Sun Exposure and Surgical Scars: How Should Aesthetic Surgery Recovery Be Managed During the Summer?

Undergoing aesthetic surgery during the summer does not necessarily mean that surgical scars will heal poorly. However, the recovery process requires more careful management because of sun exposure, hot weather, sweating, and plans involving the sea or swimming pools. Newly formed surgical scars are particularly more sensitive to the sun’s ultraviolet rays than the surrounding normal skin. A scar exposed to the sun without protection may become darker, redder, or more noticeable than the surrounding skin.

For this reason, the main goal during the summer is not simply to apply sunscreen. The incision line should be protected from direct sunlight, inappropriate products should not be applied before the wound has closed, the surgeon’s approval should be obtained before swimming in the sea or a pool, and sun protection should be continued for several months. The appearance of a scar is not determined by the season alone. Surgical technique, tension on the incision, genetic characteristics, skin tone, smoking, and postoperative care also affect scar appearance.

Why Can Sun Exposure Make Surgical Scars More Noticeable?

New tissue formed after surgery does not yet have all the characteristics of normal skin. Healing scar tissue may be more vulnerable to the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Sun exposure may make red or brown discolouration in the scar area more pronounced and may cause these colour differences to persist for longer.

An important distinction is that sun exposure does not simply cause temporary tanning. While normal skin may gradually return to its previous colour, pigmentation in healing scar tissue may be more persistent and uneven. For this reason, attempting to tan a scar so that it matches the surrounding skin is not an appropriate approach.

Sun protection does not make an incision completely invisible. Every surgical incision heals with some degree of scarring. The aim of sun protection is to help prevent unnecessary darkening of the scar and an increased colour difference between the scar and the surrounding skin.

Why Does a Surgical Scar Continue to Change for Months?

Healing is not complete simply because a surgical incision has closed. During the first few weeks, the scar may appear pink, red, firm, raised, or sensitive to touch. Over time, collagen fibres reorganise, and the scar generally begins to soften, flatten, and lose some of its colour.

This process is not completed within a few weeks. Depending on the individual and the operation, surgical scars may continue to mature for 12–18 months. Therefore, a scar that is still pink or different in colour from the surrounding skin several months after surgery does not necessarily mean that it will remain that way permanently.

For this reason, it is incorrect to assume that sun protection is necessary only during the first few weeks after surgery. Even after the wound has closed, the scar tissue continues to mature biologically. The duration of sun protection should be determined according to the type of operation, the location of the scar, the individual’s skin tone, and the surgeon’s follow-up plan.

Is It Advisable to Have Aesthetic Surgery During the Summer?

Aesthetic operations are not procedures that can only be performed during the winter. With appropriate patient selection, proper surgical planning, and adherence to postoperative instructions, they may also be performed during the summer. The main issue is not the season itself, but whether the patient can manage the recovery process appropriately within their lifestyle.

For example, a patient planning to spend long periods in the sun, go to the beach, or follow an intensive holiday programme immediately after surgery may need to reconsider the timing. Even if incisions can be covered with clothing after procedures such as tummy tuck, breast surgery, arm lift, or body contouring, hot weather may make compression garment use, sweating, and everyday comfort more challenging.

When choosing the date of surgery, not only work schedules but also holiday plans, the ability to avoid sun exposure, and postoperative follow-up appointments should be considered. Having surgery during the summer is not inherently inappropriate; however, being unable to follow summer-specific recovery precautions may be an important planning concern.

When Can Sunscreen Be Applied to a Surgical Incision?

Sunscreen should not be applied indiscriminately to a fresh surgical incision that has not yet closed, is crusted, has discharge, or remains under a dressing. During the early period, the priority is to follow the dressing routine recommended by the surgeon and physically protect the area from sunlight.

Sunscreen is generally introduced after the wound has completely closed. The American Academy of Dermatology also recommends using sunscreen after a wound has healed. However, determining whether a wound has fully closed should not be based solely on its external appearance. The appropriate time to begin using sunscreen should be determined during follow-up with the plastic surgeon who performed the operation.

During the early period, the incision may be protected with clothing, appropriate dressings, or a hat depending on the surgical area. Physical protection is not an alternative to sunscreen, particularly on days involving prolonged outdoor exposure, but rather a complementary measure.

What SPF Should Be Used on Surgical Scars?

Once the wound has closed and the plastic surgeon considers it appropriate, a broad-spectrum sunscreen should be preferred. “Broad-spectrum” means that the product provides protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Dermatology sources recommend at least SPF 30 for scars, while some surgical centres recommend SPF 50, particularly for newer scars.

However, a high SPF does not mean that applying sunscreen once in the morning is sufficient. Sunscreen should be applied before going outdoors and reapplied after sweating, swimming, or towel drying. When spending prolonged periods outside, it should be reapplied according to the product instructions.

Even when the scar is covered by clothing, care should still be taken with direct sun exposure. Thin, light-coloured, or wet fabrics may not provide the same level of protection. More densely woven clothing may be used for scars on the abdomen, breasts, or body, while a wide-brimmed hat may provide physical protection for facial scars.

When Can You Swim in the Sea or a Pool?

One of the most common mistakes during the summer is entering the sea or a swimming pool too early because the incision looks good from the outside. Swimming should be considered not only in terms of sun exposure but also in relation to wound contact with water and the risk of infection.

Fresh incisions should not be submerged for prolonged periods before the crusts have completely disappeared and the surgeon has given permission. The waiting period is not the same for every operation. The condition of the incision, use of drains, sutures, speed of wound healing, and possible complications may all affect the timing.

Even after the surgeon has approved swimming, the scar still needs protection from the sun. Using a water-resistant sunscreen, reapplying it after leaving the water, and covering the scar with clothing whenever possible provide a safer approach.

The Most Common Scar-Care Mistakes During the Summer

Many mistakes that can make scars more noticeable during the summer result from assuming that sun protection consists only of applying sunscreen. Common mistakes include:

Silicone gels or silicone sheets may help manage firmness and raised scars in some individuals. However, these products should also be used only after the wound has closed and according to the surgeon’s recommendations. The use of silicone does not eliminate the need for sun protection.

Does Sun Exposure Affect Every Patient’s Scar in the Same Way?

Two patients undergoing the same operation may develop very different scars. This is because wound healing does not depend solely on the suturing technique. Genetic predisposition, skin tone, the location of the scar, tension along the incision, smoking, infection, and postoperative care may all affect the colour and thickness of the scar.

Areas exposed to greater tension, such as the shoulders, sternum, and back, may not heal in the same way as the lower abdomen or the fold beneath the breast. In some individuals, the scar may become thin and pale over time, while in others it may remain raised, firm, or darker.

For this reason, comparing your own healing process with another patient’s surgical scar may be misleading. The surgeon’s preoperative planning of the incision site is important, but the patient’s adherence to care recommendations over several months also plays a role in the appearance of the scar.

Which Changes Require Consultation with a Plastic Surgeon?

A new scar may be pink, slightly firm, or itchy during the first few months as part of normal healing. However, progressively increasing redness, warmth, swelling, foul-smelling or yellow-green discharge, worsening pain, separation of the wound edges, or fever should not be considered a simple colour change caused by sun exposure. These symptoms may require surgical assessment for infection or another wound-related problem.

If the scar becomes more raised, firm, itchy, or dark than expected, the surgeon should also be contacted during the early period. The same treatment is not appropriate for every scar. Whether follow-up, silicone products, pressure therapy, injections, or laser treatments are required should be determined according to the type of scar and its stage of maturation.

Consistent Protection Is the Foundation of Summer Recovery

Sun exposure is not the only factor that determines how surgical scars heal, but it is one of the most important environmental factors that patients can control. Physically covering the wound during the early period, using an appropriate sunscreen once the wound has fully healed, and continuing protection beyond the first few weeks may help reduce the likelihood of persistent colour differences in the scar.

It is not necessary to spend the entire summer indoors after aesthetic surgery. Instead, the operation date should be planned in accordance with holiday arrangements, direct sun exposure should be avoided, the surgeon’s approval should be obtained before swimming in the sea or a pool, and scar care should be followed individually. Effective scar management does not depend on a single cream; it consists of appropriate surgical planning, regular follow-up, and consistent care maintained over several months.

Physician Information

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sedat Tatar is a Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery specialist who is Double Board Certified by two international boards. He holds the titles of Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and Fellow of the European Board of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (FEBOPRAS).

His international professional memberships include ISAPS (International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery) and ASPS (American Society of Plastic Surgeons).

His clinic is located in Istanbul and is officially authorized by the Turkish Ministry of Health as a Health Tourism Center. His company is registered in the United Kingdom & Wales.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Telephone No : +90 (555) 100 10 83
Contact Link : [email protected]
Address : Levent District, Karanfil Araligi Street No: 18 Besiktas/ISTANBUL