Fillers After Cancer Treatment?

Fillers After Cancer Treatment?

From my experience in medical practice, working with cancer patients as an oncologist, I’ve had the opportunity to learn that physical appearance is very important for most patients. So much so, that it can influence their recovery. How we look reflects how we feel, that is very true, but the statement holds true other way around, too: how we look translates to how we feel.

For some patients, this doesn’t mean just using cosmetic products, but also seeking aid in cosmetic surgery. In this case, cancer patients are often left wondering, should they do any invasive treatments, are they allowed, so to say, considering the strenuous period they’re going through. I wanted to talk about it in this article.

What Are Dermal Fillers?

Dermal fillers come in a variety of materials and are used to subtly improve the appearance of the ageing face by smoothing fine lines and wrinkles as well as replacing some of the volume loss that occurs as we lose fat from various parts of our face as we age. They can also be used to correct anatomical variants such as depressed nasal bridges and receding chins, and enhance aspects of a youthful face to create symmetry. Dermal fillers can be used around the brow, crow’s feet around the eyes, creases around the mouth and nose, and lines around the forehead, lips and jaw.

These treatments are temporary because they are eventually absorbed by the body and the process is reversible.

Fillers Don’t Affect The Immune System

Firstly, for all those interested in this topic, the good news is that neither Botox or fillers affect the immune system, so generally, that means they do not cause problems, and are safe for cancer patients to use, even while undergoing therapy. However, it is advised for all cancer patients to consult their oncologist and\or dermatologist, before deciding on any plastic surgery. In most cases, oncologist will allow this. This doesn’t mean that the topic is to be approached lightly; there is just 15-20 years of use of these agents in dermatology, so we don’t have data/information going back 25-30 years yet, it is still new to us, and to research community.

Keep An Optimistic View

Some people might have very intense chemo that will interfere with their defenses against infection and then possibly a slightly greater risk of infection would occur from having fillers, but this is a rare event. It is important for those who are having chemotherapy, to maintain as optimistic a view as possible. Feeling better about themselves during the treatment may help their immune system to cope with the disease and treatment. Patients shouldn't feel guilty for having an aesthetic treatment during such an important treatment as chemo, but  rather feel, that the aesthetic treatment is an adjunct to treating their whole person and helping them progress through and complete the chemo and increasing their odds of getting a remission.

Possible Risks

As any treatment, though, having fillers is not without risk, even more so while undergoing cancer therapy. Chemotherapy causes immunosuppression. It is always risky to subject an immunosuppressed patient to a cosmetic/non-medically necessary procedure. Any injury to the skin can lead to infection in even the non-immunosuppressed. Therefore, I would advise patients to perhaps wait and postpone dermal fillers, until their white blood cell count return to normal levels.

Technological Advances

In the last decade or so there has been huge technology advances in this area, so the original filling material that used to be derived from collagen, has been mostly replaced in general practice. Filling material now being in use is sourced from naturally occurring substances found in the human body. They are classified as temporary, semi-permanent or permanent.

The products we use are from reputable companies based in Australia, FDA approved, used extensively in Europe and the USA, and incorporate either hyaluronic acid or calcium hydroxyapatite.

Pay Attention To Your Body

Very often, while battling cancer, patients are prone to neglect some aspect of their life, and the way they look is usually first to fall victim to this extreme prioritizing. In my medical experience, I’ve seen first hand how patients looks reflects the way they feel, and vice versa. If we feel we need some help in that, we should explore our options. It’s important to keep in mind that this is the time to put your body’s needs first. Consult your doctor and\or dermatologist prior to taking any further steps.

Having all this in mind, I’ve selected a line of cosmetic products, specially designed for cancer patients, and cancer survivals recovering from therapy.