Have people in this forum never had a relationship with a woman before or just delusional? Because it shows. You go away for a week and come back with incision wounds and its going to be pretty obvious. And no they're not going to be "better than the original surgery so nobody can see them" or something. They just cut you open with a scalpel. Unless you plan on dating a blind woman shes going to see that.
The responses you received were not entirely realistic. I was dating a woman after recovered from femurs but before rod removal. As you pointed out unless you're dating a blind woman fresh wounds will be noticed. I stressed about what to tell her. I ended up going with the truth but in a limited way. I told her I would not see her the upcoming weekend, that I had broken my legs a while ago and needed to get metal rods removed. Before she could get going with the sympathy and questions, I told her that it's painful memories and I don't like talking about it but I'm 100% fine, nothing to worry about, I'd see her next week. Given her personality I thought it'd probably be enough and it was. However, some women will not respect a man's privacy or feelings enough to not pull at that thread...
My suggestion is that you date once you've recovered, but don't buy into oneitis mentality. If you end up in a monogamous relationship when it's time for rod removal you can decide whether to break up, tell her something, tell her everything, or whatever. She'll notice fresh wounds/scars for sure though.
You might also delay your rod removal surgery till after a relationship ends and before the next one starts. Or don't agree to be monogamous with anyone till after rod removal and simply ghost anyone your seeing right before rod removal. In the modern dating world that is pretty common behavior by both men and women.