I have a Mentor breast tissue expander working toward an implant. Can I sit in an infrared sauna during this process?

Infrared heating is dependent on the skin absorbing infrared radiation which is translated to heat. The heat might feel good, but to avoid burns, the heat has to be dissipated by blood flow. So, there are several questions that have to be answered. How well vascularized is the skin around the expander? How hot is the sauna? Have you recently been expanded? And finally, What does your plastic surgeon think? It's smart to ask before you expose yourself to the sauna. I'm quite sure that when all is done and the sauna is set at a low enough level, you should have no problems. For now, talk to your surgeon first.

I would not recommend this.  It is best to be safe with the time and cost you have invested in your surgery.  The sauna can risk infection as well.  check with your surgeon on their particular recommendations.  Once the permanent implant is fully healed you will have more freedom.  good luck!

thank you for your question.  In general there should be no reason you cannot go in a sauna having a tissue expander in place.  What you'll need to know is that sometimes the skin following the mastectomy does not have full sensation and is more prone to problems when exposed to extremes of hot or cold.  You should be careful whenever using heating pads or ice bags as you may not feel damage occurring.  In a sauna however you're generally limited by your own body heat tolerance and as long as the skin on the breast does not come in contact with any hot surfaces you should be fine. As always, check with you surgeon.