Flight after lower body lift?

Question

. Is it safe to be on a 5 and a half hour flight 8 days after Lower body lift?

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question regarding when it is safe to fly after a 360 circumferential body lift. Every plastic surgeon has their own rules and criteria for these procedures. If everything is healing well after a 360 circumferential lower body lift, you can fly ten days after your procedure. If there are any indications why you cannot fly, then the trip needs to be postponed. I highly suggest you take blood thinner injections before and for several days after landing. In addition, I would also suggest compression boots be worn after the flight. 
I hope this helps to answer your question about when you can fly after a 360 circumferential lower body lift.

Marie E. Montag, MD · Answer

A lower body lift is a wonderful procedure to address the
excess fat and stretched skin that stays behind after major weight loss, but
understand that it is a big procedure and can have a rocky recovery.A body lift combines removing skin and fat
all of the way around the midsection.It
also involves repairing the muscles of the abdominal wall and elevating the sagging
skin of the buttocks.This creates an
incision going all of the way around you that creates a weak point until it has
had time to heal.During that healing
you need to be very careful about lifting, activity and even how you position yourself
so that you do not put too much stress on any one area of the incision.The most vulnerable point is the middle of
the back part of the incision because you will have a tendency to want to bend
at the waist and that pulls on the back.Sitting upright like you need to in a plane for 5.5 hours would
definitely stress that part of your repair as well.Also, plane travel has its own particular risks
due to being confined to a limited space for a long period of time.This confinement greatly increases the risk
of blood clots (which can be fatal). I usually tell my patients that they are ‘grounded’
for at least 2 weeks after any surgery, and even after that you still need to
get up and walk frequently, move your feet and ankles around while you are
sitting, and even wear TED hose or compressive stockings while flying.Also, make sure you stay well hydrated and
even consider taking aspirin or Motrin the morning of your flight to thin your
blood a little to prevent clotting.You
need to respect the time your body needs to heal in order to get the best
result possible and keep you safe during the process.

Dallas Buchanan, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question. Although there are no hard and fast rules for things like this, my recommendation would be  to avoid a long flight immediately after surgery. Prolonged sitting increases your risk of developing a blood clot and after a large surgery like a lower body lift, the risk is appreciable. A blood clot (or the possibility of a pulmonary embolism) can be serious and possibly life-threatening. When you are facing something like that, I would rather be safe than sorry.Hope this helps!

C. Bob Basu, MD, MPH, FACS · Answer

I don't think its a good idea to fly just 8 days after a circumferential body.  I generally advise waiting at least 10 days to ensure my patients are walking and healing well.  Best wishes and be safe.Dr. BasuHouston, TX

Larry Lickstein, MD · Answer

A lower body lift can have a dramatic impact on your life, but it is a long operative procedure, and optimizing your recovery requires medical supervision.  You are going to need to see your surgeon frequently in the early post-operative period for drain and incision assessment and care.  In addition there will be discussion regarding compression and the slow resumption of physical activity.  I would recommend that you consider deferring travel for at least several weeks.  Furthermore, long surgery and post-operative immobility can increase your risk for complications such as deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolus, and these risks could be heightened by a long flight.  Good luck with your surgery and recovery!

Flight after lower body lift?

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Flight after lower body lift?

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Answer: Flying

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Answer: Flight after body lift

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