How Soon Can You Wear Sunglasses After Rhinoplasty?

Question

Hi I just had my nose done a little over 3 weeks ago. A week after the surgery, the nurse at my follow up appointment said it was okay to wear sunglasses again. At first it hurt, but I started wearing them again about a week and half after my surgery. However, I've read online that you should wait at least four weeks! Now I'm so worried that I may have messed up my nose. Is that possible?? I keep on staring in the mirror and convincing myself that I've messed it up or made it crooked...

Richard J. Bruneteau, MD · Answer

We recommend that patients don’t wear sunglasses for at
least four weeks following rhinoplasty.During this period, the nasal bones aren’t totally healed and slight
pressure can cause distortion, indentation and secondary nasal deformities.When
patients are dependent upon their sunglasses, alternate strategies are
occasionally necessary.When nasal
splints are present, eye glasses can be placed directly on top of these stable
structures without concern.The splints
are usually removed after the first week and other approaches become
necessary.We
often recommend taping the glasses to the forehead.In some cases, additional padding can be
attached to the nasal eye glass pads as well.When patients
require eyeglasses to function, these maneuvers represent a significant
disruption of daily activities.With
this in mind, it’s important to remember that the benefits of rhinoplasty will
last an entire lifetime.

Mark Been, MD · Answer

The only way to really know if your sunglasses affected the outcome of your surgery is for you to return to see your surgeon. He or she will have a better understanding based on insight from the surgery itself. In all likelihood, the odds are that you did not cause any problems, but I would check with your surgeon, just in case.In general I advise my patients to wait 3-4 weeks before wearing sunglasses; however, if the glasses are lightweight certain techniques can minimize pressure on the nasal bridge, such as taping the central part of the glasses between the eyebrows or wedging the ends of the frames in the hair around the ears to minimize touching nasal bridge.

Sam Rizk, MD · Answer

You don’t want to irritate or put extraneous pressure
on your new nose too early in the recovery, as your nose is still extremely
sensitive. I would advise you to wait about 4-6 weeks after your nose job to
resume wearing glasses. Since you are three weeks into your recovery, you are
not far from that mark. Just be patient with your recovery- the longer you
wait, the better.

Earl Stephenson, Jr., MD, DDS, MBA · Answer

I usually will consider allowing patients to wear glasses at the four week point.  Definitely they can 6 weeks after surgery.  This is based on if  osteotomies were done.  The best thing you can do is stop looking in the mirror and visit with your plastic surgeon to assure that you healing process is going well.

	Good Luck.

	Dr ES

Michael A. Persky, MD · Answer

Hi deutschess,

	By three weeks after rhinoplasty your nasal bones should be well healed, and it is okay to wear sunglasses, preferably light weight sunglasses.  Most likely you have not done damage to your nose, but see your rhinoplasty surgeon for exam and reassurance.  Good luck, enjoy your new nose, and be well.

	Dr. P

John M. Hilinski, MD · Answer

It is possible unfortunately. I normally tell patients to avoid sunglasses for about 8-10 weeks following rhinoplasty where we have reshaped the bone or done any bridge work. The only time I clear them for wearing glasses before then is if we only performed a tip rhinoplasty. My concern is that the glasses can cause a shift in the underlying bone and/or cartilage, thereby compromising the surgical result. If your nose indeed has shifted slightly from the glasses, you can also remedy the situation by exercising the nasal bones back to the desired position. I would certainly consult with your rhinoplasty surgeon to help guide you in this process. Good luck.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

It really depends on what was done. If the only thing that was done was the tip or only rasping of the dorsum, wearing glasses will do no damage. However, if you had agressive osteotomy with infracture, then use of glasses could theoretically displace the bones if significant force was applied at 3 weeks. Keep in close contact with your doctor.

David Mattos, MD · Answer

You're totally right. I ask all of my patients to wait at least 4 weeks, sometimes longer, before they start wearing glasses. Heavier glasses, as sunglasses can be, sometimes a bit longer, like 6 weeks, before you start wearing them. The reason is we want to give time for the cartilage and bone to start healing under the skin before we put any pressure at all on them that could somehow move the nose, even if slightly. Rhinoplasty is a surgery of millimeters and optimizing your outcome in every way possible is important. That being said, unless you hit yourself directly, it's still unlikely you moved anything. Just typically not worth taking the risk!
-Dr. David Mattos, New York Plastic Surgical Group

Daniel G. Becker, MD · Answer

Perhaps we are over-cautious but we advise no glasses of any kind for 6 weeks from the day of surgery.  Why take chances?

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.Best Wishes, Pablo Prichard, MD

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