Flying Soon After Tummy Tuck & Lipo?

We ask that our out-of-town patients refrain from traveling for a minimum of 10 days following their procedure. If you plan to travel, it is important to stand up and walk at least every hour. In most circumstances, my patients feel well enough to travel 2 weeks after their tummy tuck surgery.  By 6 weeks, given normal healing, patients are cleared to ease back into their normal activities. It is important to contact your Plastic Surgeon before traveling shortly after a cosmetic procedure and to follow their detailed advice following your surgery, as medical opinions may vary.

Thanks for the question. Generally, most patients can fly within 2 to 4 weeks after Tummy Tuck surgery. However, car or airplane travel should be avoided to prevent the risk of blood clots in the legs. I wish you all the best.

Hello! Thank you for your question. Our practice has patients travel from afar. Opinions on travel following a surgical procedure will differ amongst surgeons, and is best to discuss this with your surgeon. In our practice, we ask that you plan to stay for several days to weeks to observe and evaluate the surgical areas as well as your readiness for travel. Depending on which procedure you have, up to a few weeks or so may be necessary. For your procedure and travel, this time frame should be reasonable. Ensuring adequate oral intake and mobility is a must and proper postoperative care of the surgical sites and incisions is prudent. An evaluation postoperatively as well as prior to departure is usually done to make sure that all is well for your travel back.  Potential for compression stockings and/or anticoagulation may be advised by your surgeon.  Hope that this helps! Best wishes!

I don't think 8 days is nearly enough for recovery froma tummy tuck in another country.  Even if all goes well, you're cutting it too close.  Also, the risk of clots on the airplane from immobility for several hours is real and can be quite serious.  I would not recommend it.

Thank you for the question.

 

Tummy tuck and liposuction are known combination to increase the likelihood of blood clots. I would recommend to separate the 2 procedures. If however, you are determined to do it that way, be sure during the flight,  to drink lots of fluids , walk frequently and move your feet while sitting. That will reduce the risk, but there is no guarantee. Good luck.
 

Dr. Widder

The direct question that you have asked is whether or not it is safe to travel about a week after abdominoplasty and thigh liposuction. For a less intensive surgery like breast augmentation or eyelid surgery, this would not be an issue. But for a combined procedure such as abdominoplasty and moderate volume liposuction, I would strongly advise against. The risk of DVT is extremely low in plastic surgery, but the one procedure that puts you at the highest risk is abdominoplasty combined with liposuction. Often DVTs are seen 5-10 days after surgery, and prolonged immobility is known risk factor. This is not, however, the biggest concern that I would have for you. I would be much more concerned about having surgery abroad and then not having a way to be properly followed for post operative care. If the reason you are considering having a procedure in Cancun is the price point, consider the risk that you are taking. Complications are not supposed to happen, but they do from time to time. If you have a problem, it will be much more expensive to get things fixed than if you were to have the procedure closer to home. There are many great plastic surgeons in Canada. I would find one and minimize your risks and optimize the chances of you being safe and happy.

Flying soon after tummy tuck and liposuction increases the likelihood of complications including the probability of blood clots. Ensure your surgeon is aware of your travel plans so he/she can plan the surgery properly and guide you in your postoperative care.

The chief concern of air travel following operative procedures is the increased risk of deep venous thrombosis in the lower legs, which can potentially result in pulmonary embolism.  Abdominoplasty is an operation of greater magnitude than liposuction.  I would think a patient that had liposuction of her waist and torso, could probably fly 2 weeks after surgery without a great deal of concern.  Liposuction of the lower legs would probably require a four week wait.  After a tummy tuck, I think probably a minimum of 4 weeks would be a reasonable time, and of course patients in air travel would need to wear compressive antiembolism stockings on the lower extremities and get up and move around the cabin. 


 

All reviewers are in agreement. Flying soon after abdominoplasty and thigh liposuction will increase your risks of complications. There are some good surgeons and facilities, however if you opt for traveling to a foreign country for your procedure you must stay long enough for adequate healing. Even without having surgery, a long flight can increase the risk of blood clots in the legs. After a surgery such as this risks would be high for this potentially fatal complication. Traveling soon after surgery increases your risk also of infection, bleeding and seroma

Hello,

An abdominoplasty or tummy tuck is a big procedure that warrants proper planning to allow enough time for your body to heal and to deal with any potential issues, concerns, or complications that may arise.

I would encourage you to put safety and satisfaction above the possibility of saving money by traveling to Mexico for your procedure.  Even the smallest of healing issues can make this gamble not.  

All the best,

Remus Repta, MD