I was badly burned on a tanning bed. Can this damage my breast implants?

Answers from doctors (17)


More About Doctor Michelle Roughton, MD

Published on Dec 23, 2019

I doubt it. You'd have to have a fourth-degree burn to get that deep (through the skin into the fat or muscle). Sorry this happened.

Answered by Michelle Roughton, MD (View Profile)

I doubt it. You'd have to have a fourth-degree burn to get that deep (through the skin into the fat or muscle). Sorry this happened.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Dr. Azita Madjidi

Published on Dec 21, 2018

No, the tanning bed light does not penetrate deep to the implants.

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Answered by Dr. Azita Madjidi

No, the tanning bed light does not penetrate deep to the implants.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


ELLIOT B. DUBOYS, MD, FACS

Published on Jul 04, 2016

Probably won't damage your implants, but will damage your skin. Remember to wear sunscreen!

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Answered by ELLIOT B. DUBOYS, MD, FACS

Probably won't damage your implants, but will damage your skin. Remember to wear sunscreen!

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Barry J. Kaplan, D.O.

Published on May 30, 2016

No

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Answered by Barry J. Kaplan, D.O.

No

Published on Jul 11, 2012


The burn from the tanning bed will not damage your breast implants.
But this begs the question: Why the heck were you on a tanning bed? If you're going to bother getting implants to enhance your appearance, why would you cause your skin to prematurely age? You may like the look now, but I guarantee you with 100% certainty that you will later hate yourself for having done it, because tanning causes the skin in your décolletage area (and face) to thin and wrinkle.

Answered by Steven Teitelbaum, M.D.. F.A.C.S (View Profile)

The burn from the tanning bed will not damage your breast implants.
But this begs the question: Why the heck were you on a tanning bed? If you're going to bother getting implants to enhance your appearance, why would you cause your skin to prematurely age? You may like the look now, but I guarantee you with 100% certainty that you will later hate yourself for having done it, because tanning causes the skin in your décolletage area (and face) to thin and wrinkle.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Edward Domanskis M.D.

Published on Apr 19, 2016

You could experience some capsular contracture on the burned breast. Fractionated CO2 laser does help with the appearance of scars, including burn scars.

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Answered by Edward Domanskis M.D.

You could experience some capsular contracture on the burned breast. Fractionated CO2 laser does help with the appearance of scars, including burn scars.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Kenneth L. Stein M.D. FACS

Published on Mar 30, 2016

It should not be a factor unless the skin is broken down or you have any infection and they are under the skin.

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Answered by Kenneth L. Stein M.D. FACS

It should not be a factor unless the skin is broken down or you have any infection and they are under the skin.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Kristi Sumpter, D.O., F.A.C.O.S.

Published on Mar 29, 2016

It is unlikely that this would affect your implants.

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Answered by Kristi Sumpter, D.O., F.A.C.O.S.

It is unlikely that this would affect your implants.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Robert J. Brueck MD, FACS

Published on Mar 29, 2016

No, having a bad experience with a tanning bed should not have an affect on your breast implants.

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Answered by Robert J. Brueck MD, FACS

No, having a bad experience with a tanning bed should not have an affect on your breast implants.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


William Hedden, M.D.

Published on Aug 30, 2015

It will not hurt the implants. But would be a good idea to check with your plastic surgeon.

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Answered by William Hedden, M.D.

It will not hurt the implants. But would be a good idea to check with your plastic surgeon.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Charles A. Messa, III, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Published on Aug 29, 2015

Thanks for your question. I'm sorry to hear of your recent tanning bed burn. Excessive exposure to ultra violate light, either from the sun, naturally, or through a tanning bed, is bad for your skin. This superficial burn should not affect your breast implants. However, repeated sun damage, including tanning bed exposure, will reduce the elasticity of your skin creating more lines and wrinkles and can potentially contribute to stretch mark formation and poor scar appearance.

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Answered by Charles A. Messa, III, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Thanks for your question. I'm sorry to hear of your recent tanning bed burn. Excessive exposure to ultra violate light, either from the sun, naturally, or through a tanning bed, is bad for your skin. This superficial burn should not affect your breast implants. However, repeated sun damage, including tanning bed exposure, will reduce the elasticity of your skin creating more lines and wrinkles and can potentially contribute to stretch mark formation and poor scar appearance.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Steely Plastic Surgery

Published on Aug 27, 2015

Luckily a tanning bed does not have radiation that goes deep enough to damage your implants- but it can give you skin cancer. Keep your burned skin well moisturized and see a dermatologist if things do not improve.

I hope this helps.

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Answered by Steely Plastic Surgery

Luckily a tanning bed does not have radiation that goes deep enough to damage your implants- but it can give you skin cancer. Keep your burned skin well moisturized and see a dermatologist if things do not improve.

I hope this helps.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Gerald Minniti, M.D., F.A.C.S

Published on Aug 27, 2015

That will not affect your implants.

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Answered by Gerald Minniti, M.D., F.A.C.S

That will not affect your implants.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Daniel C. Mills, M.D., F.A.C.S

Published on Aug 27, 2015

No, your burn from the tanning should not affect your breast implants. But be careful not to hurt your skin on your breasts as with your stretching of your skin will make it much easier to burn.

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Answered by Daniel C. Mills, M.D., F.A.C.S

No, your burn from the tanning should not affect your breast implants. But be careful not to hurt your skin on your breasts as with your stretching of your skin will make it much easier to burn.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Paul Wigoda M.D.

Published on Aug 27, 2015

Most likely not. It depends on where the burn is, how deep the burn is, and how much soft tissue you have between your skin and the implant. The soft tissue covering the implant can be fat, muscle and breast tissue. The burn will most likely be to the superficial layers of your skin. If its really severe, it could be a full thickness skin burn (a third degree burn). If you have enough soft tissue covering the implant it should not be a problem. However, if its really a deep third degree burn, and there is not much tissue between the burn site and your implant, or you get an infection, it could affect the implant. If you are talking about just a bad sunburn, then it should not be a problem. If you are talking about a true burn that requires surgery to debride the burned tissue, then its possible it will affect the implants in that they may become exposed or get infected and then they will have to be removed.

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Answered by Paul Wigoda M.D.

Most likely not. It depends on where the burn is, how deep the burn is, and how much soft tissue you have between your skin and the implant. The soft tissue covering the implant can be fat, muscle and breast tissue. The burn will most likely be to the superficial layers of your skin. If its really severe, it could be a full thickness skin burn (a third degree burn). If you have enough soft tissue covering the implant it should not be a problem. However, if its really a deep third degree burn, and there is not much tissue between the burn site and your implant, or you get an infection, it could affect the implant. If you are talking about just a bad sunburn, then it should not be a problem. If you are talking about a true burn that requires surgery to debride the burned tissue, then its possible it will affect the implants in that they may become exposed or get infected and then they will have to be removed.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


More About Doctor Christopher Pelletiere, MD

Published on Aug 27, 2015

In general, the burn should be skin only and should not cause any damage to the underlying breast tissue or implants. If they were full thickness burns requiring skin grafting, then this could effect the shape and feel of your breasts. Short of that, they should be fine in the long run.

Answered by Christopher Pelletiere, MD (View Profile)

In general, the burn should be skin only and should not cause any damage to the underlying breast tissue or implants. If they were full thickness burns requiring skin grafting, then this could effect the shape and feel of your breasts. Short of that, they should be fine in the long run.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Tracey H. Stokes M.D., F.A.C.S.

Published on Aug 27, 2015

A burn to the skin from a tanning bed should not effect your breast implants. The implants are deeper than the skin which was burned and are protected by the breast gland and muscle (if the are under the muscle)

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Answered by Tracey H. Stokes M.D., F.A.C.S.

A burn to the skin from a tanning bed should not effect your breast implants. The implants are deeper than the skin which was burned and are protected by the breast gland and muscle (if the are under the muscle)

Published on Jul 11, 2012


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