You may want to refrain from stepping into a sauna after getting lip filler, experts now warn.
As young adults continue to flock to clinics for their regular lip filler appointments this summer, leading plastic surgeons are asking patients to steer clear of steam rooms and saunas to maintain good results for a long time.
New York-based plastic surgeon Dr Jimmy Sung told the Daily Mail: ‘Right after the lip filler injection, we want patients to avoid saunas to decrease the potential of swelling and bruising and allow the filler to settle.
‘To increase the filler’s longevity, we also recommended that patients avoid saunas.’
According to Dr Sung, a sudden increase in body temperature caused by external factors such as heat in a sauna can contribute to the movement, as well as dissolving of the filler in the face.
He explained: ‘Lip fillers are usually made of hyaluronic acid, which is susceptible to movement and heat degradation. An enzyme known as hyaluronidase can dissolve fillers.
‘This enzyme can be used as a pharmaceutical dissolver, but our body also produces it. When the temperature around our body increases, two things happen: an increase in circulation and activation of our hyaluronidase.
‘This are why lip fillers do not last as long in those who use saunas routinely.’
Additionally, board certified plastic surgeon Dr Norman Rowe suggests that changes in body metabolism may also play a role in damaging lip filler.
Leading plastic surgeons in the country are asking patients to steer clear from steam rooms to maintain good results for a long time
He explained that working out causes the body to burn more fat molecules for energy – causing it to also break down the molecules in the facial filler.
Combined with an increased body temperature due to the heat in a sauna room, the molecules and enzymes in fillers can start to dissolve and migrate away from the lips.
The expert told this website: ‘Fillers and Botox for that matter are eventually metabolized by the body. Anything that increases our metabolism will decrease the lifespan of a filler and Botox.
‘Sauna specifically do just that you would have to be in a sauna for quite a bit in order for this to really play a role, but there really is no way around it.
But according to Dr Barry Weintraub, a New York-based board certified plastic surgeon, patients with lip fillers may see changes after spending time in a heated sauna due to changes in their blood vessels.
He told the website: ‘Exercising, speaking – which involves muscle use – and regular and prolonged sauna exposure can shorten the lifespan of lip filler.
‘This is because, like exercise, saunas speed the heart rate and dilate the blood vessels, which then increases blood flow, allowing for quicker metabolizing of filler.’
Dr Weintraub suggests that steering clear of a sauna room at least 48 to 72 hours can prevent some damage to the filler and protect the injection site from a bacterial infection.
However, Dr Weintraub suggests that steering clear of a sauna room at least 48 to 72 hours can prevent some damage to the filler and protect the injection site from a bacterial infection.
According to multiple experts, using a sauna after getting lip fillers can increase the risk of infection as the heat can increase sweat production on the face.
This sweat can carry bacteria from different parts of the face to the injection wound and raise the chances of infection.
Furthermore, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr Sam Fuller also recommended several quick tips to prevent damage to the newly injected lip filler – apart from avoiding sauna rooms.
He said: ‘Other ways to prevent damage is to apply UV protection and sunscreen to the lips, maintain a hydrated environment, and avoid drinking through a straw, kissing, heavy touching of the lips, smoking, extreme hot and cold drinks, hard food for 24-48 hours following lip filler injections.’
