How Long Should I Wait to Fly After a Mommy Makeover?

A mommy makeover is a great surgery to address numerous areas
that are affected by pregnancy at the same time, but we also have to plan for
longer recuperation time for bigger surgeries.Usually after a single surgery I would recommend a patient
refrain from air travel for 10-14 days if possible and get up and walk
repeatedly throughout the flight. In
your case you are talking about multiple surgeries at once and long airplane
rides so the risk is higher.The biggest
risk is blood clots forming and traveling to the heart and lungs.This happens due to prolonged immobilization
(like when you are confined on an airplane).These can potentially lead to death, so we do not take the situation
lightly.Immobility before surgery can
also set you up for blood clot problems.Ideally I would recommend that you try to arrive one week before your
surgery—make sure you are active between your arrival and the procedure.Plan to stay at minimum 2 weeks post-op, but
if possible, longer would be better.In
the early post-op period your doctor will need to see you frequently to check
for infection and to take out drains and stitches when they are ready.During these appointments they will also
advise you on activity, compression garments, and returning to work.Those things can be difficult to handle when
you are hundreds or thousands of miles away.Also, be sure your doctor at home is aware of what you are planning so
that he/she can be ready to take over some of these responsibilities when you
get home.(Not all primary care MD’s
like to do that, so you need to make sure you have support lined up for when
you return home.)Last but not least, be
flexible enough to go back to India for some follow-up if your plastic surgeon
requires this.Good luck with your surgery!

Travel of any type following mommy
makeover surgery can potentially complicate the postoperative course. In most
cases, patients have recovered sufficiently to travel in about two weeks
following surgery.

Air travel often involves
prolonged periods of immobilization and because of this, patients may be at
risk for the development of blood clots in their extremities. These blood
clots, known as DVT’s, can potentially represent a life-threatening phenomenon
when they occur.

There are several risk factors
associated with the development of DVT’s. These include the length of the
surgical procedure, use of hormonal replacements or birth control pills,
cigarette smoking, obesity, a history of cancer, family history of hypercoagulability,
advanced age, and previous history of blood clots.

When travel is necessary following
mommy makeover surgery, every step should be taken to avoid this complication.
Patients should use anti embolic compression stockings, maintain hydration, and
ambulate frequently when traveling. In patients who have multiple risk factors,
anticoagulants such as Lovenox may be necessary.

If you have plans to travel in the
immediate postoperative period, make sure you discuss this issue with your
plastic surgeon. It’s important to remember that every patient’s situation is
unique. For this reason, treatment needs to be individualized for every
patient.