Travel 5 Weeks After Abdominoplasty?

Question

Can I have a full tummy tuck and travel (for a month) 5 weeks after the surgery? Would I be able to wear a bathing suit 5 weeks post surgery? If I will still be swollen and uncomfortable I may opt to have the surgery at another time.

Sean Younai, MD, FACS · Answer

You an travel as early as two weeks after a tummy tuck but you are not allowed to lift anything more than 20 lbs for the first 6-8 weeks. you will continue to have swelling for 2 months after surgery depending on your activity level. you can jog about 3 weeks after surgery.

Ozge Ergun, MD · Answer

Thanks for the question. Generally, most patients can fly within 2 to 4 weeks after Abdominoplasty.  However, car or airplane travel should be avoided to prevent the risk of blood clots in the legs. I wish you all the best.

Scott Farber, MD, FACS · Answer

We ask that our out-of-town patients refrain from traveling for a minimum of 10 days following their procedure. If you plan to travel, it is important to stand up and walk at least every hour. In most circumstances, my patients feel well enough to travel 2 weeks after their tummy tuck surgery.  By 6 weeks, given normal healing, patients are cleared to ease back into their normal activities. It is important to contact your Plastic Surgeon before traveling shortly after a cosmetic procedure and to follow their detailed advice following your surgery, as medical opinions may vary.

Lewis Albert Andres, MD · Answer

Hello! Thank you for your question. Our practice has patients travel from afar. Opinions on travel following a surgical procedure will differ amongst surgeons, and is best to discuss this with your surgeon. In our practice, we ask that you plan to stay for several days to weeks to observe and evaluate the surgical areas as well as your readiness for travel. Depending on which procedure you have, up to a few weeks or so may be necessary. I would certainly discuss this with your surgeon in addition to plans for postop care and evaluation.  Your timing seems adequate. Ensuring adequate oral intake and mobility is a must and proper postoperative care of the surgical sites and incisions is prudent. An evaluation postoperatively as well as prior to departure is usually done to make sure that all is well for your travel back.  Potential for compression stockings and/or anticoagulation may be advised by your surgeon.  Hope that this helps! Best wishes!

Bhupesh Vasisht, MD · Answer

Not an easy question to answer because it depends on your healing process and everyone heals differently. The short answer is that your probably should wait till after your trip to do this. You need to give your body some time to heal and nothing should compromise that.

Morgan E. Norris, III, MD, FACS · Answer

It is possible to travel after an abdominoplasty 5 weeks
postoperatively.  However, at 5 weeks you
may not be able to be as physically active on your vacation as you would
like.I typically do not release my
patients back to strenuous activities such as working out until 6 to 8 weeks
after surgery.  Please keep in mind that every person’s body
recovers differently and at a different pace.  In my experience, some patients may be ready at 5
weeks and some may take longer than 8 weeks.  In regards to a bathing suit, your swelling should have resolved enough to wear a bathing suit at that
time, but it is possible to still have noticeable swelling at 5 weeks.  I am sorry that I cannot provide a more
definitive answer to your question but when it comes to a patient’s recovery
every situation is different and there are no guaranteed timelines.With that being said if you are planning a
relaxing beach vacation doing nothing more strenuous than lying in the sand,
you should be fine.My best advice is to make sure you give
yourself as much time as possible to recover.Sometimes with a looming deadline patients can become fretful and
stressed which can ultimately delay healing so it may not be a bad idea to
postpone surgery until after your vacation or postpone your vacation until your
healed from surgery.Be well and good luck!@norrisplastic

Pablo Prichard, MD · Answer

Thank you for your post.  In general, your incisions need to be perfect, all drains removed and the drain site healed perfect, and the muscle repair needs to be mature with no areas of fluid collection.  If the incisions are not perfect, or drain site, then you are at risk of infection in pools, hot tubs, oceans/lakes.  You don't have to have perfect incisions to shower, just not submerge in bath or the above.  However, I ask my patients to wear their abdominal binder non-stop, except for showers, for at least 4 weeks, so unless you want to hang out at the beach with your binder, then no beach.  Best Wishes, Pablo Prichard, MD

Stephan Baker, MD · Answer

I suggest you go on your trip first - that way you will have nothing to worry about regarding your healing or potential complications.

Steven Turkeltaub, MD · Answer

If you want to take minimum risk, enjoy your vacation and not have restrictions, you should consider postponing your tummy tuck until after you return from your month long vacation. Yes, it is theoretically possible to go on such a vacation 5 weeks after surgery but there would be some restrictions of activities including heavy lifting, typically until 8 weeks following surgery. If you did experience some issues and were either out of the country or in a somewhat remote area, that could be problematic for you. A shorter vacation such as a week would be more doable and prudent.

William B. Rosenblatt, MD · Answer

Anything is possible, but it all depends on you. Are you skinny and this is just tightening the skin? Your best bet is to ask the surgeon operating on you, not doctors who have never seen you.

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