Flying 9 days after BBL?

Question

I'm going to be flying 9 days after my bbl, i keep reading that we should sit using a bbl pillow for short durations like take off and landing but what am I supposed to do the whole 4 hour flight? Just stand in the aisle? Or walk up and down the plane for four hours? It just doesn't make sense to me.

Christian Subbio, MD · Answer

Sitting on the pillow should be fine, as long as you are well hydrated, taking an aspirin prior, flexing your feet while seated, and getting up every hour to walk the aisle.  All of these steps should minimize clotting risk, but discuss this with your surgeon
Best of luck!
Dr. SubbioBoard-Certified Plastic SurgeonNewtown Square/Philadelphia, PA

Donovan Rosas, MD · Answer

Generally, I recommend that patients travelling from out of town not return home until 2 weeks post op. This will allow for adequate initial follow up time so as to minimize the likelihood of a major complication arising after your return trip. This will obviously vary from one surgeon to another.
However, I believe it is always prudent to consider surgery as close to home as possible. In reality, it is impossible to predict when a complication will arise (if we could they would never happen). With that in mind, dealing with a complication is always easiest without the challenge that distance creates.
With regards to your specific question, there are a number of points to consider with regard to post operative travel. Lengthy flights have their own inherent risks (including immobility & thromobotic risk). Offloading is crucial to the success of fat grafting. A pressure mitigating pillow and intermittent walks and positional shifts should be adequate.
As always, I would recommend following the advice of your board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS) and when flying take the proper precautions for positioning and mobilization so as to limit any risk of serious thrombotic events as well offload your newly grafted buttocks.

Shahram Salemy, MD, FACS · Answer

Your question is a good one and I don't think there is any one right answer-- I would discuss this with your surgeon and have him or her give you their postop plan for activity and positioning restrictions, and I would recommend following it as best you can to get the best possible results.

Sam Jejurikar, MD · Answer

Obviously you cannot stand for the entire flight. Use an offloading device behind your posterior thigh and lean forward to minimize the contact between the inferior pole of the your buttock and the seat. Examples of offloading devices include a rolled up towel or blanket, BBL pillow, or yoga pillows. Also, whenever possible, get up and walk around (every hour or so). That will help prevent blood clots from forming and will additionally offload your buttocks.Hope this helps! Sam Jejurikar, MD

John Paul Tutela, MD · Answer

Thanks so much for reaching out. It is a great question because positioning yourself after a BBL is very important.  When you said you should be sitting on your thighs and having your buttocks up in the air. You can use a pillow to accomplish this and lean foward. For the remainder of the flight I would try to stand and walk around as much as possible in the first two weeks it is very important that your fat graft to your buttocks are not disturbed.

Kevin Tehrani, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question.  You are not going to be able to stand or walk around for the entire 4 hour flight. I would recommend sitting on a BBL pillow for the duration of the flight.   You will need to stand up and stretch from time to time.  Hope this helps!

Douglas Taranow, DO, FACOS · Answer

Thanks for the question.I think you will be fine flying 9 days after your procedure.  Constant adjustment to where your weight is on your buttocks helps as well as taking an aisle seat and stretching/standing up often.  Use of a soft pillow also helps reduce the pressure.Good luck with your procedure.Dr T

Flying 9 days after BBL?

Answers (7)

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