Travel 4 weeks post op

[nursejenny07 401]

Just curious as to your opinion on travel 4 weeks post op lower body lift and thigh Lipo. I'll need to discuss with my surgeon as well...but wasn't sure if any of you had some good input or personal experience.

I'll be having my surgery on June 12, and will be taking 5 weeks off to recover. I'm basically using all of my PTO for the year so that I can take the time paid (since this isn't covered under short term disability). I was really hoping to squeeze in a vacation, if at all possible, since it'll be quite some time before I've built up enough PTO to take time off again.

I was thinking about taking a short trip to visit family toward the end of my recovery. I would be traveling by air (approximately 2 hr flight), which I know increases the risk for DVT. I wouldn't be doing anything strenuous, just visiting (mostly sitting and chatting). My husband and daughter would be there, so I wouldn't be having to lift/pull a heavy suitcase.

Any opinions?? My biggest concerns are DVT (but even then, I think the risk at 1 month post op would be relatively low), and wound healing. I've seen a lot of reports that wounds are still open or not healing well even at 4 weeks post op. Thanks for the feedback!!!!

Jen

[TheRealMeIsHere! 863]

Definitely check with your surgeon.

I would think it should be fine. There is a risk for blood clots for anyone when sitting on a plane. The key is to make sure you pump your ankles up & down frequently to keep blood moving. When blood is stagnant, is what causes the clots, not flying itself, from my understanding.

[J&TsMom 2]

I'm looking at a similar dilemma, my surgeon told me that taking a 2.5 hour flight about 4 weeks after surgery would be ok so long as I moved around as much as possible on the plane. Of course, he did add the caveat that his "ok" assumes I have no setbacks during recovery.