Will implants, botox, and fillers blast off in space?

Space tourism would soon become achievable for most of us, with private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin planning to take more civilian missions. Blue Origin’s all-female crew including popstar Katy Perry and Jef Bezos’ girlfriend Lauren Sánchez returned from their space on April 14, hinting at more possibilities for space tourism.

As more civilians planning to set out to space travel, an unexpected question arises: What happens to cosmetic enhancements like botox, fillers, and implants in space? Sánchez has allegedly done certain cosmetic enhancements such as breast implants, botox, lip fillers, and a facelift, although she has never confirmed the rumors. This has further stirred up conversations on how the cosmetic procedure would be affected while in space.

Dr. Stanton Gerson, a researcher noted the effects of microgravity and vacuum conditions on these procedures. Gerson, who studies the impact of deep space on cells told the Daily Mail that when you go at about 6,000 m.p.h, it can cause ‘shear stress and may cause something to shift.’ According to him, shearing stress happens when forces cause parts of a material to slide past each other, which could be a risk for implanted materials like breast implants or lip fillers.


While no human studies have directly tested cosmetic enhancements in space, current research on physiology and materials science offers some clues. The absence of atmospheric pressure creates a vacuum in space, which could stress implants. The concerns surrounding implants in space are not entirely new. A 2013 Yale University study found that breast implants may become uncomfortable at high altitudes due to the buildup of peri-implant gas, leading to tightness or pressure. Breast implants were made of saline or silicone, however, modern implants are typically made with cohesive gels and stronger shells, making them less vulnerable to pressure changes.

Cosmetic surgeons too have mixed views on such cosmetic procedures' effects in the space. In space where there is zero gravity, fluids in the body tend to shift toward the head, which can cause temporary puffiness or changes in facial appearance. However, the dermal fillers which are made of hyaluronic acid, are solid and stable in the skin.
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Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Giselle Prado-Wright noted that as fillers integrate into the tissue over time, any changes during brief spaceflight is unlikely. “Dermal fillers are designed to integrate seamlessly into your natural tissue over time. Once healed, they move and behave just like your own soft tissue,” Prado-Wright, a medical director for Florida-based Exert BodySculpt said. Wright added that astronauts in the past haven’t shown any changes in facial structure after space travel, so, any difference here is unlikely.

With private companies planning to grow the space tourism industry, there is no doubt that people may want to look their best, and some who underwent cosmetic surgery or have makeup would hop on. After all, like Katy Perry recently said, “Space is going to finally be glam!”