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Beauty procedures during treatment?

Page last modified on: September 30, 2008
Question from Aphrodite: Is it okay to use Botox, Restylane, StriVectin, and other beauty treatments during or after breast cancer treatments?
Answers —Anna-Dee Rinehart, S.C.S.: I would say no. Only if Botox was approved by the plastic surgeon, oncologist, and radiologist should you consider it. It's a nice procedure and does improve aesthetics, but the risks must be weighed against the benefits. I would say that it's something that should not be done in the first year, although perhaps it might be approved down the line-maybe the second year. StriVectin, no. There's no reason for you to use this for stretch marks, or any other popular brand. Mild soaps and detergents and non-chemically oriented products should be used. Again, everything you put on your skin has to be approved by the plastic surgeon and the oncologist.
Lillie Shockney, R.N., B.S., M.A.S.: In general, any injectable or deep-cleaning blood draws, anything where you have the potential of creating an infection, should be really looked at carefully while somebody is on chemo, especially because of the much reduced blood cell count that the chemo causes. It makes patients very susceptible to infections. However, once somebody's white counts normalize, I don't know of any real contraindications to doing the Botox or the Restylane. I'm not aware of any interactions to more ongoing chronic treatments, but I would not do it during the acute injectable chemotherapy. It is vital that you discuss this with your oncologist.

On Wednesday, April 20, 2005, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Reconstruction and Safe, Sexy Cosmetics. Carolyn C. Chang, M.D., Anna-Dee Rinehart, S.C.S., and moderator Lillie Shockney, R.N., B.S., M.A.S. answered your questions about reconstructive surgery and safe, sexy cosmetics.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Carolyn C. Chang, M.D. is a board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in breast reconstruction after mastectomy, TRAM flap reconstruction, and implant reconstruction.

Anna-Dee Rinehart S.C.S. is a nurse-aesthetician, aesthetic instructor, and director of education for Austin Medical Aesthetics in Austin, Texas.

Lillie Shockney, RN., BS., M.A.S.Lillie Shockney, R.N., B.S., M.A.S. is the administrative director of the Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation Breast Center.

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