Can you travel by plane with stitches?

Do you want to know if you can travel by plane with stitches, at Fit 2 Trip we advise you to take into account all medical recommendations, to guarantee that you can travel immediately after having undergone an operation.

First of all, it is important to note that these recommendations are a reference guide to emphasize the risks, which you may be exposed to after surgery, but it is necessary to speak to your doctor so that he or she, can give the most appropriate diagnosis according to your circumstances.

If you have come to wonder if you can travel by plane with stitches, it is because you have previously undergone surgery that will probably affect your psychological and physical ability to resist turbulence, seat comfort, etc.

In addition, generally, after surgery and depending on it, it may be recommended to avoid air travel for a while because long hours of travel can increase the risk of developing a blood clot in the body's veins.

But going back to what interests us, can you travel by plane with stitches? The answer is yes. You can travel although it is important to take a series of precautions before you make the trip.

What precautions should be taken before traveling by plane with stitches?

If you have suffered an unexpected accident or have had a surgical intervention prior to a trip, it may cause the airport transfer to be more delicate and complicated than that of a conventional trip.

In fact, you may have doubts about whether you can travel by plane with stitches or it is better to do it by land transport. Well, according to some studies, contrary to what is often thought, traveling by plane is as safe as traveling by land after surgery with stitches.

Now that we know that it is possible to travel by plane with stitches, it is essential to know a series of preventive measures and considerations that must be taken into account to carry out a trip as smooth and pleasant as possible.

The first thing is to contact your airline to check the possible restrictions you may have and request help if necessary. Keep in mind that each airline has different rules depending on the severity of the surgery.

These measures should also be considered  for travelling when pregnant. Depending on the type of pregnancy, there are airlines that will allow travel up to week 28 and others up to week 36.

Now, returning to the considerations for air travel with stitches, you should know that if you cannot sit in a normal position, it is your responsibility to buy an additional seat.

Another recommendation is to review your travel insurance policy very carefully. Check what is the coverage that covers the medical conditions of your trip, since you may have to inform the insurance company that you have had a surgical intervention

At Fit 2 Trip our Medical Only or Multirisk policies cover medical expenses, allowing you to enjoy a protected trip. In the event that you need emergency medical assistance,  costs can be covered, even if you are recovering from a recent surgery.

The coverage is available for individual trips or for multiple trips on an annual multi-trip policy and thus make the most of your vacations, business trips, trips in Europe or worldwide.

Some tips for traveling with stitches

There are a number of precautions that should be taken into account to reduce the risk of developing complications when travelling after surgery:

• It is important that you move as much as possible for the duration of the trip. In the case of air travel, you should stretch and walk the aisles every hour or two.
• To prevent body parts from binding, stretch and flex your neck, back, ankles, and shoulders.
• Avoid wearing tight clothing that can make the area where the stitches are uncomfortable, you should wear loose clothing that offers you comfort during the trip.
• It is essential to stay hydrated and not consume alcoholic or caffeinated beverages.
• Keep the area where the stitches are well covered. Traveling can expose you to many germs, so it's really important to use the right dressings to cover wounds.

As we have said, it is essential to keep the scar covered and with a good dressing to avoid contact with germs during a plane trip, but you should not only take that into account.

Once you have resolved the question of whether you can travel by plane with stitches, you have to be aware that your travel precautions are not conventional, you must be very careful not to hit the suture area. This could reopen the wound.

What precautions should be taken after traveling with stitches?

As a general rule, we already know that it is possible to travel by plane with stitches, although it is advisable to go to your doctor to make sure. It all depends on the type of surgery, the area of the operation and the stitches...

If we have received approval from our doctor, what should we do after the trip to take care of the scar? Well, it is important to be careful with some activities until you are fully recovered:

• It is important to avoid wet or humid areas, such as swimming pools or saunas, for at least two weeks after having your stitches removed.
• Stay active, even if for at least two weeks you reduce your activity level a little. This means that you can walk or ride a bicycle, for example, but carefully and always with the permission of your doctor.
• Keep in mind that the scars should not be exposed to UV rays during the first three months after surgery.

From Fit 2 Trip we present these as the main precautions that you must take into account when travelling after surgery. Enjoy the trip and a complete recovery.

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