If swimming is part of your routine, being out of the water for a few weeks can feel like a long time. In Tampa, you might have a beach weekend planned or a backyard pool calling your name. But after facial plastic surgery, it’s important to let yourself recover before jumping back in. When you can swim again depends on how your incisions heal and what kind of swimming you want to do, whether it’s a few gentle laps or a day at the beach.
Expect to take a break from swimming for several weeks. For many facial procedures, three weeks is a common timeframe, but Dr. Farrior and his staff will decide when your wounds are healed enough for you to swim and exercise. Aftercare instructions for face, neck, and brow lifts usually follow this range, but your specific instructions may be different depending on your procedure and recovery.
You might feel ready to swim before the recommended time. After about two weeks, you could be back at work and seeing friends. Once your stitches are out, swimming may seem like the next logical step.
Before you start swimming again, make sure your incision sites are fully closed, with no open areas or drainage, and get Dr. Farrior’s approval. Scars will keep fading and softening over time, but you don’t have to wait for that.
Swimming in a well-maintained pool gives you more control. You can choose your pace, stay near the steps, and get out whenever you want. In the ocean, waves and currents can make things more challenging than expected. Water quality is also something to consider.
Swimming Pools: Chlorine Doesn’t Make Water Sterile
Patients often wonder if using their own pool is safer because they keep it clean. While good maintenance helps reduce bacteria, even a well-cared-for pool can expose an unhealed incision to germs. Chlorine can also irritate sensitive skin and eyes. After eyelid surgery, this irritation might make you want to rub your eyes or press a towel on them, but healing skin needs to be handled gently. Saltwater pools require the same precautions. Most of them use a system that turns salt into chlorine. The water might feel softer, but it doesn’t mean you can swim sooner after surgery.
Ocean Swimming: Seawater Isn’t Wound Care
You might have heard that saltwater helps wounds heal, but the saline used in medical care is sterile and carefully prepared. Ocean water, on the other hand, contains microorganisms that can get into an open incision and cause infection. The CDC includes recent surgical sites in its advice to protect open wounds from coastal water. Vibrio bacteria live in saltwater and brackish water, including the warm coastal environments found around Florida.
Even after Dr. Farrior says it’s okay to swim in the ocean, check the conditions before you go in. Look for beach advisories, especially after heavy rain, and avoid rough surf. It’s best to stay away from waves that could hit your face. Lakes and rivers also have untreated water. If you plan to swim in them, ask your surgeon first. Just because you’re cleared for a pool doesn’t mean it’s safe to swim everywhere.
Your post-surgery washing instructions are designed to help you clean your face while keeping your incisions safe. Sitting in water or swimming exposes those areas for much longer than a quick shower does. Soaking for too long can soften the edges of your wound and the skin around it, making them more likely to break down. Germs in the water can also reach the healing tissue. If an incision gets infected or opens up, recovery can take longer and the scar may be more noticeable.
Swimming also takes effort. Turning your head to breathe or climbing out of the pool can put strain on areas that are still healing. Just because you feel fine walking doesn’t mean you’re ready for a swim workout.
Keep following your procedure’s washing instructions. Being allowed to shower is just one step in recovery. Dr. Farrior will let you know when it’s safe to swim or submerge your face.
Facial plastic surgery can affect deeper tissues, cartilage, or bone under a small skin incision. Dr. Farrior will think about this, as well as your overall health and healing, when deciding on activity restrictions.
After a Facelift or Neck Lift
After a facelift or neck lift, incisions are often placed around the ears or under the chin. These spots help hide scars, but they can be hard to check yourself in the mirror.
Dr. Farrior will check these areas during your follow-up visits. Sometimes, one small spot may need more time to heal even if the rest look fine. He’ll also think about how your neck feels and what kind of swimming you want to do.
After Eyelid Surgery or a Brow Lift
After eyelid surgery, let your surgeon know how your eyes feel. If you have dryness, irritation, or tearing, talk about it before going back to the pool, even if your skin looks healed.
Ask your surgeon about using goggles, too. The seal can press on your eye area, and taking them off might pull on your skin. After a brow lift, a strap or swim cap could cross an incision. If you’re not sure about the fit, bring your gear to your follow-up visit.
After Rhinoplasty
After rhinoplasty, most of the healing happens inside your nose. Getting the splint removed is a good sign, but your nose still needs to be protected from pressure and bumps.
Let Dr. Farrior know if you want to snorkel or dive. A mask can press on the bridge of your nose, and waves can cause impact. Your instructions will be based on the changes made during your surgery, including any work on your nasal bones.
Dr. Farrior, a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, looks at the specific structures involved in your procedure to guide your recovery. A general timeline can help you plan, but follow-up exams will show how your healing is going.
If you just want to cool off, you might think keeping your head above water is a good compromise. But a splash or slipping on the steps can still get your face wet before you can react. Swimming while keeping your head up can also make your neck uncomfortable. Even if you’re not doing laps, staying afloat still takes effort.
Wait by the pool until Dr. Farrior says it’s okay to get in. Waterproof dressings are not a substitute for your surgeon’s approval, especially around the ears and nose, where it’s hard to get a perfect seal.
Hot tubs are a different topic. The heat can make swelling worse, and dirty hot tub water can spread skin infections and other illnesses. Just because you’re cleared to swim in a cool pool doesn’t mean you’re ready for a hot soak.
Let Dr. Farrior know what your usual swim involves. Ten minutes in a backyard pool is very different from swimming laps for an hour or going snorkeling offshore.
Ask Dr. Farrior how long your first swim should be and when you can do more. Make sure to get approval for goggles or masks that touch the treated area. A mask should not be worn for six weeks after a rhinoplasty. Even then, the nose will remain a little sore. Once you’re cleared, begin with a short swim in calm water. You don’t need to push your limits on your first day back.
If you feel discomfort, notice bleeding, or see more swelling, get out of the water and contact your surgical team. If you have more redness, warmth, drainage, or a fever, seek medical attention right away. Be sure to mention any recent time spent in the water when you call.
Swimming in Tampa can mean spending hours outside. Healing scars can get darker after being in the sun, so keep protecting them even after your incisions have closed.
Stay in the shade and pick a hat that doesn’t touch your healing areas. Ask Dr. Farrior when it’s safe to use sunscreen on your incisions. Once you’re cleared, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, and follow the label’s instructions for reapplying after swimming or drying off. Don’t put sunscreen on open wounds unless your surgical team says it’s okay. Plan your first outing so you can leave early if needed. Visiting a pool near home gives you a place to rest if you get tired, while spending a whole day on a boat gives you fewer options.
Let Dr. Farrior know about any planned beach trips or swimming during your consultation. He can explain how long your recovery might take and if you’ll need extra time. Try to keep your plans flexible so you don’t feel pressured to get back in the water before you’re ready.
Dr. Farrior is so much more than a doctor – he’s an artist. Dr. Farrior has the right medical knowledge and the artistic vision needed to create harmony among his patients’ facial features. He truly listens to his patients and is always open to their concerns.
Mon-Thur: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Friday: 9:00am – 4:00pm
