HI there, I just went throught this exact scenario yesterday. My surgery with Dr Kirshenbaum was 3/12/09 in the afternoon, and my flight (with connections) was the next day (yesterday 3/13/09). I was ok as far as energy (each person is different) BUT I did have a bad time with the gas in my gut left over from the surgery. The pressure in the airplane made it worse and I was very uncomfortable and unhappy.
It would be a good idea to get wheel chair assistance too.
Hope this helps
Tomster