Cabins are pressurised to the equivalent of six to eight thousand feet. That drop in pressure makes trapped gas expand, and it dries every mucous membrane you have. For most dental work neither matters. For sinus work, both do.
The rules of thumb
| Procedure | Usual guidance |
|---|---|
| Crowns, veneers, cleaning | Same day or next day |
| Simple extraction | Next day, usually fine |
| Implant placement, no sinus involvement | 24–48 hours |
| Surgical extraction, wisdom teeth | 48–72 hours |
| Sinus lift | 2–4 weeks, and this one is not flexible |
| Hair transplant | 24–48 hours, with precautions |
Flying after a hair transplant
Physically you can fly the day after. The problem is not the flight, it is everything around it — overhead lockers, headrests, sleeping against a seat back, and other people’s bags. The grafts are not secure for about ten days and anything that rubs them can dislodge one permanently.
- Take an aisle seat, and do not put anything in the overhead locker yourself
- Wear the loose hat the clinic gives you; nothing tight, nothing pulled on over the recipient area
- Do not sleep against the seat back — bring a neck pillow and stay upright
- Expect swelling to move down to the forehead and around the eyes on days two to four. It is normal and it resolves.
Practical points for any post-surgical flight
- Carry your medication in hand luggage with the prescription
- Cabin air is dry — drink water, avoid alcohol entirely for the first few days
- Take a cold pack through security in an empty bag and fill it after
- Carry your treatment record and X-rays, in case anyone needs to see them en route
Insurance
Standard travel policies exclude elective treatment abroad and its complications. If you need to change flights because a surgeon has told you not to fly, a normal policy will not cover it. A specific medical-travel policy, bought before departure, might. Read the exclusions rather than the headline.
