Recovery travel guide
Bariatric surgery recovery, day by day
This is major abdominal surgery. The first days are in hospital, then short walks, liquids only, no lifting and no baths or swimming. The CDC advises medical tourists not to fly for 10 days after abdominal surgery.
When the limits lift
Within the 7 days this guide covers, according to the cited guidance:
- Walking: with care from day 1.
- Lifting: still off-limits on day 7. Ask your surgeon when it is safe.
- Food and drink: still off-limits on day 7. Ask your surgeon when it is safe.
- Fluids, heat and sun: with care from day 1.
- Baths, pools and the sea: still off-limits on day 7. Ask your surgeon when it is safe.
- Car rides and long waits: with care from day 1.
- Flying home: still off-limits on day 7. Ask your surgeon when it is safe.
Confirm with your surgeon. These are general activity limits from published aftercare guidance. Your clinic's written instructions always come first, and they may be stricter or looser for your procedure.
At a glance
- How long to stay
- 5 to 10 days: 1 to 3 nights in hospital, then a recovery hotel near the clinic
- What the rules are about
- This is major abdominal surgery. The first days are in hospital, then short walks, liquids only, no lifting and no baths or swimming. The CDC advises medical tourists not to fly for 10 days after abdominal surgery.
Recovery timeline
- Days 1 to 2
In hospital. Most people leave 1 to 3 days after surgery. The team gets you up and walking early.
- Days 3 to 5
Recovery hotel. Short, frequent walks, liquids only, plenty of fluids. No lifting.
- Days 6 to 7
Longer walks. Short, seated outings with the car close by. Still liquids only.
- Going home
Weeks 1 to 4 are liquids, then puréed and soft food. No heavy lifting for at least two months and no baths until the wounds have healed, around 6 weeks.
Activity rules, day by day
Sun, water, exertion, heat, alcohol and flying, for each day of a typical stay. Every rule is sourced on the day pages.
| Rule | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | With care | With care | With care | With care | With care | With care | With care |
| Lifting | Not today | Not today | Not today | Not today | Not today | Not today | Not today |
| Food and drink | Not today | Not today | Not today | Not today | Not today | Not today | Not today |
| Fluids, heat and sun | With care | With care | With care | With care | With care | With care | With care |
| Baths, pools and the sea | Not today | Not today | Not today | Not today | Not today | Not today | Not today |
| Car rides and long waits | With care | With care | With care | With care | With care | With care | With care |
| Flying home | Not today | Not today | Not today | Not today | Not today | Not today | Not today |
✕ Not today ! With care ✓ OK
Day by day
Day 1
You are in hospital. The team will have you up and walking short distances. The picks below are for your companion, all close to the clinic district.
All rules for day 1, with sources
Walking
In hospital you will be walked early and often. Follow the nurses.
Source: North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol Bariatric Service · NHS
Lifting
Avoid heavy lifting for at least two months after abdominal surgery. Let your companion carry bags.
Food and drink
Liquids only in weeks 1 to 4, then puréed food, then soft food. Food tours and restaurant meals are for your companion.
Source: NHS
Fluids, heat and sun
Keep your fluids up. Stay in the shade at midday, because sun and heat make it harder to stay hydrated on small sips.
Baths, pools and the sea
Showers are fine. Avoid baths and swimming until the wounds have fully healed, about 6 weeks.
Car rides and long waits
On journeys or queues longer than about an hour, get out and move. Long sitting raises the risk of blood clots after surgery.
Source: NHS
Flying home
The CDC advises medical tourists not to fly for at least 10 days after chest or abdominal surgery. Ask your surgeon for written travel clearance.
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · NHS
Day 2
Most patients are still in hospital or just discharged. Walking the corridor is your exercise. Your companion can explore close by.
The rules are the same as yesterday.
All rules for day 2, with sources
Walking
In hospital you will be walked early and often. Follow the nurses.
Source: North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol Bariatric Service · NHS
Lifting
Avoid heavy lifting for at least two months after abdominal surgery. Let your companion carry bags.
Food and drink
Liquids only in weeks 1 to 4, then puréed food, then soft food. Food tours and restaurant meals are for your companion.
Source: NHS
Fluids, heat and sun
Keep your fluids up. Stay in the shade at midday, because sun and heat make it harder to stay hydrated on small sips.
Baths, pools and the sea
Showers are fine. Avoid baths and swimming until the wounds have fully healed, about 6 weeks.
Car rides and long waits
On journeys or queues longer than about an hour, get out and move. Long sitting raises the risk of blood clots after surgery.
Source: NHS
Flying home
The CDC advises medical tourists not to fly for at least 10 days after chest or abdominal surgery. Ask your surgeon for written travel clearance.
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · NHS
Day 3
Usually your first day in the recovery hotel. Walk a little every hour or two. Sip fluids all day: it is the hardest and most important job this week.
The rules are the same as yesterday.
All rules for day 3, with sources
Walking
Gentle walking matters. Build up gradually towards 30 minutes a day, at a pace that leaves you slightly out of breath.
Source: North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol Bariatric Service · NHS
Lifting
Avoid heavy lifting for at least two months after abdominal surgery. Let your companion carry bags.
Food and drink
Liquids only in weeks 1 to 4, then puréed food, then soft food. Food tours and restaurant meals are for your companion.
Source: NHS
Fluids, heat and sun
Keep your fluids up. Stay in the shade at midday, because sun and heat make it harder to stay hydrated on small sips.
Baths, pools and the sea
Showers are fine. Avoid baths and swimming until the wounds have fully healed, about 6 weeks.
Car rides and long waits
On journeys or queues longer than about an hour, get out and move. Long sitting raises the risk of blood clots after surgery.
Source: NHS
Flying home
The CDC advises medical tourists not to fly for at least 10 days after chest or abdominal surgery. Ask your surgeon for written travel clearance.
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · NHS
Day 4
Walk a little further than yesterday. A short, seated outing by car is fine if you feel up to it. You are still on liquids.
The rules are the same as yesterday.
All rules for day 4, with sources
Walking
Gentle walking matters. Build up gradually towards 30 minutes a day, at a pace that leaves you slightly out of breath.
Source: North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol Bariatric Service · NHS
Lifting
Avoid heavy lifting for at least two months after abdominal surgery. Let your companion carry bags.
Food and drink
Liquids only in weeks 1 to 4, then puréed food, then soft food. Food tours and restaurant meals are for your companion.
Source: NHS
Fluids, heat and sun
Keep your fluids up. Stay in the shade at midday, because sun and heat make it harder to stay hydrated on small sips.
Baths, pools and the sea
Showers are fine. Avoid baths and swimming until the wounds have fully healed, about 6 weeks.
Car rides and long waits
On journeys or queues longer than about an hour, get out and move. Long sitting raises the risk of blood clots after surgery.
Source: NHS
Flying home
The CDC advises medical tourists not to fly for at least 10 days after chest or abdominal surgery. Ask your surgeon for written travel clearance.
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · NHS
Day 5
Aim to walk at a pace that makes you slightly short of breath, building up gradually. Rest in between.
The rules are the same as yesterday.
All rules for day 5, with sources
Walking
Gentle walking matters. Build up gradually towards 30 minutes a day, at a pace that leaves you slightly out of breath.
Source: North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol Bariatric Service · NHS
Lifting
Avoid heavy lifting for at least two months after abdominal surgery. Let your companion carry bags.
Food and drink
Liquids only in weeks 1 to 4, then puréed food, then soft food. Food tours and restaurant meals are for your companion.
Source: NHS
Fluids, heat and sun
Keep your fluids up. Stay in the shade at midday, because sun and heat make it harder to stay hydrated on small sips.
Baths, pools and the sea
Showers are fine. Avoid baths and swimming until the wounds have fully healed, about 6 weeks.
Car rides and long waits
On journeys or queues longer than about an hour, get out and move. Long sitting raises the risk of blood clots after surgery.
Source: NHS
Flying home
The CDC advises medical tourists not to fly for at least 10 days after chest or abdominal surgery. Ask your surgeon for written travel clearance.
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · NHS
Day 6
A seated outing of an hour or two works for many people. Keep the car close, the bathroom closer and the water bottle full.
The rules are the same as yesterday.
All rules for day 6, with sources
Walking
Gentle walking matters. Build up gradually towards 30 minutes a day, at a pace that leaves you slightly out of breath.
Source: North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol Bariatric Service · NHS
Lifting
Avoid heavy lifting for at least two months after abdominal surgery. Let your companion carry bags.
Food and drink
Liquids only in weeks 1 to 4, then puréed food, then soft food. Food tours and restaurant meals are for your companion.
Source: NHS
Fluids, heat and sun
Keep your fluids up. Stay in the shade at midday, because sun and heat make it harder to stay hydrated on small sips.
Baths, pools and the sea
Showers are fine. Avoid baths and swimming until the wounds have fully healed, about 6 weeks.
Car rides and long waits
On journeys or queues longer than about an hour, get out and move. Long sitting raises the risk of blood clots after surgery.
Source: NHS
Flying home
The CDC advises medical tourists not to fly for at least 10 days after chest or abdominal surgery. Ask your surgeon for written travel clearance.
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · NHS
Day 7
Your team will talk about the diet stages, the follow-up plan and when you can travel. Get it all in writing before you leave.
The rules are the same as yesterday.
All rules for day 7, with sources
Walking
Gentle walking matters. Build up gradually towards 30 minutes a day, at a pace that leaves you slightly out of breath.
Source: North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol Bariatric Service · NHS
Lifting
Avoid heavy lifting for at least two months after abdominal surgery. Let your companion carry bags.
Food and drink
Liquids only in weeks 1 to 4, then puréed food, then soft food. Food tours and restaurant meals are for your companion.
Source: NHS
Fluids, heat and sun
Keep your fluids up. Stay in the shade at midday, because sun and heat make it harder to stay hydrated on small sips.
Baths, pools and the sea
Showers are fine. Avoid baths and swimming until the wounds have fully healed, about 6 weeks.
Car rides and long waits
On journeys or queues longer than about an hour, get out and move. Long sitting raises the risk of blood clots after surgery.
Source: NHS
Flying home
The CDC advises medical tourists not to fly for at least 10 days after chest or abdominal surgery. Ask your surgeon for written travel clearance.
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · NHS
Recovering abroad? Pick your city
The city guides add what to see, what to skip and where to eat on each of these days.
Bariatric surgery
Tijuana
7 days, day by day. This is major abdominal surgery.
Open the guideBariatric surgery
Istanbul
7 days, day by day. This is major abdominal surgery.
Open the guideBariatric surgery
Cancún
7 days, day by day. This is major abdominal surgery.
Open the guide
Questions people ask
Sources
- Recovering from weight loss surgery. NHS (UK). Checked 2 November 2026.
- Recovery after bariatric surgery. North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol Bariatric Service. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Medical tourism (CDC Yellow Book). U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): long journeys. NHS (UK). Checked 2 November 2026.