When can I drive and exercise after cosmetic surgery?

By UK NHS guidance, driving comes earliest and strenuous activity latest. After breast enlargement, no driving for at least 1 week; after liposuction, strenuous activity is to be avoided for 10 to 12 weeks.

Source — NHS (UK)

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) states that little movement during recovery raises the risk of blood clots, so gentle walking is sometimes encouraged early.

How to read the table

The four items are easiest to understand in order of strain. Driving is a limited movement of the arms and upper body; gentle exercise is enough to raise the heart rate; strenuous activity raises abdominal pressure or involves lifting heavy things. The further down the list, the later it resumes.

What these figures do not mean

An exercise not in the table is not therefore unrestricted. You get an actual schedule only by asking which item the exercise you do belongs to.

What makes the difference?

• Strain of the movement — Raising the arms or tensing the abdomen affects recovery directly.
• The closed wound — Which movements are restricted depends on where the incision is.
• Course of swelling — While swelling remains, intensity is generally not increased.

Why driving comes first

Driving is a limited movement of the arms and upper body, so the strain is relatively small. The conditions are whether the seat belt touches the operated area and whether you could manage a sudden manoeuvre. The UK NHS giving at least 1 week after breast enlargement reflects when those two become possible. If you are taking painkillers, their effect has to be considered too.

The line between gentle exercise and strenuous activity

Anything up to raising the heart rate is gentle exercise; raising abdominal pressure or lifting heavy things is strenuous activity. After liposuction the UK NHS gives gentle exercise at 3 to 4 weeks and says to avoid strenuous activity for 10 to 12 weeks, so the two points are far apart. You get an actual schedule only by asking which side the exercise you do falls on.

Not moving can also be a risk

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons states that little movement during recovery raises the chance of a blood clot. That is why gentle walking is sometimes encouraged early even while intense exercise is delayed. Asking when walking starts and how much per day lets you balance rest and movement.

What to confirm at consultation

• Describe the exercise you normally do and get a resumption date for each
• When the movements needed to drive (steering, seat belt) become possible

Asking about your own case

The table above gives general ranges and does not apply to you as it stands. Rephrasing the question like this at consultation gets you an answer for your own case.

The exercise I do is ___. Which item in the table does it fall under, and from when is it allowed?

Common misunderstandings

Why does driving come earlier than other activities?

Because driving is a limited movement of the arms and upper body, so the strain is relatively small. You still need to manage the seat belt against the operated area and any sudden manoeuvre, which is why the UK NHS gives at least 1 week after breast enlargement.

How do I tell gentle exercise from strenuous activity?

Raising abdominal pressure or lifting heavy things counts as strenuous activity. After liposuction the UK NHS gives gentle exercise at 3 to 4 weeks and says to avoid strenuous activity for 10 to 12 weeks. You get an actual schedule only by asking which side the exercise you do falls on.

Blood clot risk and how it is prevented →

Related questions

• When can I return to work after cosmetic surgery?
• What is a blood clot in cosmetic surgery, and how is it prevented?
• When are stitches removed, and how long is a compression garment worn?