Last-minute glow-up: What procedures are safe before travel?

Your bags are packed, and you have everything you need for your summer getaway. Sunscreen, that cute new bathing suit, a charging cord – everything checks out, but you still don't feel ready for your big summer adventure. Maybe you need a last-minute glow-up to feel confident in your own skin before your fabulous excursion. The only problem is that plastic surgery procedures and long-distance travel don't mix, not if you want to give yourself time to heal and achieve optimal results.

Thankfully, there are a few glow-up options that require minimal downtime and can help you achieve a sun-kissed glow before you hit the beach, museum, concert or wherever your travels may take you.

Which procedures are safe for summer travel?

Short on time? That's okay. Some treatment options can still help you achieve a vibrant glow before your getaway. The trick is figuring out which procedures are safe to do before travel and which you need to wait for. There are plenty of plastic surgery options that can make you feel summer-ready. Still, some of these procedures require thoughtful planning and a strategic recovery period to achieve maximum results.

First, consider your method of travel. Are you taking an extended road trip or flying to your destination?

When working on a short time frame, think small.

"I would actually just recommend a smaller procedure or facial," said Roy Kim, MD. "I think a HydraFacial or similar facial is good for your skin, and any med spa treatment, skincare or facial that helps to brighten and hydrate your skin will help before travel. Planes can be quite dry in terms of air, and time zone changes or the sun will also potentially dry out your skin."

For travel plans that involve flying, be aware that air travel can be extremely dehydrating. The low humidity in airplane cabins can sap your skin of valuable moisture, leaving it feeling tight and uncomfortable. Giving your skin a hydration boost before travel can help keep you looking juicy and youthful.

If you are itching for a glow-up before the busy summer travel season hits, minimally invasive treatments may be right for you.

"I would recommend people stick to toxins and fillers for facial enhancement," said Sara Dickie, MD. "Those are very low-risk, high-reward procedures that can certainly add a glow-up and do not require any recuperative time, unless you count bruising, which can certainly happen with fillers. A light, non-ablative laser treatment or a facial with dermaplaning can provide a glowy, smooth skin profile that looks great in photos."

You want to give yourself a few weeks between any procedure and your travel date.

"If you have two weeks or more before your trip, neuromodulators to reduce wrinkles, filler touch-ups for deeper wrinkles and even light microneedling will help brighten up your skin, reduce wrinkles if you're staring in sunny areas and avoid any marks or bruises before your vacation," said Dr. Kim. "Skin boosters like Skinvive are also great to do at this time frame."

With more time before departure, patients can consider treatments that deliver more dramatic skin rejuvenation and collagen stimulation.

"A month or more before a trip, I think it's safe to consider bigger skin procedures," said Dr. Kim. "Laser, RF (radiofrequency) microneedling, biostimulators like Sculptra or Radiesse and other similar devices."

When to hold off or give yourself more time

Your best bet is to seek procedures with minimal downtime and that are noninvasive. No one wants to be stuck on a plane with no leg room for five hours after undergoing an invasive surgical procedure. Additionally, traveling too soon after surgery can increase a person's risk of developing serious medical complications, including swelling and blood clots.

Consider the other risks as well. Your body is actively recovering from a significant procedure and is putting all its effort into healing. Airports and the interior of planes can expose patients to numerous germs and pathogens that can cause illness, slowing healing and making recovery more challenging.

"I, hands down, do not recommend anything that requires sutures or deeper tissue trauma like liposuction or radiofrequency," said Dr. Dickie.

Evaluate your travel timeline if you are interested in more invasive procedures and determine whether it makes sense to wait.

"When we discuss travel and recovery, it focuses on a few things, and they all relate to safety," said Dr. Dickie. "How long will the transit time be? If you are sitting still on a plane or in a car for more than one or two hours, the risk of blood clots goes up significantly after surgery. I recommend people wait at least two weeks for that type of travel after surgery. Will they be staying in a place that has access to high-quality medical care? A rash can turn really ugly, really quickly if it's not addressed promptly. Infection, as well, can start small and become catastrophic in a matter of 24 hours. Wound breakdown happens, and if patients don't have access to clean or sterile medical supplies, they can really delay healing and damage the results. All these things are never worth the compromise of having a little vacation after a procedure."

It is never worth compromising your health or aesthetic results. Patients may need to make tough choices. If your vacation is quickly approaching, you may need to wait on that plastic surgery procedure you've been considering.

Regarding your recovery timeline, remember that every patient is different. However, there are some general guidelines you can follow.

"In general, I would give yourself two months or longer before surgery," said Dr. Kim. "Yes, you can get surgery at any time, and you can fly maybe two to four weeks after a surgical procedure, but most people want to be relaxed on vacation. So, depending on how big the procedure is, you may need to schedule it to ensure you have enough time off to recover."

Additionally, it helps to remember that surgical results may not be evident immediately after surgery. Even if you can travel within a safe time frame, that doesn't mean your results will be everything you expect.

"Things like liposuction or a breast augmentation may seem simple and quick and have 'low downtime,' but that does not mean they are vacation-ready in one to two weeks," said Dr. Dickie. "Minimally invasive treatments like Renuvion, BodyTite or CoolSculpting do not show final results or even good results at one to two weeks. So, doing those right before a vacation is not recommended. Laser hair removal takes several sessions over a few months for the best results, so one to two weeks before a trip won't really help. Patients will be shaving anyway."

Making the most of your summer travel plans

So, you have a minimally invasive procedure scheduled, and your travel plans line up perfectly with your recovery. Now what?

There are a few products you may want to tuck into your travel bag to help you get the most out of your treatment and your vacation. A must-have for summer travel is a good sunscreen.

"Before traveling, make sure you have newer sunscreen," said Dr. Kim. "Sunscreen can go old, and buying sunscreen at your vacation destination can result in too high pricing for not the sunscreen that you like. In fact, patients can buy some now before their summer break, make sure the volume is small enough for airplane travel, and just put it in their toiletry bag today."

Some treatments and procedures can make a patient's skin even more sensitive and vulnerable to burning and UV damage. Post-treatment patients or those with sensitive skin may prefer mineral sunscreens. These contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide and create a physical barrier against harmful UV rays.

"All scars that are less than one year old should be protected from the sun with either an SPF 50 or higher sunscreen or SPF clothing," said Dr. Dickie. "I recommend zinc-based or physical sunscreen on scars since the chemical sunscreens require absorbency and epidermal cellular function for the product to work best. I don't believe young scars have a predictable interaction with chemical sunscreen as the reliability of a physical sunscreen."

SPF swimwear, clothing and cute cover-ups are also excellent options for protecting sensitive skin from the sun.

"Another good thing to buy is facial masks," said Dr. Kim. "Yes, I do think they are a bit overdone on long plane rides and on social media, but bringing along a couple of your favorite ones will help hydrate your face on a long plane ride, scare the crap out of your neighbor who is sitting next to you and can reduce redness at your destination."

Not only can you freak out the kid kicking the back of your chair during a long flight, but you also get the added benefit of a glowy, bouncy complexion when you step off the plane. A face mask is also a travel-friendly luxury you can whip out when enjoying a book by the pool or relaxing in a giant bathtub at the hotel after a long day of sightseeing.

For those ready for some fun in the sun this summer, follow your doctor's advice and choose your procedures wisely.

"I think any skin procedure in general is great to get before a vacation," said Dr. Kim. "They are safe, and you can recover in time for your vacation photos. Actual surgery, requiring sedation or general anesthesia and recovery time, you may need to schedule procedure time and recovery time to have a worry-free vacation."

To find a qualified plastic surgeon for any cosmetic or reconstructive procedure, consult a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. All ASPS members are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, have completed an accredited plastic surgery training program, practice in accredited facilities and follow strict standards of safety and ethics. Find an ASPS member in your area.