Many women enjoy BOTOXⓇ and dermal fillers as part of their regular beauty routine at our London, Ontario practice. Some pregnant patients want to continue their treatments throughout pregnancy, as they enjoy having consistent results. However, using injectables while pregnant is a complicated issue. While there is no major health risk for an adult woman to use injectables, the science is less clear when it comes to the effects on unborn children.
It’s essential to understand both the risks and rewards of using BOTOX and fillers while pregnant. Here are some useful facts to keep in mind while you make this personal decision.
Understanding Injectables
To grasp the potential risk of injectables, it’s important first to know how they work.
- BOTOX: The active ingredient is a neurotoxin called botulinum toxin A. This toxin relaxes facial muscles and prevents them from flexing and creating wrinkles. The result helps smooth out the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines.
- Dermal fillers: The most common active ingredient is hyaluronic acid. This naturally occurring substance attaches itself to the water present in the body to plump up and rejuvenate the skin. This creates youthful volume and fills in wrinkles and lines.
These ingredients have been extensively used on adult patients and are safe when used in proper doses. But it is unknown how they could potentially impact a growing child during pregnancy.
What the Studies Say
There have been few extensive studies directly analyzing the impact of injectables on pregnant women. This is mainly due to the complicated ethics of potentially putting an unborn child at risk. However, one study collected data from 12 doctors who had performed BOTOX injections on pregnant women. While the study found no direct correlation between the use of injectables and any fetal malformations, the sample size was incredibly small and concluded that further data would be needed.
With safe beauty in mind, we typically recommend that patients refrain from injectables during pregnancy. While there have been no proven side effects linked to injectables, this is the safest course for women who wish to protect their babies.
Staying Safe
In the end, patient safety is always the top priority at our practice. It is best to err on the side of caution when it comes to safety issues. If you have been considering injectables during pregnancy, it is best to wait to resume treatment until after birth. Women can also enjoy satisfying, more consistent results by resuming their treatments post-pregnancy once their hormone levels have evened out.
By knowing more about injectables and their risks and rewards, you can make the decision best suited for your lifestyle. If you would like to learn more about the BOTOX and dermal filler treatments offered at our practice, please request a consultation online. You can also call our practice office by phone at (519) 472-8686.
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