Can I use a sunbed 6 weeks after open rhinoplasty?

It is not possible to give a precise answer to your question as everyone is different with different skin types.  There is no prospective research study to give us the answer either.  The risk is that you could make swelling worse and sometimes swelling can be persistent and never completely go away.  Surgery causes inflammation which is part of the healing process.  Tanning damages the skin and causes inflammation as well.  I usually advise complete sun block for the nose and surrounding skin of the face for 3 months before and after surgery - after all this is surgery for your appearance not illness and so it should not carry time pressures or unnecessary risk that can be avoided.

Hi 19951996,If you are Caucasioan with fair skin, sunbathing 6weeks post op is not a big deal. The main reason patients are advised to avoid sun exposure after any surgery, is to avoid hyperpigmentation of the area with the scar, which is actually very rare for Caucasian skin, moreso with rhinoplasty. If you are Oriental or dark-skinned, it will be best to wait as this type of skin is more prone to pigmentation.