What to Wear After Hip Replacement Surgery in India

By Aasra Editorial Team | India's First Adaptive Clothing Brand

Total hip replacement is one of the most successful operations in modern medicine. It is also, for the first six to twelve weeks, one of the most restrictive, and the restrictions land squarely on the act of getting dressed.

Hip precautions, and why they are not optional

After a hip replacement, particularly through a posterior approach, most surgeons in India give three precautions:

• Do not bend the hip past 90 degrees
• Do not cross the operated leg over the midline
• Do not rotate the leg inwards

These exist because a new hip joint is at its most vulnerable to dislocation before the surrounding soft tissue has healed and tightened around it. Dislocation is not a minor setback. It usually means a trip back to hospital and sometimes a further procedure.

Now consider putting on a pair of trousers. You bend forward to bring the waistband to your feet, which takes the hip well past 90 degrees. You lift the operated leg. You often rotate slightly. A single ordinary garment breaks all three precautions in one movement, which is why hip patients are routinely told they will need help dressing, and why so many find that the hardest part of recovery is not pain but dependence.

Side-opening lowers solve it completely

The principle is that the garment comes to you. Side-opening pants open along the full length of both legs with velcro. You lay them flat across the bed or chair, place your legs onto them without lifting or bending, and press the sides closed from the outside while sitting upright.

At no point do you bend past 90 degrees, cross your legs, or reach towards your feet. It takes about thirty seconds and, crucially, you can do it alone.

In hot weather or during the day, tearaway shorts work identically with less fabric. There is a women's version as well.

Whatever you choose, keep the waistband loose. Pressure across a fresh hip incision or over a surgical dressing is uncomfortable and slows healing.

The socks and shoes problem

This catches almost everyone. Reaching your own feet is impossible under hip precautions, and it stays impossible for weeks.

Slip-on chappals or velcro sandals are essential from day one. For socks, use a long-handled sock aid, which most Indian physiotherapy departments can supply or recommend. A grabber or reacher is worth buying before surgery for the same reason: it is what lets you pick things up off the floor without breaking precautions, and you will drop things.

Anterior approach patients

If your surgery was done through an anterior approach, your surgeon may give you fewer restrictions or none at all, because the dislocation risk profile is different. Follow what your own surgeon tells you rather than general advice, including this article.

That said, many anterior patients still find side-opening clothing easier for the first few weeks, simply because bending forward over a fresh incision is uncomfortable regardless of what is permitted.

Caring for the surgical wound while dressing

The incision on the outer hip needs to breathe and needs to be checked regularly. Whatever you wear in the first few weeks should sit clear of the dressing rather than press against it - this is one more reason side-opening garments work better than anything with a fitted waistband or seam running across the hip.

When a nurse or family member needs to inspect or change the dressing, side-opening pants open flat without disturbing your position on the bed or chair. You do not need to remove the garment or shift around to expose the wound. If you notice increasing redness, discharge, warmth, or fever, tell your surgeon regardless of what you are wearing - clothing choice reduces friction and irritation around the incision, it does not replace proper wound monitoring.

What to expect, week by week

Weeks 1 to 2: Side-opening lowers, loose tops, slip-on footwear. Most dressing done seated. Walker or crutches in use, which is its own reason to avoid anything that could trip you.

Weeks 3 to 6: Walking distance increases and confidence returns, but precautions remain fully in force. This is the phase where people most often get injured, because they feel better than they should behave.

Weeks 6 to 12: Your surgeon will usually begin relaxing precautions. Many patients keep using side-opening pants through this period because it is simply easier than the alternative.

After 12 weeks: Most people return to ordinary clothing. Some keep one pair of adaptive trousers permanently, for bad days and for winter mornings when the joint is stiff.

Order before the operation

Hip replacements are planned procedures. Order adaptive clothing before you are admitted so it is waiting for you at home. The day of discharge is the worst possible day to discover you own nothing you can put on.

Buy two sets. You will be wearing them daily for six weeks and washing frequently.

Our hip replacement recovery collection is designed around hip precautions. Everything is 100% cotton, with loose waistbands that clear the incision, in sizes M to 2XL. Free shipping on prepaid orders, cash on delivery available. See also our guides to knee replacement and hip and knee recovery clothing, and our size guide for measurements.

Hip replacement recovery has specific clothing requirements, but the core principles apply across most surgeries. For a broader overview, see our guide on how to choose the right clothing after surgery.

Before the Operation: A Dressing Checklist

A hip replacement is a planned procedure. Order your adaptive clothing at least a week before admission so it is waiting when you come home. Discharge day is not the time to discover you own nothing you can put on safely.

Minimum to have at home before surgery:

• Two pairs of side-opening pants or tearaway shorts
• One long-handled shoehorn
• A grabber or reacher
• Slip-on chappals or velcro sandals

Also bring one pair of side-opening shorts to hospital. On the morning of discharge, the nursing team removes your theatre gown and expects you to dress before your family arrives. Side-opening shorts let you do this without help and without violating precautions.

Dressing When Using a Walker or Crutches

Walkers and crutches occupy both hands, which means dressing must always happen while seated. Sit on the bed or a firm chair with armrests first. Lay the side-opening pants flat on the surface beside you, thread your legs in from the seated position, close the velcro, and only then stand and pick up the walker. Never attempt to pull on trousers while standing.

Walker bags (fabric pouches that clip to the front bar) are worth buying for this period. They carry your phone, water, and medication without requiring your hands.

What this means for the caregiver

In most Indian households, dressing assistance falls to a spouse, adult child, or daughter-in-law who has had no training for it. Standard clothing makes their job harder than it needs to be: tight waistbands to wrestle over the hips, narrow leg openings to thread while keeping the operated leg still, buttons and drawstrings that need two working hands.

Side-opening garments remove most of this difficulty. A caregiver can lay the pants flat, position both legs without lifting or twisting the patient, and close the velcro from the side - all without the patient needing to sit up, shift position, or move the operated hip. It takes less strength, less coordination, and far less risk for both people involved, which matters over six to twelve weeks of daily dressing.

Recovery Clothing for Women After Hip Replacement

Women have an additional nightwear decision. Side-opening recovery pants work for daytime, but many women prefer a front-open patient nighty for sleeping. Standard cotton nighties require pulling over the head or stepping through a waistband, neither of which is possible under hip precautions.

Women's side-opening recovery pants follow the same design as men's, sized for Indian women from S to 2XL.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I wear jeans after hip replacement surgery?

Not in the first 6-12 weeks. Jeans require bending to pull on, stepping through the waistband, and twisting to fasten. Return to jeans only once your surgeon has formally cleared you from precautions.

How long do hip precautions last?

Typically 6-12 weeks, depending on your surgical approach and recovery progress. Your physiotherapist will guide you through progressively relaxing restrictions.

What should I wear for physiotherapy sessions after hip replacement?

Tearaway shorts or side-opening shorts. Your physiotherapist needs access to the knee and hip for exercises and assessment. Side-opening shorts can be opened along the leg seam for examination without any additional undressing.

Can I sleep in regular pyjamas after hip replacement?

Not safely in the first 6 weeks. Standard pyjamas require stepping through a waistband or pulling over the hips. Side-opening night pants or a front-open patient nighty are the right choices for sleeping during recovery.

What shoes can I wear after hip replacement?

Slip-on sandals or chappals with a firm, non-slip sole. Avoid any shoe that requires bending forward to put on. A velcro sandal that can be guided on with a long-handled shoehorn is the standard recommendation.

How do I dress if I live alone after hip replacement?

Solo recovery is possible with the right setup. Side-opening pants don't require a second person. Socks need a long-handled sock aid. Shoes must be slip-ons. Set up everything at waist height before coming home.

What size should I order for hip replacement clothing?

Order one size larger than your usual. Post-surgical swelling is common in weeks one to three. You can return to your normal size once swelling reduces, usually by week four or five.

Can I wear salwar kameez after hip replacement?

Not standard salwar trousers. Adaptive salwar-style pants with full side velcro can be worn with any kurta. Alternatively, side-opening pyjamas under a loose kurta are a comfortable combination that works within all hip precautions.

Can I wear a dhoti or lungi after hip replacement?

Many men wear a lungi or dhoti at home, and draped loosely with someone's help it can work for short periods. The risk is the loose fabric around the feet, which raises the chance of a trip, and a fall after hip replacement can dislocate the new joint. Fitted side-opening pants with velcro are safer for walking around. Ask your surgeon which hip precautions apply to you before choosing.