Seven hour drive after any abdominoplasty is not advised
Bad idea!I will advise against your plan. Many things can go wrong ranging from bleeding to blood clots in your legs. You need to be close to your doctor ( at most 60-90 minutes away) for at least one day after surgery of this kind. (Vasdev Rai, MD, Dallas Plastic Surgeon)
This would be an absolutely inappropriate thing to do and your surgeon should never allow you to do this. TTs have a potential for death from blood clots and a seven hour drive sets you up for these enormously. Also, I am really not convinced that drainless TTs are a good idea at all. Fluid issues are a large potential complication without a drain even if you use internal stitches.
Please make certain they are Board Certified in Plastic Surgery. (Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS, Seattle Plastic Surgeon)
Driving seven hours after a tummy tuck is a bad idea
I would suggest that you stay in a hotel locally after your tummy tuck for at least a night. This will give you time to recover from anesthesia and to make sure that no acute problems are occurring.
When you eventually make the drive home, I recommend you stop about once per hour and take a short walk to help decrease your risk of a blood clot in your leg (DVT). Best to discuss this with your surgeon for specific recommendations. (Michael S. Hopkins, MD, Albuquerque Plastic Surgeon)
I’m getting a tummy tuck more than seven hours away. Would it be okay to be driven home immediately after surgery?
No, I would absolutely advise you not to do that. Stay local, AT LEAST for a few days (preferably longer). Run this question by your plastic surgeon and work together to come up with the best plan, keeping in mind that safety, avoidance of complications, and close/regular follow-ups are all important principles… (Tom J. Pousti, MD, FACS, San Diego Plastic Surgeon)
Driving after Tummy tuck.
I would strongly advise you to stay at a hotel close to the surgery center for at least one night. The reasons stated by Dr Rand are very valid. (Terrence Murphy, MD, Englewood Plastic Surgeon)
TT as an outpatient procedure
This os absolutely unsafe. Tummytuck patients should be monitored closely after the procedure in a hospital setting. Failing to do so, can have very serious and even deadly complications. (Carlos Castaneda, MD, Mexico Plastic Surgeon)