Long haul flight after liposuction?

Question

I plan to fly to korea to get liposuction on my legs and upper back including arms.Along facial fat transfer to forehead and under eyes .I'll be sat in economy seating on a 12 hr flight , I plan to stay in korea for a minimum of 8days after the procedure .Is this safe ?

Alan Gonzalez, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello @Magical856073, thank you for your question. It is always important to take into consideration the opinion of the specialist who is performing surgery. It depends on the extent of the procedure, the surgical technique and technology used. Best wishes!  Alan Gonzalez MD, FACS. . Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez, MD, FACS.  American Society of Plastic Surgery Member (ASPS), International Federation for Adipose Therapeutics and Science” Member (IFATS), American Society of Plastic Surgery Member (ASPS), Colombian Society of Plastic Surgery member (SCCP).

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

It is recommended that you do not fly for three weeks after your surgery, especially on such a long flight.  There is an increased risk of blood clots/embolism with these long flights.  I encourage you to consider having your procedure closer to home or delaying your flight home.  If you decide to go forward it is important that you are aware of the risks and discuss preventative measures with your surgeon.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

It is best to wait 30 days to fly on such a long trip. However, you will be in compression. You will need to get up every 2 hours and walk and move. also, you will need to walk around while at the airports.  The main risk to you is a blood clot.  I would recommend doing your liposuction close to where you live to decrease complications and to have a surgeon who can check your progress as you heal.

Garrett Jones, DO · Answer

Long-haul travel after liposuction should be approached with caution. It’s important to follow your surgeon’s post-operative instructions, which may include avoiding prolonged sitting or standing during the initial recovery period. Compression garments are often recommended to reduce swelling and support healing.
Discuss your travel plans with your surgeon as they can provide advice based on your specific case. It’s typically recommended to wait at least a few weeks before undertaking long flights or car rides to allow for proper healing and reduce the risk of complications.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

I do not recommend people travel long distances for like the surgical procedures. People seem to not appreciate the importance of having multiple in person consultations as part of the vetting process in finding the right provider, the number of people would need in person follow up visit, the number of people who have significant issues during recovery, the number of people went up meeting revision surgery for that complications actually happen. 
Your doctor should’ve reviewed postoperative care during the consultation, including the appropriate amount of time to stay and when it’s appropriate to travel after the procedure. Each doctor will have a different recommendation, so I suggest you ask your provider.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD

Long haul flight after liposuction?

Answers (5)