Should you prepare to come home in a SUV or a car after a full tummy tuck and lipo of the flanks?

I think that as long as you have enough help, getting in or out of  either type of vehicle, you will be just fine.  Staying in the flexed position with the help of lots of pillows etc. will be necessary.  In my practice, I highly recommend the  services of a postoperative nurse to help with the transfer and the immediate post care. Best wishes.

Thank you for sharing your question.  Either mode of transportation will be fine to make it home after your procedure.  Based on your tummy tuck you will want to sit with your back and legs elevated so typically best to be in the front seat with pillows under your knees, and the back reclined.  Hope this helps.

We routinely perform outpatient tummy tuck and body lift type procedures on healthy patients without difficulty. For patients who live within 30min drives, I will let drive home. Longer commutes can be challenging after a tummy tuck, and we have those patients stay in a hotel next to our surgery center. We have never seen the need to have a nurse spend the night post surgery with a patient after cosmetic surgery. If I felt they need that type of monitoring I would schedule the procedure at a hospital with an overnight stay.