Can I fly after pneumothorax surgery? Many pneumothorax patients ask the question, “Can I fly? When can I fly? Although airplane travel itself does not increase the risk of pneumothorax, it can aggravate the condition of pneumothorax at high altitude with serious consequences, so patients with pneumothorax without closed chest drainage should be exempted from airplane travel and should ride only after treatment or imaging data suggesting the disappearance of pneumothorax absorption. For people with a history of pneumothorax, the decision to fly should be based on the likelihood of pneumothorax recurrence and their tolerance level for pneumothorax attacks. The UK Civil Aviation Authority allows pneumothorax patients to fly two weeks after successful treatment with closed chest drainage. Can I dive after pneumothorax surgery? As underwater activity increases the rate of pneumothorax recurrence, and as the pneumothorax volume increases during ascent from diving, increasing the risk of tension pneumothorax, guidelines issued by the British Thoracic Society recommend that diving should be avoided for life in patients who have not been treated with a definitive method (e.g. pneumonectomy). For professional divers, pneumothorax attacks require alveolopexy before diving can be resumed. If you have had a pneumothorax attack and have only been treated conservatively, or have only had closed chest drainage without a pneumonectomy, stay away from diving as much as possible.