I Am Planning on Taking an 8 Hour Road Trip 3 Weeks After my Mommy Makeover. Is This Enough Time to Heal Properly?

Thanks for the question.  Generally, most patients can fly within 2-4 weeks after mommy makeover operation. I wish you all the best.

It’s always
best to avoid long road trips in the immediate post-operative period following
mommy makeover surgery.  After a
procedure of this magnitude sitting in a car seat can be extremely
uncomfortable.  Furthermore prolonged
immobilization can lead to an increased potential for lower extremity blood
clots and pulmonary emboli.

            For these reasons we generally
recommend avoiding these types of activities. 
Unfortunately, life situations sometimes make travel unavoidable.  Under these circumstances, it’s important to
stop frequently and ambulate.  It’s also
extremely important to maintain good hydration while traveling.

            After three weeks wound healing
should be sufficient to allow travel, even though drains may still be in place.

            It’s important to thoroughly discuss
this issue with your plastic surgeon before proceeding with a road trip.  Your surgeon should be able to give you
important input on this type of endeavor. 

A mommy makeover is a great procedure to address numerous
body contour concerns after pregnancy in one surgery.This is a great convenience for patients but
it does mean that the recuperation is longer and a little harder than it would
be for a single surgery.By 3 weeks out
from your mommy makeover you will be starting to get back to normal with most
things, but you will still be far from fully healed!By then you will be off the pain meds,
hopefully your drains will be out, and you should be back to work (unless you
have a very physical job).You will NOT
be back to lifting, doing any strenuous exercise or swimming.You may also still have some stitches in or
wound healing issues.(It is not
uncommon to pop a stitch or two and still have a dressing or bandage on one
spot or another.) You will also still be seeing your plastic surgeon
frequently, so you will not want to be out of town for too long at a time.The 8 hour car ride should be alright by 3
weeks out, but you will want to break up the trip a little and get out and walk
around the car a few times at least every couple of hours.Also consider wearing TED hose while
traveling and stay well hydrated—this will help to reduce the risk of blood
clots.Finally, be ready to be flexible…
if there is some complication or set back in your healing process your doctor
may decide it is not safe for you to go.If that’s the case, it’s not worth risking your results for a road trip!

Traveling after Mommy Makeover, Tummy tuck and other Surgery?

 

If your postoperative recovery was uneventful , your drains have been removed, don't have a tendency to form clots and you are  without complications then you could travel. There is some risk however and as long as you understand this risk (informed consent) and take some preventative actions a road trip would probably be fine in most cases. Here is what I would suggest - in all cases follow the instructions and guidance of your plastic surgeon. He/She knows you the best. Have a plan in place if there is a problem - does he know someone in the area you will be staying if a problem, would you be able to and willing to return if a problem (unlikely but still worth planning for).

The  biggest  risk of a long road trip primarily relates to getting a clot in your legs (deep venous thrombosis)  which could travel to your lungs (pulmonary embolus). To minimize this from happening, wear your anti-embolism stockings "TED's) - if you don't have any buy some, stop frequently - every hour or so, get out walk around for a few minutes, while sitting move your ankles and legs - do circles, up and down movements and elevate them if possible, drink lots of fluids and take plenty of "pit stops".  I personally take a  baby aspirin before long overseas trips or road trips requiring sitting for long periods of time and encourage you to do the same if not contraindicated, however this is controversial in the literature if it works. 

I try to convince my patients to have the surgery AFTER the big trip or event.  You will still be swollen and healing at 3 weeks post op.  If you have a complication you will be in unfamiliar territory and have to go to an urgent care center or ER; your trip could then be interrupted.  You have an increased risk of blood clots after the “Mommy Makeover” and driving for so long raises that risk.   I am finding out that people are busy and their schedules packed.   So if you can’t reschedule – be mindful of ways to decrease blood clot risk.  Stay hydrated, stop the car every two hours to walk, wear compression hose and exercise your feet and calves while you sit.