choose loose, short or wide sleeves that slide over the forearm without dragging across the dressing.
- Keep the site visible and easy to check. Short sleeves or a wide cuff you can push up make daily checks simple.
- Avoid pulling heavy items or putting weight through that hand while the site heals, as your doctor advises.
If the puncture was at the groin
- Avoid tight waistbands, belts and jeans seams that rub across the groin crease. Soft, loose cotton is better than denim or tight leggings.
- Choose trousers or pyjamas with a loose, soft waist that does not press on the site.
- Avoid clothing you have to pull up over the hip with a sharp bend in the first days. Loose pyjamas or side-opening pants mean you can dress without bending sharply or lifting the leg high.
- Be able to check the site without undressing fully, which side-opening garments help with.
In the hospital
You will usually be in a hospital gown for the procedure and the first hours. For the ride home and the first days:
- A front-opening top or shirt is easier than a pullover when you are tired and sore, and it lets staff attach ECG leads without you undressing. A front-open nighty or kurti works for women.
- A pair of loose bottoms sized up if you are swollen or bruised.
- Slip-on footwear so you do not bend to tie laces.
Our hospital packing list covers the rest of the bag.
Things to avoid whichever side was used
- Tight, rubbing or elasticated bands over the puncture site
- Rough fabric against the bruise
- Anything that hides the site so you cannot check it
- Heavy, fitted layers you have to struggle into
When ordinary clothing is enough
If the puncture site is comfortable and you can dress without bending sharply or putting weight through the wrist, ordinary loose cotton clothing is usually fine. Adaptive clothing becomes more useful if you are weak after a heart attack, if you are older and unsteady, or if other conditions such as arthritis make dressing difficult. Our guide to adaptive clothing versus regular clothes explains when it is worth it.
Later: cardiac rehabilitation
When you start walking programmes or a supervised cardiac rehabilitation course, comfortable loose clothing and flat shoes matter more than anything. See our guide to clothing for cardiac rehabilitation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I wear a watch after wrist angioplasty?
Avoid wearing a watch or bracelet on that wrist until your doctor says the site has healed, because it can press on the puncture and the bruise around it. Wear it on the other wrist meanwhile.
Is a bra or tight underwear a problem after angioplasty?
Not usually, because the procedure does not involve the chest. For a groin puncture, avoid tight underwear or elastic that rubs across the site, and choose soft cotton.
Can I wear jeans after groin angioplasty?
Tight jeans can rub and press across the groin crease. Choose loose soft trousers for the first days and ask your doctor when you can return to fitted clothing.
Do I need special clothing after angioplasty?
Many people do not. Loose, soft clothing that does not press on the puncture site is enough. Adaptive clothing helps mostly if you are weak, unsteady or have another condition that makes dressing hard.