Flying home after cosmetic surgery

Why the flight needs planning

Surgery, anaesthesia and reduced movement all increase the tendency of the blood to clot. A long period of sitting in a cramped seat adds to that. A clot in a deep vein of the leg (deep vein thrombosis, or DVT) can, rarely, travel to the lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism, which is a medical emergency. The overall risk for a healthy patient who follows advice is low, but it is real, and it is the main reason surgeons ask you to stay a set number of days before flying.

The flight is also tiring. Airports involve queues, walking and lifting bags, all while you are swollen and wearing a compression garment. Planning the details in advance takes much of that strain away.

When is it safe to fly?

Your surgeon clears you to fly at your final check-up, after looking at your wounds, drains (if any), swelling and general condition. The recommended stays below come from our procedure information and are designed so that the riskiest early days are spent close to the surgical team.

Who needs extra precautions

Tell the surgeon about anything that raises your clotting risk, ideally when you first send your details, so that the plan and stay length can be adjusted.

• A previous DVT or pulmonary embolism, or a family history of clots
• The contraceptive pill or hormone replacement therapy
• A body mass index above the healthy range
• Smoking or vaping
• A long-haul flight home, for example to the US or Canada
• A long combined operation such as a mommy makeover or body lift
• Varicose veins or a known clotting disorder

Medical compression stockings and blood thinners

Graduated compression stockings support the veins in the legs and are commonly advised for the flight, worn from the morning of travel until you arrive. They are different from your body compression garment and you wear both. Make sure they fit properly and do not roll down at the top, which can have the opposite effect.

Depending on your risk, the surgeon may prescribe blood-thinning injections for a period after surgery, which can include the day of travel. Take them exactly as instructed and carry them with a written note in your hand luggage. Never start or stop a blood thinner without medical advice.

Choosing your seat

An aisle seat lets you get up and walk without disturbing other passengers. Extra legroom seats help you stretch your legs and get in and out more easily, though exit-row seats may not be allowed if you cannot help in an emergency. If your budget allows, a seat with more space is a worthwhile investment on a long flight. After a BBL your surgeon may ask you to use a BBL pillow under the thighs, so check the seat suits it.

Request airport assistance when booking if you would like a wheelchair or help through the terminal. Airlines arrange this free of charge and it saves a lot of walking and queueing.

Tell the airline only what you need to; there is no obligation to explain your operation. If you are carrying injections or a medical letter, keep them together with your passport so they are easy to show at security.

Planning the day of travel

Choose a direct flight if possible. Istanbul has direct services to London, Dublin, several other UK airports and a number of major US cities, which avoids a change of plane and a second round of security. If a connection is unavoidable, a longer layover is easier than a tight one, because you will walk more slowly than usual.

Allow plenty of time at the airport, eat a light meal before leaving the hotel and take your pain relief at the times you were given, not only when discomfort starts. Swelling usually increases a little during and after a flight, especially in the lower abdomen and ankles; this is expected and settles over the next days with walking and rest.

For long-haul journeys to North America, some patients choose to stay a few extra days in Istanbul or to break the journey with an overnight stop. Discuss this with your surgeon and coordinator before booking, so the return date fits your recovery rather than the other way round.

During the flight

• Walk up and down the aisle every hour or so, whenever the seatbelt sign allows
• Do seated calf exercises: flex and point your feet and circle your ankles regularly
• Drink water steadily; dehydration thickens the blood
• Avoid alcohol and limit caffeine
• Do not take sleeping tablets, which keep you still for long periods
• Keep your legs uncrossed and avoid tucking them under you
• Loosen anything tight at the waist apart from the garment itself

What to wear

Choose loose, soft clothes that fit easily over the compression garment, such as wide trousers with an elasticated waist, a long cardigan and a front-fastening top after breast surgery. Slip-on shoes are easier, because bending to tie laces is awkward and feet often swell during flights. Bring a light layer, as cabins can be cool.

What to carry in your hand luggage

• All your medication, including pain relief and any injections, in original packaging
• Your surgeon’s discharge letter and a summary of the operation in English
• Spare dressings and a small pack of wipes
• A refillable water bottle (filled after security)
• A small cushion or BBL pillow if advised
• Your coordinator’s WhatsApp contact and the clinic phone number
• Light snacks, in case meal service is delayed

Lifting and luggage

You should not lift a heavy suitcase after a tummy tuck, mommy makeover or breast surgery. Travel with a companion if you can, use a suitcase with four wheels and ask staff for help with the overhead bin. At New City Clinic, transfers from the hotel to the airport are included, and your coordinator can help you plan check-in so you do not have to manage alone.

After landing

Keep moving gently in the days after the journey, continue the garment and stockings as advised and drink plenty of water. Let your GP know you have had surgery abroad and keep the discharge letter handy. Your coordinator remains available on WhatsApp for questions and photo follow-up.

Seek urgent medical help if you develop pain, swelling, warmth or redness in one calf, or sudden shortness of breath, chest pain or coughing blood. These symptoms can appear days after the flight and should never be ignored. In the UK and Ireland call 999 or 112; in the US call 911.

Questions about this topic

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