Can you fly the next day after liposuction? Which is better- 1.5 hour flight or 8 hour ride?

Always discuss this with your Plastic Surgeon.  My lipo sculpting procedures are performed without general anesthesia, the amount of areas per session total no more than 5 liters, and the tiny well-hidden skin openings are left open to allow the excess fluid to almost completely drain off in the first 24 hours.  This approach allows my patients to travel very soon and significantly decrease any chance for even minor issues.  I encourage my patients to stay local for at least two days.  It's nice to shower and then travel. 

Thanks for the question. Generally, most patients can fly within 24 to 48 hours after liposuction 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.

If possible I would avoid both for a couple of days.  It is best to walk around and not be too sedentary after surgery to limit your risks of blood clots.  You may also not be very comfortable in the same position for a long period of time.  You should discuss your plans with your surgeon ahead of surgery.  

I recommend following up with your Doctor about their post operative protocol about flying, becuase it will vary based physician. I prefer for my patients to stay local 10-14 days post liposuction for a follow up appointment at 24 hours and 5-7 days post-procedure. I also have my patients start Venus Legacy treatments, massage and hyperbaric oxygen. Flying poses a risk for blood clots, and should be avoided directly after liposuction. Please discuss your plans with your physician. Best, Dr. Emer

Dear LiveLoveLaughPlay,I wouldn't recommend you to fly or take a so long ride just one day after the liposuction. It usually takes 10-14 days after liposuction for a patient to fly safely. You should consult with your plastic surgeon.Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS 
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery 
Member, Am. Society of Plastic Surgery

Unfortunately, it’s not ideal to fly or go for a long car ride directly after your liposuction procedure. Not only can this increase your risk for complications and potentially interfere with the quality of your results, but it also means that your plastic surgeon will be too far away to consult should a complication arise. If at all possible, the best solution would be to reschedule either your liposuction procedure or your trip to give yourself adequate recovery time. If you’re traveling that far away just to have your procedure, you might want to look into finding a board-certified plastic surgeon closer to home to avoid this problem.

It's okay to fly after lipo, I would think 1.5 hours flight would be better than an 8 hour car ride. Good luck! DSR

While it may be possible to fly the day after liposuction, please
remember that there is a certain risk of venous thromboembolism after surgical
procedures.  Immobility and dehydration
contributes to this risk.  It would
probably be better to consider a short trip rather than a long trip, whether it
is in an airplane or a car, and remember to hydrate adequately. Better still, I
would avoid unnecessary travel so soon after any surgical procedure.

It is recommended that you would not fly in an airplane for at least 10 days after elective surgery to reduce the risk of blood clots in the legs.  An 8 Hour drive would be safer for you..

could choose either way but you probably should not drive the next day, best to let someone else drive as you may not be 100% alert  the next day.