Forehead reduction recovery. Is it OK to fly home the next day or two days after?

Question

If I have surgery to have my forehead reduced out of state, is it ok to fly home the next day or two days after and have my stitches removed by a local plastic surgeon?

Matthew Richardson, MD · Answer

Many of my patients fly in for their forehead reduction surgery. My preference is that patients spend three nights in town locally (some patients opt to spend 6-7 nights here recovering), but many patients fly home the day after surgery. I always meet with my out-of-state patients via video chat for the initial consultation, and then I like to see them the day before surgery for an in-person consultation and to answer any further questions, review the surgery in great detail again, etc. This allows us to take photographs, complete any required paperwork, etc. prior to the day of surgery so that everything is ready on the day of surgery. I then require that patients spend the evening immediately after surgery in town and recommend one additional night (making a total of 3 nights if possible). If all is well, they can return home at that point. Some of my patients have a doctor or nurse that they know in their home town remove their sutures, but my preference is to have the patient return to see me at one week for suture removal and a post-operative checkup. Most patients will fly home for about 5-6 days after surgery, and then fly back for a quick postop visit at that one week point. Of course, each surgeon is different, so I would recommend that you discuss postoperative care and instructions with your forehead reduction specialist.All the best,

Kevin Ende, MD · Answer

Patients have flown in from all over the world to have hairline lowering procedures with me.  I feel that it is critical to see the patient the next day to ensure all is ok.  I like to have a conversation at the minimum with the local surgeon who will be removing the sutures prior to performing the surgery.

Toby Mayer, MD · Answer

Irregular Trichophytic Forehead Lift and Hairline Lowering and flying home.Since inventing this procedure and having done more than 500 this should not be a problem. Make sure your surgeon can show you results as below.

Bryan Rolfes, MD · Answer

AZ Sun, I see most patients the next day and at one week after surgery.  We do want patients in town for at least 24 hours, but after their next day appointment we are OK with them returning home.  How you feel the day after surgery varies quite a bit.  Some patients report significant pain and are using strong pain medicine, others are just using tylenol and advil.  Nausea isn't common, but it can happen too. It's easier for patients who are driven here from a few hours away - their plans can be a little more flexible.  If you are flying back home I recommend booking a couple days after surgery to make sure your trip home is as comfortable as possible.  At the one week follow up I like to either see patients myself or to have someone I know is very familiar with this type of procedure.  They also have to be willing to see a patient someone else has operated on, and with concerns about liability that is not always the case.  -Dr. Rolfes

Jeffrey Epstein, MD, FACS · Answer

Yes.  Most of my patients who fly in for my hairline lowering surgery (over 80% are from out of state) fly back home the very next day.  I usually use a head wrap dressing that can be removed the next day prior to heading to the airport .  Sutures are removed at 6 to 7 days, and many times I am able to send a patient to a colleague for this, although they are quite simple to remove by a friend or family member or nurse.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

It is reasonable to fly home within 2 days of a forehead reduction surgery as the risks are essentially gone.  Stitches can be removed by your local medical doctor

Richard W. Fleming, MD (retired) · Answer

Every surgeon has their own post-op routine but after the Irregular Trichophytic Hairline Incision technique I developed patients can return home after I see them the following day as long as we have made arrangements for them to be followed by a surgeon in their community.

Forehead reduction recovery. Is it OK to fly home the next day or two days after?

Answers (7)

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