Whether you’ve had a facelift, eyelid surgery or another facial rejuvenation procedure, protecting your skin from the sun during recovery is one of the most important steps you can take to preserve your results. At Columbia Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, we want our patients to feel confident heading into summer, and that starts with understanding how to care for healing skin in the sun.
Why Sun Protection Matters After Surgery
Healing skin is more sensitive and more vulnerable to sun damage than normal skin. UV exposure can cause incisions to become discolored or develop hyperpigmentation that may take months to fade, or in some cases, become permanent. Sun exposure is one of the leading causes of long-term skin discoloration, and healing tissue is especially susceptible.
1. Keep Incisions Covered
In the days and weeks following surgery, keep incision sites covered whenever you’re outdoors. This might mean wearing a wide-brimmed hat for facelift or brow lift incisions, or sunglasses for eyelid surgery. Covering the area with breathable fabric or a hat brim provides a physical barrier that sunscreen alone may not be able to replace on fresh incisions.
2. Wait Before Applying Sunscreen Directly to Incisions
While sunscreen is essential for healed skin, it’s important to follow your surgeon’s guidance on when it’s safe to apply sunscreen directly over incision lines. Open or healing incisions may not tolerate sunscreen ingredients well, so your surgeon will let you know when it’s appropriate to begin applying it to the treated area.
3. Choose a Broad-Spectrum, Mineral-Based Sunscreen
Once your incisions have healed enough to apply sunscreen, opt for a broad-spectrum formula with an SPF of 30 or higher. Mineral-based sunscreens containing zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide tend to be gentler on sensitive, healing skin compared to chemical sunscreens. Our team is happy to provide personalized recommendations for the best sunscreens and other products to use on healing skin.
4. Avoid Peak Sun Hours
The sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If possible, plan outdoor activities for early morning or evening during the first several weeks of recovery. This is especially important for patients recovering during the height of summer, when UV exposure is at its most intense.
5. Stay Consistent Long-Term
Sun protection shouldn’t stop once your incisions have fully healed. Consistent daily sunscreen use helps protect your results for years to come by preventing new sun damage, fine lines and pigmentation changes. Many of our patients find that maintaining a daily skincare routine that includes SPF is one of the simplest ways to extend the benefits of their facial rejuvenation procedure.
Plan Your Procedure with Recovery in Mind
If you’re considering a facelift or neck lift or another facial procedure, our experienced plastic surgeons can help you plan a timeline that allows for proper healing, including guidance on sun protection specific to your procedure and skin type.
To learn more about what to expect during facelift recovery or schedule a consultation at our Columbia, Maryland office, contact us online today or give us a call at 410-740-9330.
Author: Dr. Eric Chang
Few plastic surgeons offer Dr. Eric Chang’s rare blend of impressive credentials and genuine compassion. After becoming a board-certified plastic surgeon, he returned to his home state and established Columbia Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, one of the premier cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery practices between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.
