Can I Lifeguard at a Lake After Rhinoplasty?

   I would wait at least 6 weeks in an uncomplicated rhinoplasty in which healing follows an uncomplicated course before considering lake swimming.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

This is definitely a discussion you will want to have with your Surgeon.  In my practice, I ask patients to avoid strenuous activity and heavy lifting for 2 weeks.  However, if osteotomies are performed, the nasal bones are at risk for displacement for 6 weeks.  Life-guarding carries a higher risk of contact than other jobs.  I would ask you to wait 6 weeks.

In general, your nose has less natural protection from the sun right after rhinoplasty. All the tissue was just elevated off of the internal structure of the nose, including the bone and cartilage, and blood vessels were coagulated in order to do this. There fore we weakened the nose's natural defense since we weakened its blood supply. This blood supply grows back , but it can take quite a bit of time to happen. In the first 6 weeks, your nose is less naturally resistant to UV rays and is more likely to burn and get discolored. Also, since your nose is mostly numb early on, its less likely that you are to notice the problem until its too late. I recommend you stay out of the sun as much as possible in the first 6 weeks after surgery. If you are in the sun for short periods of time, stay in the shade, and wear a big hat and a good sunblock. Do not wear sun glasses in the first 6 weeks, or any glasses for that matter, if osteotomies were performed, (breaking of the nasal bones). You can get your nose wet as soon as the splint comes off, but I would be careful about chlorinated pools early on until the incision is fully healed an more mature, as the chlorine can irritate the incision. The gym and anything that increases you blood pressure will increase the swelling of your nose and delay your healing time. I recommend 6 weeks for this as well. Sometimes it can take longer for your skin to mature, even a year and more in some cases. I suggest that you wear sun block for at least a year every day while out in the sun.Best Wishes, Pablo Prichard, MD

  It is important not to have any physical  or strenuous activity for at least 2 weeks after the rhinoplasty, and do not get hit in the nose for at least 6 weeks after the surgery. Also good idea to put sunblock over the nose  to prevent a sunburn.

I would worry more about sun exposure causing hyperpigmentation. Trauma from high dives might be a problem if you miss calculate and hit your nose. Deep dives from the water's surface would not be a problem.  Stay away from strong trauma for at least 2 months. Do not worry about Lake organisms as there is more in your nose than in the Lake.

I let 2 weeks go by before swimming, but ask your surgeon.

I think that you should give yourself at least 3 weeks to recover so that the incisions can heal.  Best to also check with your doctor to get the clearance.

Three weeks would be an acceptable delay before life-guarding. You will need to be incredibly vigilant with broad-spectrum sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat to avoid hyperpigmentation of any incisions and the nasal skin for about three months following the procedure. I hope this information is helpful.Stephen Weber MD, FACS
Lone Tree Facial Plastic Surgeon

You should talk to your doctor about this.  You nose is theoretically more prone to sunburn in the early months after a rhinoplasty.  Also, you certainly don't want to hit it diving.

After rhinoplasty surgery I tell my patients to avoid strenuous physical activity for 2 weeks and any risk of nasal trauma for 6 weeks. I would be nervous about getting hit when assisting distressed swimmers.

I would ask your surgeon about timing after rhinoplasty and water exposure.Depending on what was done the issues center around trauma to the nose ,either from getting hit or pressure from surface tension when you hit the water.As you know a belly flop can knock the wind out of someone and the same issues pertain to the nose.Another consideration is sunlight exposure that can be modified with a hat ,umbrella or zinc oxide.