Commercial information
Affiliate links may be available. Independent medical content. Prices and links verified on 06/09/2026. GuideChirurgie may receive a commission on certain merchant links, without changing the price paid. No medical reviewer is associated with any product. The choice of a device, its size, class, and duration of use are the responsibility of your healthcare team. Our affiliate policy.
This page lists, need by need, the equipment most frequently required during convalescence: washing, sleeping, moving around, sitting, self-care, and dressing. For each need, you will find what to ask your healthcare provider before buying, selection criteria, common mistakes, and then some specific product references already described in our guides. None of these are presented as the preferred option: they are examples to compare and contrast with your prescription and your living situation.
A reminder before we continue: this content is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Some equipment consists of prescribed medical devices, sometimes covered by insurance; other items are for comfort and can be purchased freely. In both cases, the healthcare team will decide what is appropriate for your situation.
To wash and go to the toilet
Showering and using the toilet are common causes of falls during recovery. Before any purchase, the team confirms whether showering is permitted, if the dressing must remain dry, and what degree of flexion is allowed.
| Ask the healthcare professional | Choice criteria | Mistakes to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Is showering allowed? From what point onwards, and does the dressing need to remain dry? | A seat with a backrest if balance is fragile; adjustable height; non-slip feet; advertised load greater than weight. | Buying a chair without measuring the tray or testing the dry transfer. |
| What toilet height should I aim for, and for how long? | Riser compatible with the toilet bowl (fixed by clips or by tightening), armrests if the team recommends it. | Adjust the booster seat to the maximum height: if it's too high, the feet will no longer touch the ground. |
| Can I get the plaster, resin, or bandage wet? | Cover of the correct length, soft non-compressive seal, quick drying. | Improvising with a plastic bag and some tape, which leaks and compresses. |
Detailed guides: Shower chair · Toilet seat riser · Waterproof protection for casts and dressings · Securing the bathroom · Bathing after surgery
Sleep and rest
The sleeping position depends on the procedure. A pillow is never a trivial matter after a hip replacement, back surgery or eyelid surgery: the written instructions take precedence.
| Ask the healthcare professional | Choice criteria | Mistakes to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Which sleeping positions are permitted, and which are prohibited? | Firm and stable support; washable cover; dimensions adapted to the bed. | Purchase an abduction cushion or positioning pillow without a prescription or instructions. |
| Should I elevate my head or my leg, and with what? | Gradual elevation, never breaking the hip or knee beyond the recommended position. | Stacking unstable pillows that slide around at night. |
| How can I get up safely at night? | Automatic lighting of the route, closed slippers within reach, telephone by the bedside. | Getting up in the dark, barefoot, pulling on the nightstand. |
Detailed Guides: Sleeping After Surgery · Abduction Pillow · Motion Sensor Night Light
Abduction cushion: only with written instructions from the team
- For who
- Some people who have undergone hip replacement surgery, depending on the surgical approach and the surgeon's protocol.
- When
- If, and only if, the team has prescribed it, with the position and duration specified on the discharge sheet.
- Why this object?
- The device maintains leg separation during sleep when prescribed.
This guide does not recommend any specific model: the type, size, and duration depend on the prescription. An ordinary pillow between the knees may suffice if the medical team advises it.
How to travel around
Crutches, canes, or walkers often require a prescription and adjustment by a physiotherapist. What can be purchased freely relates to the environment: footwear, grasping aids, and clear pathways.
| Ask the healthcare professional | Choice criteria | Mistakes to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| What walking aid is prescribed, and who adjusts its height? | Prescribed aid rented or purchased from a pharmacy; handles at wrist height with arm extended; brakes tested. | Borrowing a relative's walker without adjustment or control. |
| Am I allowed to bend over, climb stairs, and drive? | Gripper for light objects; long shoehorn; carpet and threads removed. | Bending down to pick up an object because "it's just once". |
| What footwear is appropriate for indoors and outdoors? | Closed at the heel, non-slip sole, size compatible with edema; offloading shoe only on prescription. | Open mules, socks on parquet floor, a dumping shoe of a different size. |
Detailed guides: Walker · Grabber · Non-slip shoes · Post-operative foot shoe · Home return checklist
Sitting down and standing up
The transition from sitting to standing puts strain on the surgical area after abdominal, hip, or knee surgery. Seat height and stable support are more important than cushion comfort.
| Ask the healthcare professional | Choice criteria | Mistakes to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| What is the seat height and what is the maximum flexion? | Seat with armrests, firm seat, height can be raised if needed; firm rather than soft cushion. | A deep, low armchair from which one cannot rise without leaning forward. |
| Is there a ban on prolonged sitting? | Alternating sitting, lying down, walking as instructed; bed table to avoid twisting. | Sitting for hours because the pain is less. |
| Do I need support to get out of bed? | Support bar compatible with the bed base, no play, load checked; sometimes available for rent upon prescription. | Pulling oneself up by pulling on the bedside table or on a helper. |
Detailed guides: Seat cushion · Bed table · Bed rail · Home pickup
Bed rail: selection criteria, no verified merchant links
- For who
- People who need a fixed support to move from a lying to a sitting position.
- When
- Before returning home, when the bed and bed base were measured.
- Why this object?
- A bar fixed to the frame provides a stable support point where the edge of the mattress gives way.
Compatibility with the bed base, weight capacity, and absence of play should be checked before purchase. Some models are available for rent with a specific requirement.
Treating yourself at home
The medical supplies are provided according to the discharge summary: type of dressing, temperature monitoring, and whether or not cold therapy is permitted. Nothing here replaces the nurse or the prescribed treatment.
| Ask the healthcare professional | Choice criteria | Mistakes to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| What type of dressing, at what frequency, and by whom? | Reference and size identical to the prescription; nursing visit arranged before discharge. | Change the dressing in your own way because the pharmacy doesn't have the correct one. |
| Is cold weather permitted, where, and for how long? | Pocket adapted to the area, intact envelope, interposed linen. | Apply the cold directly to the skin or to an insensitive area. |
| What should I monitor and at what threshold should I call? | Simple thermometer, tracking book, service numbers and 15 (SAMU) in France, or 112 from any European country, displayed. | Waiting for the next appointment in front of a scar that is changing in appearance. |
Detailed guides: Dressings · Cold pack · Thermometer · Pill organizer · Silicone for scars · Scar infection
Dressing and wearing compression stockings
Compression stockings, abdominal belts, and compression garments are devices that require a prescription, measurements, and fitting. Everyday clothing, on the other hand, should be chosen to avoid putting pressure on the surgical area.
| Ask the healthcare professional | Choice criteria | Mistakes to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Do I have a prescription for compression stockings? Class, size, duration, side? | Measurements taken in pharmacy or orthopedics; trial; help putting on if bending over is prohibited. | Buy "tighter" or reuse an old sock whose size has not been checked. |
| Is an abdominal belt useful in my case, and when? | Model discussed with the surgeon, size measured, wear limited to the indicated times. | Wearing the belt continuously or to "prevent a hernia": no belt guarantees this. |
| Which dressing gestures are prohibited? | Elasticated waist, front opening, wide sleeves, laceless shoes. | Button and belt over the scar, trousers put on while standing on one leg. |
Detailed guides: Compression stockings · Stocking aid · Abdominal belt · Easy-to-wear clothing · Compression appointments · Compression garments
Promotions Calendar
Partner retailers follow the French commercial calendar. This calendar does not display any prices, discounts, or crossed-out prices; it simply indicates periods when it is reasonable to compare prices before purchasing non-urgent equipment. A prescribed device should be obtained at the time specified by the prescription, regardless of any promotions.
| Period | When | What is usually involved | What does not change |
|---|---|---|---|
| return | September 2026 | Small comfort items, easy-to-wear clothing, good footwear. | The prescribed devices and their size. |
| French Days | End of September 2026, dates announced by the retailers | Household appliances and everyday items, sometimes self-sufficiency equipment. | Delivery times for an item expected for hospital discharge. |
| Black Friday and Cyber Monday | Friday, November 27, 2026 and subsequent days | Connected devices, nightlights, bedside tables, cushions. | The obligation to display the previous price: a discount without a dated reference price cannot be compared. |
| Winter sales | January 2027, dates set by decree | Clothing, slippers, linens, bedding. | Taking measurements for a stocking or a belt: this takes precedence over price. |
| Heat wave | Summer | Cold packs, scar sunscreens, lightweight clothing. | The guidelines for protecting a recent scar, which do not vary with the weather. |
| Summer sales | End of June 2027, dates set by decree | Easy clothing, closed shoes, bathroom accessories. | The team's opinion on what is truly useful for your intervention. |
Current offers and codes from our partners are grouped, along with their expiry dates, on the verified promo codes and offers page . This page does not contain any codes.
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Printable shopping lists by procedure
Each list separates items that are prescribed, those useful at home, and those that should not be purchased without advice. Check off items, print, and bring the sheet to your discharge appointment. For a list tailored to your home, use the equipment list generator.
Five interventions, three columns
Hip prosthesis
Ask the healthcare professional
Useful at home
Avoid without advice
Knee prosthesis or ligament
Ask the healthcare professional
Useful at home
Avoid without advice
Inguinal or umbilical hernia
Ask the healthcare professional
Useful at home
Avoid without advice
Tummy tuck
Ask the healthcare professional
Useful at home
Avoid without advice
Cataract
Ask the healthcare professional
Useful at home
Avoid without advice
These are indicative lists based on common situations. They do not replace the prescription or the discharge summary. Version of 06/09/2026.
Reimbursement, prescription, medical device: what you need to know
Is the equipment refundable?
Some prescribed devices are listed among the reimbursable products and services and are covered, in whole or in part, with a prescription and under specific conditions. Others are considered comfort items and are not reimbursed. The pharmacist or orthopedist will tell you, for the exact reference, what is covered, any remaining costs, and the role of your supplemental insurance. This page does not display reimbursement rates or amounts.
Do I need a prescription to buy it?
No, for most comfort items (shower seat, grabber, bed table, clothing). Yes, in practice, to receive coverage for a prescribed device (compression stockings, orthosis, offloading shoe, rented walking aid). Even if it's not mandatory, ask the team for advice: the size, class, or height depends on your situation.
What is a medical device, and why doesn't this page "recommend" it?
A medical device is defined by its manufacturer, bears the CE marking, and comes with instructions for use. Advertising to the public is regulated by the Public Health Code. GuideChirurgie describes selection criteria and examples of relevant products, without promising results, ranking them as "preferred," or associating a medical reviewer with any product.
Are the links affiliate links, and does that change the price?
Some merchant links are affiliate links (DocMorris via Awin, Blancheporte and TEMPUR via Effinity, Amazon Associates). These are indicated on each card. The price paid is the one displayed by the merchant; any commission is paid by the merchant. This remuneration does not influence the topics covered or the criteria presented.
Are prices and discounts displayed?
No. Prices change, and a discount only applies to a previous, dated price, which this page cannot guarantee. The maps indicate the date the link and availability were verified; the price is shown on the merchant's page at the time of purchase.
Can I rent instead of buying?
Yes, several types of aids for independent living are available (hospital bed, walker, wheelchair, sometimes grab bar), often with a prescription and obtained through a service provider or pharmacy. Consult the staff or social services department of the facility before purchasing any bulky equipment.
Two tools to organize the sequel
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How this page is structured
The products listed are those already described in our detailed guides, with an official image from the merchant, a full title, and a direct link to the exact product page. Links and availability were checked on September 6, 2026; prices are not displayed. When no verified merchant link exists for a specific need, the map indicates this and refers back to the guide. The site's medical reviewers validate general information, never the products themselves. For more information, please consult our affiliate policy and editorial guidelines.
Editorial note: General information page verified on 06/09/2026. The discharge summary, prescription, manufacturer's instructions and the opinion of the healthcare team take precedence on this page.
