Should I be concerned about the flying making my blood clot worse? (Photo)

Question

I was just diagnosed with a superficial blood clot in my arm, I’m 12 days post lipo from the IV. I’m scheduled to fly for work on day 15 post lipo, the flight is 7 hours and the following day I have another 7 hour flight. Is this safe? I’m supposed to go back for another ultrasound next week to see if the clot has gotten worse but I’m concerned about the flying making it worse. Please advise.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

The protocols used by plastic surgeons after liposuction will vary and there is no one standard.  The surgeon who performed your lipo is the best resource for answering your postoperative management questions.  
Based upon an uneventful recovery, you should be fine flying 7 hours.  A seven hour flight is long for anyone, but more so after having lipo. I would select an aisle seat for more room and get up periodically and stretch. You are wise to consider not only the time in flight but also the time spent waiting in the TSA line, in the waiting area prior to boarding, and the walk through the airport.Kenneth Hughes, MD, ABPS Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

Himansu Shah, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question and photo. It is difficult to answer your question without examining you however from reviewing your photos it appears that you have superficial thrombophlebitis and not DVT. This can be treated with warm compresses and Tylenol. Any long flight poses risk for developing a DVT therefore you should walk and stretch every two hours. It is best to discuss with your board certified plastic surgeon. Good luck.

Robert M. Tornambe, MD · Answer

Mgy2008 I appreciate your concern, however the superficial blood clot from your IV is not nearly as severe as a deeper blood clot in your leg, sometimes seen after surgery. In general, long flights increase the chance of blood clot formation because one is sitting for extended periods of time. While I do believe it is safe for you to travel, You should discuss this issue with your plastic surgeon and consider taking an aspirin a day and using antiembolic stockings and getting up and walking around the plane cabin as much as possible. Good luck.

Ven Erella, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. What I am seeing is thrombophlebitis from superficial vein. This is not a DVT and OK to fly. I recommend you clarify with your PS

Daniel P. Markmann, MD · Answer

The clot in your arm is called ThromboPhlebitis.  It is not a DVT.  They are very different.   Flying does increase your risk of getting a DVT during your first 30 days post op.  Aspirin has been shown to not be of any benefit to prevent DVT's.   The severity of your risk for getting a DVT will depend on how long your surgery was as well as what surgery was performed.  Liposuction does have a risk of DVT's.  The longer your surgery, the greater the risk... which is still pretty low.     If your surgery was several hours long, you were under general anesthesia and you can't postpone your 2 flights, I would definitely discuss this with your surgeon or your PCP and consider taking a blood thinner.   DiscoverTheBeauty.com

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

no one can tell you with 100% certainty. Yes you probably already know blood clots and superficial veins are a completely different process and I was in the deep veins.  While there may theoretically be a slightly higher chance of having blood clot problems my best guess is this will eventually clear up and we will not have problems with blood clots.  Flights longer than six hours are considered long duration of flight and have a slight increased risk for people developing blood clots from sitting for this length of time.  people in the aisle seats have a slightly lower chances of developing blood clots presumably  because people in the window seats are somewhat less likely to get up and stretch their legs.  Things you can do to minimize the chance of blood clots for long flights include taking baby aspirin and getting up to stretch and use your leg muscles every couple of hours.  Flexing your calf muscles while seated may also help to some degree.  Overall I don't think you need to worry about this.  Best, Mats hagstrom, M.D.

Should I be concerned about the flying making my blood clot worse? (Photo)

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