Traveling after 2-3 days of Mommy makeover with drains & whats the deal with Pain pump?

Thanks for the question.  Generally, most patients can fly within 2-4 weeks after mommy makeover operation. I wish you all the best.

I ask my patients to stay in town for at least the first two weeks following surgery. And no, you should not be on a plane for at least 7 days following your surgery as there is a very real increased risk of blood clots. Either change your plans or find a surgeon in your immediate area (link below) Best, Dr. Nazarian

I personally don't use drains with mommy makeover surgery but many plastic surgeons do. Any traveling has to be done with the consent of your own surgeon. It would also be a good idea if there was a plastic surgeon to report to near where you live.

I would recommend you discuss with your surgeon before you do surgery.  You are having a pretty major operation, and I would not typically advise that major travel is a good idea so soon for a number of reasons.

Thank you for your question.  When you're safe to travel  is a decision that needs to made between you and your own plastic surgeon since they are most familiar with your situation. They should also be able to advise you with pain management options following surgery.  In my opinion, three days is pretty early to be flying after major surgery but not unheard of.   In my practice I use advance progression sutures technique for tummy tuck so surgical drains are not necessary.  Perhaps this is an option with your plastic surgeon as it  also offers easier recovery. It sounds like you have a good support system in place so you should be in good shape once you return home.  Best of luck to you.  

 You need to discuss this with your plastic surgeon. With my patients I like them to stay in town at least two weeks. Traveling is early after surgery may have some dire consequences. 

Hello, it sounds like you have already made the decision and all the plans around your mommy makeover surgery.  My preference is to have my patients stay locally longer than just a few days but each surgeon/patient will work out a mutually agreeable plan.

After a Mommy Makeover it's recommended that you refrain from flying for two to three weeks. The main concern is blood clot formation. It's also a good idea to remain near your surgeon early in your recovery to address concerns and follow your progress. Pain management is handled differently by each surgeon. Speak with your surgeon about your preferences.

In my practice, I ask my patients to stay in town for the first two weeks. This allows me to make sure that there is not any immediate post operative problems that might require going back to the operating room (ie bleeding, infection, skin necrosis). In addition, drains can be difficult to manage while traveling. Most people are moving around freely and have their drains removed by week two.

As a rule, traveling is not advised for at least 7 days after major surgery, including tummy tuck done by itself, and especially when combined with a breast reduction.  There is an increased risk of Deep Venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and possible death, with earlier timeline for traveling after long anesthesia or major surgery.After a surgery like yours, I ask my patients to stay for at least 7, preferably 14 days to remove all drains, before traveling.Pain pump alone would not eliminate the need for pain medication, but it would reduce the amount of pain medication needed after surgery.I wish you the best with your upcoming surgery.  It is better to err on the side of caution and stay as long as your surgeon advises.