You’ve chosen your surgeon, booked your surgery date, and made your travel arrangements. Now comes a surprisingly important question: what do you pack?
Packing for a plastic surgery trip isn’t like packing for vacation. You won’t need your cute outfits or heels. You will need things you probably never thought to pack before. The right items can make your recovery significantly more comfortable, while forgetting something essential can create real problems when you’re thousands of miles from home and can barely move.
This guide covers everything you need to bring — and what to leave behind.
Documents and Essentials
Let’s start with the non-negotiables — the items that could derail your trip if forgotten.
Travel Documents
Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your travel date. Bring a printed copy of your flight itinerary as well as electronic versions. US citizens receive a tourist card on arrival in the Dominican Republic, so no advance visa is needed.
Medical Documents
Bring your surgery confirmation with your surgeon’s contact information. Include copies of your pre-operative evaluation results if you completed cardiac or pulmonary clearance at home. Bring a list of all current medications with generic names, since brand names differ by country. If you have any relevant medical records or test results, bring those too.
Insurance and Emergency Information
Bring your health insurance card and documentation of any travel insurance you’ve purchased. Include a written list of emergency contacts both in your home country and locally. Make sure someone at home has copies of your itinerary, surgeon’s information, and recovery house contact details.
Financial Essentials
Confirm with your coordinator how you’ll pay your surgery balance. Bring your credit card for emergencies. Cash in US dollars is widely accepted and useful for tips and small purchases. Don’t bring large amounts of cash unnecessarily.
Clothing for Surgery and Recovery
What you wear matters more than you might think. The wrong clothing can make recovery miserable; the right choices make everything easier.
The Golden Rule: Front-Opening Everything
After surgery, you will not be able to lift your arms over your head comfortably. Pulling a t-shirt on is surprisingly painful and difficult. Every top you bring should open from the front — button-down shirts, zip-up hoodies, wrap dresses, or anything with front closures.
This is the single most common packing mistake. Don’t make it.
Loose, Comfortable Clothing
Tight clothing and compression garments are not a good combination. Bring loose, stretchy pants with elastic waistbands. Flowing dresses are often the easiest option for the first two weeks. Avoid anything that puts pressure on your surgical sites.
Specific Recommendations
Bring two to three button-down shirts or zip-up hoodies. Include two to three loose dresses that you can easily step into. Pack two pairs of loose pants or joggers with elastic waists. Bring comfortable, supportive underwear — high-waisted styles are better for tummy tuck patients. Include a robe for the recovery house. Bring slip-on shoes since you won’t want to bend down to tie laces.
For Your Flight Home
Pack a comfortable, loose outfit specifically for your flight home. You’ll still be swollen and wearing compression garments. Tight jeans are not your friend. Think loose dress or very stretchy, soft pants with a loose top.
Dark Colors Are Your Friend
Drainage and fluid leakage happen, especially in the first few days. Dark-colored clothing hides stains better than light colors. Save the white linen for next year’s vacation.
Recovery Supplies
Some supplies you’ll want to bring from home. Others are available locally or provided by your recovery house.
Bring From Home
Consider bringing scar treatment supplies like silicone sheets or gel for use once incisions are healed. Arnica supplements may help with bruising if you start them before surgery. Stool softeners are important since constipation is very common after surgery. Throat lozenges help with the sore throat from anesthesia intubation. Gentle face wipes are useful for days when showering is difficult. Dry shampoo is essential since hair washing is challenging initially. Lip balm addresses dry lips from anesthesia and medications.
Available Locally or Provided
Compression garments are typically provided by your surgeon or can be purchased locally at a lower cost. Your BBL pillow can be bought in Santo Domingo often cheaper than in the US. Medications will be prescribed and available locally. Basic toiletries are available everywhere.
Comfort Items
Recovery involves a lot of lying around. Being comfortable makes a real difference.
Entertainment
Download shows and movies to your tablet or phone before you leave since WiFi at recovery houses varies. Bring headphones for watching without disturbing others. Consider a few books or magazines for screen-free time. Download podcasts for when looking at screens feels like too much effort.
Physical Comfort
A neck pillow helps with positioning during recovery and for the flight. A small pillow or blanket from home can provide psychological comfort. Consider bringing your own pillowcase if having something familiar helps you sleep.
Practical Items
Bring chargers for all your devices. The Dominican Republic uses the same electrical outlets as the US, so no adapter needed. A small extension cord can be helpful if outlets are far from the bed. A portable phone charger ensures you’re never without communication.
Nice to Have
Protein bars or familiar snacks can be comforting when you don’t love the food options. Photos of your desired results to reference during consultation are helpful. A journal to document your recovery is something many patients appreciate later.
What NOT to Pack
Equally important is knowing what to leave at home.
Skip These
Leave pull-over shirts at home — you won’t be able to use them. Skip tight clothing of any kind. Don’t bring high heels or complicated shoes. Leave expensive jewelry that could get lost. Don’t pack too many clothes since you’ll wear the same few loose items repeatedly. Skip heavy luggage you won’t be able to lift post-surgery.
Consider Shipping Home
If you’re bringing items for pre-surgery days that you won’t need during recovery, consider whether a companion can take them home or whether you should ship them. You want to travel as light as possible on your return journey.
For Your Travel Companion
If someone is accompanying you — which we strongly recommend — they have their own packing considerations.
Companion Essentials
They should bring their own entertainment since there’s a lot of waiting involved. Comfortable walking shoes are important since they may need to make trips for supplies. A phone with WhatsApp installed enables communication with medical staff. Some local currency for errands and tips is helpful. Snacks for themselves during long recovery house days make things easier. Patience and a positive attitude are perhaps the most important items.
Their Role
Your companion will be your advocate, errand-runner, and emotional support. Make sure they understand what to expect and that they’re prepared for a caregiving role rather than a vacation.
A Note on Luggage
Think carefully about your luggage itself. After surgery, you will not be able to lift heavy bags. You may not be able to bend down easily. You’ll be wearing compression garments and possibly dealing with drains.
Use soft-sided luggage that’s easier to manage than hard cases. Pack lighter than you think necessary. Make sure you or your companion can handle all luggage without your full participation. Consider a small personal bag you can access easily during recovery, separate from your main luggage.
Printable Checklist
⚙️ ZAGIROVA: ZAGIROVA: Create downloadable PDF checklist with all items organized by category. Add checkboxes. Format for printing. Include at end of article as download link.
| Category | Items |
| Documents | Passport, flight info, surgery confirmation, medical records, insurance, emergency contacts |
| Clothing | Button-down tops, zip hoodies, loose dresses, elastic-waist pants, high-waist underwear, robe, slip-on shoes |
| Recovery | Scar treatment, arnica, stool softener, throat lozenges, face wipes, dry shampoo, lip balm |
| Comfort | Tablet/phone, headphones, books, neck pillow, chargers, extension cord, portable charger |
| Skip | Pull-over shirts, tight clothes, heels, expensive jewelry, heavy luggage |
Conclusion
Packing for plastic surgery isn’t complicated, but it does require thinking differently than you would for a normal trip. Prioritize comfort and practicality over style. Remember that front-opening tops are essential. Don’t overpack — you’ll use fewer things than you think.
Most importantly, focus on what will make your recovery easier. You’re not packing for the trip there; you’re packing for the journey home when you’re healing, swollen, and ready to start your new chapter.