Passenger Taping Her Nose Whenever She Takes a Flight Stuns Internet

A video of a passenger’s unusual ritual when traveling by plane after having undergone nose surgery has gone viral on TikTok.

The clip was shared by @reganellisx and has had 24.2 million views since it was posted on March 11.

A message overlaid on the clip says: “POV (point of view): You have a nose job so you have to tape your nose whenever you fly.”

The footage shows a woman sitting on a plane, putting a piece of tape on the underside of her nose, with the ends secured vertically up the sides of her nose. She then places several strips of tape horizontally across her bridge before the video ends.

A caption shared with the post reads: “The LOOKS I was receiving while doing this.”

As unusual as it may seem, taping of the nose is advised if you’ve had surgery and are flying to combat swelling.

Hani Sinno, a plastic and cosmetic surgeon from the Victoria Park Medispa clinic in Montreal, Canada, told Newsweek: “When patients go on an airplane, especially within the first week or two [after surgery], I do suggest that my patients wear the tape, specifically steri strips. Steri strips have linear fibers in them that prevent expansion in case of swelling.”

The doctor explained that “after septorhinoplasty (a type of nose surgery that alters the appearance and structure of your nose), or any surgery, going on an airplane will change the pressures that your body is subjected to.”

These changes in pressure equate to changes in swelling because “the lymphatics (the body’s drainage system that maintains normal fluid levels) have a low pressure in them, so changes in pressure will have a profound effect on your lymphatics, which affects the swelling.”

Sinno said the steri strips are applied tightly from top to bottom, “so if there is going to be swelling, the tape minimizes it because of the tensile strength in the tape, preventing any swelling in that area.”

Traveling patients are advised to wear the strips in the first two weeks of their surgery, but they can be worn up to six weeks, if desired, on an airplane, Sinno said.

Air travel can have a major impact on our health in different ways. An April 2023 study published in medical journal Cureus found that some of the health issues and risks faced by commercial airline pilots include lower back problems and venous thromboembolism (a clot blocking the flow of blood) due to prolonged seating, cardiovascular disease, fatigue, sleeping problems and psychological distress.

A 2015 study of airline crew, published in JAMA Dermatology, noted that “airline pilots and cabin crew are occupationally exposed to higher levels of cosmic and UV radiation than the general population.”

The study concluded that “pilots and cabin crew have approximately twice the incidence of melanoma,” which is the third most common type of skin cancer, compared with the general population.

‘I Don’t Get It’

In a later comment, the poster said she was advised to wear the tapes on her nose for the first three months after her surgery.

The viral clip has left users on TikTok perplexed and shocked.

🇨🇦Jjpeña🇩🇴🇨🇳 wrote: “I don’t get it, can someone explain please!?”

Maria said: “My surgeon never told me [about] this part of aftercare.”

“I’ve had 3 nose surgeries and never taped up on a flight. Never heard of it before,” said sarah.

User giannuzzigaiaa also said: “I have a nose job and I have never done it.”

Sadie & family asked: “If you don’t, does it fly off or what?”

“Is the nose gonna lose it balance and fall off if you don’t tape? Just being curious,” commented judithjohn646.

Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok and email.

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