Can I Travel 2 Weeks After Breast Augmentation?

At two weeks post-op, you probably feel pretty good, have little remaining swelling or bruising (if you had any at all), and are able to do everyday activities without much limitation.

However, you should not be working out, lifting heavy objects, doing repetitive activities with your arms or upper body muscles, or doing any sort of vigorous activity that could open up a tiny, incompletely-healed blood vessel, and require re-operation for evacuation of breast hematoma! Most bleeding after breast augmentation occurs between day 10 and 27 after surgery, so you are still at risk for bleeding requiring re-operation for up to two more weeks. If this happens, where will you go, and who will you trust your breast re-operation surgery and results to?

So can you travel? Sure, but you cannot lift your luggage to the overhead rack; you should not even be carrying luggage, especially over a long trip. No hiking, biking, or excessive exhausting activity. Exposure to exotic bacteria in an incompletely healed pair of scars--*do you play Russian Roulette?

Also, you are still at risk for developing blood clots, which can be suddenly fatal, for up to a month after surgery.

Why is it that you want to risk your results or your life for this bus trip now? Please rethink this for your own safety. Best wishes!

The major risk of air travel after any type of surgery is related to the development of blood clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis-DVT).  These blood clots can then spread to the lung (pulmonary embolus-PE) which can be potentially life-threatening. These clots can form up to one month after surgery.  It's important to be walking early after surgery and avoid risk factors such as birth control pills and smoking.  You will also want to walk several times on the actual flight, especially if it is a long distance flight.

Discuss this in greater detail with your plastic surgeon prior to air travel.

Best wishes,

Dr. Bruno

I have to agree with Dr. Buchannon.  Although most patients do not have problems two weeks after surgery with things like post operative bleeding or infection, the risks for blood clots can be a life threatening issue, so even if the risk is not as great as it is immediately post op, it is real.  The time of highest risk for blood clots is near the time of surgery, however can happen many weeks after surgery, especially if there are other risks factors such as obesity, birth control pill use, and family history of blood clots.  I would talk to your doctor to see what your particular risk factors are before going on your trip.  The fact that your trip will be so long, and you will be sitting in a car for hours daily, blood clot risks cannot be overlooked.