Whether you’re traveling in order to get your surgery done or you’re having surgery in order to better enjoy your upcoming travels, there are many people who find themselves having to figure out how to best hit the road while their bodies are still recovering.
If this is a situation that you’ll soon find yourself in, here are three tips for traveling after just having surgery.
Get The Green Light From Your Surgeon
The first thing you need to do before traveling following any type of surgery, be it something that was medically necessary or an elective or cosmetic surgery, is to get the green light from your surgeon.
According to Zoe MacDonald, a contributor to The Telegraph, most surgeons won’t approve you for traveling, especially via airplane, until you’re at least four weeks post-op. This includes having surgeries like a tummy tuck or liposuction. For other, smaller or less invasive surgeries, you may be able to travel earlier. But before you leave home for any type of travel, make sure you’ve talked to your surgeon about your plans first.
Bring A Travel Companion
Even if you have been told that you’re safe to travel after your surgery, until you’re completely healed and back to 100 percent health and mobility, it’s a good idea to bring a travel companion with you so you don’t have to handle everything on your own.
Christie Auyeung, a contributor to MedRepublic, shares that most people who’ve recently had surgery will struggle with things like driving themselves around or carrying heavy luggage without the help of someone else. Because of this, bringing someone with you to help on your travels can make your trip much easier to manage. Additionally, if something does go wrong with your health while you’re traveling, having someone there who knows your medical history will be extremely helpful for getting the medical assistance you need.
Keep Yourself Healthy While In Transit
To ensure that you’re able to enjoy your travels and return home safely afterward, you’ll need to do your best to keep yourself healthy while you’re in transit.
To help you with this, Sharon Theimer, a contributor to the Mayo Clinic, advises that you find a way to get up and walk around every hour that you’re traveling. This will help keep your blood moving and will assist you in your healing as well as avoiding blood clots. Also, make sure you’re keeping yourself hydrated so that you don’t become dehydrated and put yourself at higher risk for complications and blood clots.
If you’re planning on having surgery and then hoping to travel soon afterward, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you do so safely.
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