Holiday Health & Safety After Surgery: What Surgery Patients Need to Know Over the Festive Season
Healing from surgery requires rest, nutrition, and careful activity—three things the holiday season often disrupts. With big meals, travel plans, and full social calendars, it’s easy to push yourself too hard during recovery.
At Suncoast Surgical Associates, our board-certified general and thoracic surgeons help patients throughout Tampa Bay navigate recovery safely and confidently. This guide uses evidence-based research and surgical best practices to help you enjoy the holidays while protecting your healing process.
Why the Holidays Can Be Risky After Surgery
The festive season is full of situations that challenge a healing body:
More lifting (decorations, luggage, gifts)
Large, rich meals harder to digest after abdominal surgery
Travel that interrupts rest, wound care, and medication timing
Busy schedules that deprioritize recovery
Studies show that postoperative tissue healing is vulnerable for weeks, and exceeding lifting or activity limits increases the risk of complications like hernias or wound breakdown (Güsgen et al., 2020).
Tip 1: Respect Lifting Restrictions—Even During Holiday Prep
Many surgeons recommend avoiding lifting more than 10 pounds (about a gallon of milk) for the first few weeks after abdominal or chest surgery (UW Medicine, 2018 , Boyle, 2016).
This is especially important during the holidays when you may be tempted to lift:
Turkeys, roasts, or heavy pans
Boxes of decorations
Luggage
Large gift bags
Research confirms there is no universal safe lifting threshold after surgery, but early heavy strain may increase hernia risk and delay recovery (Güsgen et al., 2020). When in doubt, don’t lift—ask for help.
Tip 2: Stay Active—but Keep It Light
Clinical guidance from major centers supports light walking shortly after surgery to improve circulation, lung function, and digestion (UW Medicine, 2018; Swedish Medical Center, 2013).
Holiday-safe movement ideas:
Short walks to see holiday lights
Light shopping with frequent rest breaks
Setting reminders to stand and stretch every hour
Avoid strenuous activities such as:
Heavy cleaning
Intense shopping trips
Running or gym workouts (unless cleared)
Increasing activity gradually is key.
Tip 3: Eat According to Your Surgical Diet Plan
Large holiday meals can create digestive stress, especially after abdominal or anti-reflux surgery. Research shows heavy or high-fat meals delay gastric emptying and worsen digestive discomfort (Katz et al., 2022 ).
Protect your recovery by:
Eating smaller, more frequent meals
Chewing thoroughly
Prioritizing lean proteins and cooked vegetables
Avoiding carbonated drinks or alcohol if recently treated for reflux or hiatal hernia
Following your prescribed staged diet (liquids → soft foods → solids)
Listen to your body—fullness or discomfort is a sign to pause.
Tip 4: Travel Safely After Surgery
Travel around the holidays is common, but precautions matter:
Car or plane travel
Stand and stretch every 1–2 hours to reduce blood clot risk (UW Medicine, 2018).
Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
Wear loose clothing that doesn’t press on incisions.
Before traveling
Ask your surgeon at Suncoast Surgical Associates if you are cleared to fly or drive long distances, especially after abdominal, hernia, or thoracic surgery.
Have ready:
Wound-care supplies
All medications (packed in carry-on)
Copies of discharge instructions
Tip 5: Protect Your Incision at Gatherings
Holiday parties can be crowded—and unpredictable.
Protect your incision by:
Avoiding tight hugs or playful roughhousing
Keeping pets and small children from jumping on your abdomen or chest
Wearing soft, loose clothing
Keeping the incision clean and dry
Watching for redness, swelling, drainage, or fever
Signs of infection require prompt evaluation (Far North Surgery, 2023).
Tip 6: Keep Your Follow-Up Appointments
Even during the holidays, follow-up care matters. These appointments help ensure:
Incisions are healing correctly
Activity restrictions are adjusted appropriately
Any early complications are caught early
Surgeons at Suncoast Surgical Associates provide comprehensive postoperative care across Tampa Bay, including surgical follow-up, wound evaluation, and postoperative dietary guidance.
If a planned follow-up conflicts with holiday travel, call the office ahead of time to reschedule safely.
When to Seek Immediate Care
Seek urgent medical attention if you experience:
Fever over 100.4°F
Increasing incision redness or drainage
Vomiting or inability to keep down fluids
Severe abdominal pain or a new bulge (possible hernia)
Sudden shortness of breath or chest pain (possible clot)
Calf swelling or pain
Prompt attention can prevent complications from worsening.
Celebrate Safely This Holiday Season
Healing after surgery does not mean you can’t enjoy the holidays. It simply means:
Moving with intention
Eating mindfully
Protecting your incision
Listening to your body
Asking for help when needed
If you have questions about your recovery or upcoming surgery, the experienced team at Suncoast Surgical Associates is here to support you.
Works Cited
Boyle, M. (2016, April 28). Should you lift that item after surgery? Michigan Medicine – Health Lab. https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/should-you-lift-item-after-surgery
Far North Surgery. (2023, June 23). Recovering from abdominal surgery: Essential dos and don'ts.https://www.farnorthsurgery.com/blog/recovering-from-abdominal-surgery-do-and-donts
Güsgen, C., et al. (2020). Lack of standardized advice on physical strain following abdominal surgery: A narrative review. International Journal of Surgery, 79, 75–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsu.2020.05.035
Katz, P. O., Dunbar, K. B., Schnoll-Sussman, F., Greer, K. B., Yadlapati, R., & Spechler, S. J. (2022). ACG clinical guideline for the diagnosis and management of gastroesophageal reflux disease. American Journal of Gastroenterology, 117(1), 27–56. Link
Swedish Medical Center. (2013, February 6). Returning to normal activity after abdominal surgery.https://www.swedish.org
UW Medicine. (2018). Activities of daily living after abdominal surgery. University of Washington. https://healthonline.washington.edu