I am getting Juvederm lip filler. I've been told that sun bed use will mean the filler breaks down quicker. Is this true?

Hi there! I would suggest avoiding sunbeds for 48hours after injection purely for safety sake. There is no medical evidence to suggest reduced results duration with regular sunbeds. I tend to find metabolism, exercise  / and product type are more strongly associated with filler longevity.I hope this helps and good luck!Dr Rupert

While it is not likely the filler will break down quicker from the use of tanning beds, it is best to avoid them for other reasons.  UV exposure can cause premature aging and skin cancer.  Generally fillers in the lips will last approximately 4-6 months, but some patients enjoy longer results.

Thank you for your question amberpottsx. I understand your concern. Juvederm is a hyaluronic acid filler designed to enhance the
appearance of the face. It is not clear whether UV rays affect the longevity of fillers. However it is clear that it damages the skin leading to the formation of uneven color and texture, discolorations, and skin cancer. I recommend that my patients avoid tanning beds. Please consult with a doctor for specific recommendations. Good luck!

Thank you for your question.  I would strongly recommend against any form of sun bed use, or sun tanning in general for that matter.  Sunlight and sun beds expose our skin to harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation.  In addition to increasing our risk of skin cancer, UV exposure also rapidly accelerates aging-related changes in the skin, such as fine lines, wrinkles, sagging, dark spots, and uneven skin tone & texture.  
It is also quite possible that excess UV exposure from sun beds/tanning may impact the longevity of your lip filler.  Products like Juvederm are made from hyaluronic acid (HA), a sugar compound naturally found throughout the body.  Our bodies also naturally produce an enzyme, hyaluronidase, which breaks down HA.  Dermatologists and plastic surgeons actually use injectable hyaluronidase to break down unwanted fillers when needed.  Scientific studies have shown that UV exposure actually reduces HA in the skin, and increases hyaluronidase production by skin cells as well - in theory, this could also accelerate the breakdown of Juvederm, although this hasn't specifically been studied.    

Thank you for such an interesting question. There is no clinical evidence to suggest that UV rays will accelerate the breakdown of hyaluronic acid dermal filler. Although, as many other practitioners have also advised, UV rays can cause premature skin ageing and more serious conditions including skin cancer. I travel to the Caribbean to offer facial aesthetics and have not found that sun exposure reduces the length of time that my procedures last. Exercise and increased metabolism will have far greater an effect on the treatment's lifespan. 

 Hi, I have performed many lip augmentation procedures using dermal fillers or lip implants for over 30 years.  Sun bed use would not have any effect on the HA filler used to augment your lips however there are health risks, in the way of increased risk of skin cancer from their use.   Following my beauty principles, the upper lip should be approximately 75 % the size of the lower lip for the lips to appear balanced. The lips can be augmented using a dermal filler or a Permalip implant.
Dermal filers and lip implants offer a much more reliable volume for augmentation of the lips than permanent fillers or fat injections which are associated with increased, unwanted, side effects.
Hope this helps.