Are facial fillers safe for head and neck radiation patients?

Yes, it should be fine for you to get fillers at this time. I recommend following up with your Doctor for their recommended timeline for fillers after treatment. These facial fillers (voluma, restylane, juvederm) and Sculptra can be used to sculpt and augment the face. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a cosmetic dermatologist. Best, Dr. Emer

Thank you for
your question lynluk. I understand your concern. Fillers
are used to restore lost volume in and enhance the appearance of the face. Radiation causes the skin's healing response to slow down. I recommend that my patients wait one year after completion of radiation therapy or chemotherapy before having cosmetic treatments. Please
consult with a doctor for specific recommendations.  Good luck!

The main reason to avoid fillers would be to prevent infection and your body's response to foreign material.  Therefore each case is different- if a person is doing well and no issues whatsoever in their consult from a cancer point of view, it would be okay to proceed in my opinion.  The time interval between radiation/chemo and fillers, etc is not set in stone- it is when the skin is expected to have close to a normal response to filler.  I wait at least 3-6 months.