Unraveling Post-Op Traveling

OP. DR. YUNUS DOĞAN

Items to get you home comfortably

There’s so much to think about when planning plastic surgery in your home country. First, you need to find the right surgeon. Read this for help finding him or her. He or she may want you to prepare yourself for surgery with these tips. And if you’re going abroad, maybe for plastic surgery in Istanbul, you have travel arrangements to make!

Unless you’re relocating to your rejuvenation destination permanently, you’ll be flying home during your recovery period. Read on for tips to make your return trip easier.

Pre-boarding checklist

Your doctor needs to give you a “fit-to-fly letter.” Without it, you may not be permitted to board your plane. Airlines don’t always ask for it but this is one of those things that’s definitely better to have and not need than need and not have. This letter is proof of your doctor’s professional opinion that you are physically capable of flying. Whether you feel it or not is a totally different subject.

If you’re the proud owner of a Brazilian butt lift (BBL,) you should have a BBL pillow. Your doctor may have told you not to sit for long periods of time without it. Use it on the plane. Speaking of pillows and planes, you probably have a travel pillow for your neck. Prior to surgery, bring a second one for your lower back if your surgeon is using drains. The second pillow relieves pressure around that drain.

Research travel insurance specifically for medical tourism that covers revision trips or emergency care. Many patients gamble by traveling without this. Occasionally patients need to return to their surgeon sooner than planned after going back to their home countries. This unplanned trip can be emotionally and financially stressful. At least insurance can help with half of that, covering costs related to flights, accommodation and possibly any additional procedures.

Airline cuisine can be unreliable and unrecognizable. Since we never really know its nutritional content, bring your own snacks. Choose unsalted, protein-rich foods like nuts and seeds, hard-boiled eggs, veggies sticks with hummus and protein bars (but check the label for protein and sodium contents.) Healthline has a great list of high-protein foods if you can do a little food prep.

When the flight attendant asks what you want to drink, water is the answer. Water is essential for maintaining proper hydration levels for people who haven’t had plastic surgery, let alone your recovering body. It needs all the water it can get.

Airplanes are notoriously chilly. Bring a zipper sweatshirt/jumper for easy on and off to keep yourself as comfortable as possible. You can also fold it up and cram it anywhere you want an extra pillow.

Join the smile high club with

Your body won’t be in the best shape immediately after surgery. You’ll be slower and weaker and will most likely benefit from assistance at the airport. If you didn’t bring a friend or family member who can help with luggage, contact your airline and ask for help getting to your gate. Some airlines allow you to request assistance online while others organize the service at the check-in counter. Even if you have a companion, it might be nice to hitch a ride in a wheelchair so you don’t miss your flight doing the post-op crawl. Don’t be a martyr.

When booking your flight home, choose an aisle seat. Yes, the window is nice for leaning and gazing outside but you will want as much freedom as movement as you can get. (Even if you don’t feel like moving, you need to.) Sitting in the aisle seat affords you access to move around the cabin without disrupting others in your row, unless your family members are coming. Then disrupt away!

That being said, when you’re up and about, stretch your legs in the back of the plane where food service happens. Walking in the aisles is necessary to get to the restroom, but for a little more range and freedom of motion, go where the flight attendants prepare the food carts in the front, middle or back of the plane. Walk across the width of the plane rather than up and down the aisles.

Did someone say “restroom”? Motivate yourself to get up and use it by drinking plenty of water. Yes, we’ve already told you to drink water when the flight attendant cruises by with the beverage cart. Water is important enough to mention repeatedly. Hydrating now helps recovery, so make sure you drink your water.

The last stitch

You’ve heard the saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Of course, this only applies to Americans. For everyone else using the metric system, 28 grams of prevention is worth 454 grams of cure. It means that spending a little extra time, money or effort now will save you a greater amount of time, money, effort or anguish later. Prepare now for easier travel later. Trust us. And drink your water.