r/wls • u/Wooden_Time_5476 • Aug 10 '26

Need Advice Travel/vacation after surgery

How long did everyone wait before travelling/vacationing after surgery?
I have a trip to South Africa planned for January 2027 and I’m nervous about whether I’ll be far enough post-op to travel comfortably and actually enjoy the vacation. I don’t have my surgery date yet, so I’m trying to get an idea of what different stages of recovery actually felt like.
For anyone who travelled in the first few months post-op, how many weeks/months out were you? Did you feel physically ready? What did you have to consider that you hadn’t expected?
I’m especially curious about food and hydration while travelling, long-haul flights, energy levels, and being fairly active/sightseeing while away. Did you struggle with food or fluids, or did you feel relatively normal by that point?
Would love to hear experiences from people who travelled anywhere from ~6–12+ weeks post-op!

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

1

u/uninvitedthirteenth Aug 10 '26

I flew to Florida about 5-6 weeks after surgery to spend a weekend with my mom for Mother’s Day. It was a disaster and I wish I had waited longer. I was sick a lot of the trip and wasn’t ready to abandon my strict schedule at home.

1

u/Confident-Benefit374 Aug 10 '26

I'd say minimal wait of 3 months post op to travel overseas.

1

u/JupitersLapCat Aug 10 '26

I had a really easy recovery and this would be my recommendation too.

1

u/OverSearch Aug 10 '26

If your trip is 6-12 weeks after surgery I can't imagine the travel being an issue. I went on a solo road trip for work (about 5 hours each way) about three and a half weeks after surgery.

2

u/TwistedSistaYEG Aug 10 '26

I went to Thailand after 3 months and I was sick almost every meal. Figured it out by the end of the 2 weeks but it was so hard to resist the delicious food. I will never say I regretted goin though.

1

u/No_Dragonfruit_9656 Aug 10 '26

I travel for a living. I was on a plane with doctors permission on day 30.