Can I Go out Two Weeks Post-op During Summer?

Question

I will have my surgery June 1st, and there is a music festival I have to attend on June 21st... My surgery will be tip work (lifting) and slightly decreasing the hump (nothing major). It is pretty hot and sunny where I am from, so I am afraid! I won't be sunbathing, but I will be out in the sun all day long.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

After rhinoplasty, you should protect your skin with sunscreen or better still a hat that will block the rays.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

Although you would most likely still have some swelling present three weeks after your rhinoplasty, you should be able to go out at that time. I would recommend using sunscreen and a hat and being careful not to have your nose bumped.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

I can't think of any reason why you could not attend a concert three weeks after rhinoplasty. Heat may cause modest swelling in the skin which will last until you cool off.

Pablo Prichard, MD · Answer

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

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

You should be ok to go to an outdoor concert three weeks after rhinoplasty but you should wear sunblock.  You still will probably be very swollen.

Robert E. Zaworski, MD (retired) · Answer

You should be fine at your concert 2 weeks post-op. Be sure to wear sunscreen, a hat, and don't get bumped in the nose. You will still have some swelling, but use common sense and you will be fine. Have fun!!

Can I Go out Two Weeks Post-op During Summer?

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