Cancer and Cosmetic Treatments: What's Safe and What to Avoid
No matter how well-versed you are in the realm of various cancers or how prepared you think you are for its potential intrusion into your life, it always arrives as a shock. And along with this distressing news come additional surprises; for instance, how you emotionally cope with the diagnosis, how you feel throughout the care process, and whether your priorities shift or remain the same.
If you have a penchant for indulging in occasional cosmetic procedures, you might discover that your desire to continue such treatments during cancer therapies persists. In truth, given that cancer and its treatments often have an adverse impact on appearance, you may find your inclination towards beauty treatments intensifies.
It goes without saying that cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation take precedence over aesthetic treatments, regardless of how highly you prioritize beauty. But while elective cosmetic surgery is strictly off-limits, physicians assert that there are non-invasive beauty treatments that can coexist with cancer therapies.
“When patients are actively undergoing cancer treatment, the foremost aspect to assess is the state of their immune system,” remarks Dr. Manish Shah, a plastic surgeon based in Denver. “Collaborating with their oncologist, I ensure I have the go-ahead for elective treatments provided the patient isn't at an elevated risk of complications.” Herein, doctors disclose which treatments are safe during cancer therapy and which ones should be postponed.
What’s Safe
Chemical Peels
Dr. Morgan Rabach, a dermatologist in New York City, strongly supports specific treatments during this challenging period. For example, superficial chemical peels – where a gentle acidic solution is applied externally to accelerate cell turnover and thereby address acne scars, hyperpigmentation, rough texture, and fine lines – represent an option that won't interfere with a patient's cancer care. “These treatments make people feel better, more revitalized and like the most optimal version of themselves,” says Dr. Rabach, who elaborates that mild chemical peels have “minimal recovery time and discomfort and can truly make a significant difference.”
Related: Chemical Peels: Beyond the Basics
HydraFacial
For a less invasive skin-enhancing option, Dr. Rabach suggests HydraFacials, deeming them “completely safe” for those undergoing chemotherapy. This facial, a medical-grade resurfacing treatment that gently removes dead skin cells and debris from your face while hydrating the skin with serums, lasts approximately 30 minutes and entails virtually no recovery period. As with any facial, Dr. Rabach claims, HydraFacials can be a rather soothing experience, offering patients a much-needed psychological boost in addition to improving their complexion.
Hyaluronic Acid Fillers
Dr. Rabach holds a similar favorable stance towards hyaluronic acid-based injectables, like Juvederm and Restylane, as long as the patient's chosen practitioner exercises exceptional diligence. “Small amounts of filler are acceptable during chemo or radiation, but the patient needs to be examined by a board-certified dermatologist or facial plastic surgeon to minimize the risk of bruising and infection,” she says, noting that fillers can assist in restoring facial volume for those who have experienced significant weight loss. “There are specialized soaps we use for individuals with compromised immune systems [to clean the injection site] and also certain techniques, such as the use of a cannula – a blunt, tube-like instrument employed to reduce bruising.”
Dr. Shah echoes this cautiously optimistic endorsement of hyaluronic acid fillers, which can be utilized in areas such as the lips, cheeks, and nasolabial folds. “Hyaluronic acid filler injections shouldn't pose an issue for patients on chemotherapy,” he states, emphasizing that it's crucial to ensure the injection site is exceptionally clean and properly prepared with a surgical prep solution to minimize surface bacteria.
What to Avoid
Neurotoxins
While fillers are given the nod, not all injectables are recommended during cancer treatment. Botox and other neurotoxin injections used to diminish the appearance of forehead and eye-area lines, though safe for the general population, pose a higher risk for cancer patients. “Neurotoxin injections are contraindicated in active cancer treatment, simply because one wants to limit the possibility that a weakened immune system would permit the neurotoxin to spread beyond its intended target areas,” says Dr. Shah. “The last thing one desires is for the patient to develop botulism.”
Related: What’s the Difference Between Botox, Dysport, Xeomin and Jeuveau?
Kybella
Kybella, which is employed to reduce fat in small areas such as under the chin, is another type of injection that should be avoided during cancer treatment because, as Dr. Shah explains, it operates through chemically-induced inflammatory destruction of fat cells. “Kybella carries a risk of chemical ulcer formation and tissue necrosis,” he says. “Both of these outcomes increase the risk of systemic infection and mortality in cancer patients.”
Furthermore, Kybella may merely make an already physically uncomfortable cancer patient feel even worse. “I would not recommend it, out of concern for the patient's comfort level,” Dr. Rabach remarks. “Kybella can cause considerable swelling and bruising after the treatment.”
Lasers
Another treatment that Dr. Rabach urges cancer patients to avoid, partly due to excessive discomfort, is laser resurfacing. “[Treatments like] Fraxel are painful and might be too overwhelming when one isn't feeling well,” she elaborates, adding that the potential for infection is an even stronger reason to hold off on resurfacing lasers. “Lasers create tiny areas of injury in the skin, and in some immunocompromised patients, these small injury zones are more prone to complications like viral and bacterial infections.” In addition to the difficulty in combating these infections when the immune system is compromised, Dr. Rabach says, they can also result in discomfort and scarring.
Hair removal, although performed with a different type of laser than those used for skin resurfacing, should also be postponed. “While laser hair removal is undoubtedly safer than laser resurfacing, several chemotherapeutic agents make the skin more sensitive to light,” Dr. Shah says. “This implies a higher risk of burns – thus, this treatment is contraindicated in active cancer treatment in most cases.”
The Bottom Line
Ultimately, the top priority of a responsible, board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon is not only aesthetically pleasing outcomes but also the health and safety of their patients, which sometimes means denying requests for certain cosmetic treatments when someone is undergoing cancer therapies. “I believe it's wonderful for patients to engage in activities that make them feel better. Cancer therapy is a strenuous battle for most patients. However, the benefits of elective cosmetic procedures need to be weighed against the inherent risks,” says Dr. Shah. “It's always beneficial for a patient to collaborate closely with their oncologist to determine when they are safest for elective cosmetic procedures. If all parties are in agreement, the likelihood of a safe cosmetic procedure being carried out increases.”
But if your medical team isn't in favor of cosmetic procedures while chemotherapy or radiation is ongoing, that doesn't imply you can't undertake measures that make you look and feel your best. “We encourage patients to practice comprehensive good self-care,” says Dr. Rabach. “Sometimes a simple, luxurious mask or [other] skincare product can truly uplift one's spirits.”
