Is it better to travel home in a car or plane after a tummy tuck?

Question

I live in Texas and having a Tummy Tuck and Lipo in Florida next month (Car ride is 20+hrs)... i will be there for a week after surgery... my question is if its better to ride in a car back home or plane? In the car i can keep legs elevated if i sit in the back, and can get off every 1-2 hours to walk for 10min... should i invest in the compression machine for my legs? Or should i extend the days i stay in Florida? Thanks

Ramsen Azizi, MD · Answer

You are still going to be tight, sore, and uncomfortable a week after your tummy tuck. A quick 1-2 hour flight is going to be a million times easier on you than a long car ride (you should have someone help you with your luggage, you won't be solo yet). I am ok with having my patients take a plane ride a week after surgery and usually recommned getting an aisle seat (business class if you can), and getting up every hour or so to walk to the bathroom in order to keep blood flowing. Every day you extend in Florida after a week will exponentially help you have an easier trip back (day 7 vs. day 8 vs. day 9 makes a difference). I personally do not have my patients buy the compression machine for the legs. I would run all this by your surgeon to see their input but this is generally how I would advise my patients. Best of luck on your journey!

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question. After undergoing a tummy tuck and liposuction procedure, it is important to take certain precautions during travel to ensure optimal healing and minimize risks. While both car and plane travel can be feasible, there are some factors to consider.

If you choose to travel by car, it is important to make sure you are as comfortable as possible during the long ride. This may include sitting in the backseat with your legs elevated and taking frequent breaks to walk and stretch. It is also recommended to invest in a compression machine to help with blood flow and reduce the risk of blood clots.

If you choose to travel by plane, it is important to discuss your plans with your surgeon beforehand. You may need to wait a certain amount of time before flying to ensure proper healing and reduce the risk of complications such as blood clots. If you are cleared for air travel, it is recommended to wear compression stockings and take frequent walks up and down the aisle to improve circulation.

Ultimately, the decision between car and plane travel depends on your individual circumstances and preferences. It is important to discuss your options with your surgeon and carefully consider factors such as comfort, safety, and recovery time.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Fierce941418,
I understand your concern. It is best that you consult your plastic surgeon regarding post operative care and management (i.e including massage techniques and timing) specific to your case. Your surgeon knows your condition well and has preferences on when and what to use for faster healing and recovery. Post operative care and management depends on the type of surgery performed and the technique used during surgery among other factors.It is best, however, that you follow your plastic surgeon's advice on post operative care management for a smooth and faster healing and recovery.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Alan Gonzalez, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello @Fierce941418, and thank you for your question. Well, it is pertinent to note that this depends more on the doctor's recommendations, since not all surgical techniques are the same. After a Tummy tuck, it is important that the patient understands that he or she will need care for a few days. Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez MD, FACS. American Society of Plastic Surgery Member (ASPS), International Federation for Adipose Therapeutics and Science” Member (IFATS), Colombian Society of Plastic Surgery member (SCCP)

Scott C. Lindsay, DO · Answer

Thank you for your question.
A 20 hour car ride will be very uncomfortable 1 week post surgery. You may want to think about extending your stay in Florida.    Best wishes!

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

You need to extend your stay in Florida to avoid increased complications and to have access to your surgeon. It is best not to fly during the first 30 days after general anesthesia because of the increased risk of blood clots.

Ahmad H. Ahmadi, MD · Answer

The major issues here are the risk of DVT and embolism and addressing postop complications.  It is best to ask your surgeon what his/her protocols are for these potential but serious problems.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

This question is best answered by your surgeon who is most familiar with your health history and details of your surgery.  Regardless if you fly or drive it is a good idea to use compression stockings.  The sequential compression device is not necessary as you are awake and able to move your legs.  Driving will allow you to stop every two hours and walk around a bit.  If you fly you will want to walk around the plane when safe to do so as well as pump your feet/ankles when seated.  You will not be able to handle your luggage by yourself.  I typically like my patients to wait longer than a week after surgery before flying, but your surgeon will advise what is recommended for you.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

I do not recommend people travel long distances for elective surgical procedures. this is especially true for Haily complex invasive operations needing significant postoperative care.
Of all plastic surgery procedures a tummy tuck is probably the worst operation to do far away from home.
Most patients Will have a drains that need to stay in for up to two weeks and sometimes longer.
Who is going to manage your dreams when you come home?
20% of patients who have this procedure have their drains taken out prematurely and develop a fluid buildup called a seroma.
These need to be managed on a regular basis until it is no longer present.
Patients typically do not appreciate the importance of vetting plastic surgeon by having multiple in person consultations, The number of people who have significant concerns about outcomes after surgery, the number of people who need revisions or that complications actually happened.
A tummy tuck is a major operation and the complication rate for this procedure is not insignificant.
If you include minor complications such as spitting sutures or minor wound healing issues the complication rates are probably in reality closer to one in three.
It is simply not a good operation to do far away from home.
It’s hard to believe that you’re unable to find a sufficiently talented provider in the state of Texas.
It’s a free world and most plastic surgeons will be flattered and happy to take your money and at the same time not have to do any of the postoperative care other than sending you emails.
I suggest you consider scheduling your procedure locally.
You should be able to have direct access to your plastic surgeon during your immediate postoperative care while you’re healing and be able to go in without flying on an airplane to talk about your results, outcome and any concern that comes up along the way.
It’s a rare patient to go through this process without having significant questions and concerns that are best handled by in person visits.
Did you fly to Florida and have an in person consultation?
How many plastic surgeons have you consult with?
To find the right provider I suggest patient consider the following.
First and foremost stay local and rely on in person consultations.
There’s no correct number of consultations patients need to find the right provider but the more consultations you have the more likely you are to find the best provider.
I do not believe it’s possible to get an accurate assessment or to properly vet plastic surgeons through virtual consultations or by looking online.
Personally I recommend patient start by having at least five in person consultations and consider scheduling more if necessary.
Prepare yourself for the consultation by having printed pictures of your own body taken the same way plastic surgeons take before and after pictures. Bring these pictures with you during every consultation and use them anytime you are reviewing before and after pictures.
During each consultation ask each provider to open up their portfolio and show you their entire collection of before and after pictures.
Being shown a handful of sample pictures representing the best results of a providers career is insufficient to get a clear understanding of what average results look like or how many procedures each surgeon has actually performed.
The goal is not to see the best results of the providers career but instead to get a good understanding of what average results look like on patients who have your candidacy for the procedure.
And the end there are only two variables that determine quality results in plastic surgery. those two variables are patient candidacy and skill of the surgeon.
It is paramount that patient have a clear understanding of their own candidacy for the procedure.
Candidacy is what determines the potential outcome.
An excellent candidate has the potential of getting excellent results if they find a sufficiently talented provider.
An average candidate can only get average results regardless of who does the procedure.
A person with an excellent candidacy may end up with undesirable outcomes if they choose a provider who doesn’t have sufficient skill and experience.
During consultations as providers to only show you before and after pictures of people who have similar body characteristics to your own. This means the same amount of skin laxity, same amount of subcutaneous fat, same degree of muscle separation in the same level hub bulging due to visceral fat if present.
I also recommend asking providers to show you examples of excellent outcomes, average outcomes and outcomes that did not turn out as well as they had hoped. Again, providers may be apprehensive to do this but you were the one paying for the procedure and you’re certainly entitled to ask to see evidence of a variety of results and get confirmation about average results look like and how many of these procedures a surgeon has actually performed. 
To judge tell me tuck results look for the following characteristics.
The hallmark have a quality tummy tuck result as a natural looking belly button. this is one of the harder parts of the procedure and talented plastic surgeons who are detail oriented will get the most natural looking belly buttons on a regular basis. The belly button is more than just a belly button. It’s the entire mid abdomen three dimensional contour.
The second variable is a very low sets scar that follows an atomic contours naturally and evenly on both sides preferably running in the groin increase.
The last variable is an overall attractive a proportion and balance looking torso seen from all angles including from behind. A talented plastic surgeon will assess each patient for the procedure recognizing that some individuals may need an extended procedure or Adjust the procedure to balance the appearance of the rest of the torso to match the improvement on the front of the abdomen. Sometimes this means adding appropriate Liposuction.
I recommend you stay local and find a talented provider in your own state.
Posting questions on this website is a poor substitute for a proper in person postoperative visit.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD

Is it better to travel home in a car or plane after a tummy tuck?

Answers (9)

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