What Aesthetic Treatments are Pregnancy Safe?
Introduction
As you probably know, some things you are told you “cannot do” when pregnant, are not because they are known to cause serious harm but are simply because they have not been studied. Anything that has not been studied during pregnancy is generally considered an automatic “No”. However, there are many treatments that can be considered “theoretically safe” and others that have shown in retrospective studies to be “safe”.
Keep in mind though that every case is different and even if a treatment is considered “safe”, it may not be safe for everyone. Treatments are always considered on a case by case basis after consultation in the office.
This blog will help to cover our Providers’ insight into common aesthetic treatments such as:
- Tox
- Lip Filler
- IPL/laser
- Microneedling
- Sculptra
- Facial filler
- Chemical peels
Disclaimer!!
This Information is NOT medical advice. It is educational only and a very brief insight into how we approach procedures during pregnancy or breast-feeding. It is always recommended to get clearance from your OBGYN/midwife. Additionally, a consult is always required with us before any treatment, in order to throughly discuss procedures per your unique case.
Table of Contents
Is botox pregnancy safe?
Botulinum Toxin injections (tox injections) like: Botox, Xeomin, Dysport, Jeuveau, Daxxify have become very common treatments and a lot of women are super bummed to have to stop for pregnancy. There are many people, however, that do continue to get these treatments during pregnancy for medical reasons (i.e. migraines or TMJ) and many people that had been getting them before realizing they were pregnant.
In those cases, we can look at outcomes over 20-30 years through retrospective studies (studies that look at data in hindsight) and these show there is not a noticeable difference in infant health with women who were pregnant and got botulinum toxin injections versus those who did not. Additionally, drug dictionaries such as Epocrates (2023) label medications like “Xeomin” and “Botox Cosmetic” to be safe during pregnancy.
However, since there are no placebo-controlled studies to show safety of botulinum toxin injections during pregnancy, we still recommend to NOT get this treatment while pregnant unless medically necessary. Come see us for all your Tox needs once your baby has arrived 
. In special circumstances, and with OBGYN/Midwife clearance, we will discuss the treatment with you but may still recommend against it.
- Retrospective Study Link: HERE
Conclusion of a retrospective study. Link to full study above 👆
Drug dictionary definition for Botox Cosmetic and Xeomin.
Is botox safe while breast feeding?
Just like above, Botulinum Toxin injections are considered safe during breast-feeding in retrospective studies as well as in drug dictionaries like Epocrates (2023). However, it is still always a case by case basis.
Ultimately it is a personal choice and we typically leave this up to the woman to decide after she is given all of the pros and cons during informed consent. She will also be required to sign a waiver acknowledging that there are no double-blind placebo controlled studies and that she participates at her/her babies own risk.
When women do choose to proceed, many women will “pump and dump” the day they get injections.
Please be aware that for medical reasons we may at times still decline to treat if mom is not in great health postpartum.
Is lip filler pregnancy safe?
The actual injecting of HA (hyaluronic acid) filler into the lips is theoretically safe during pregnancy, but the risks that can be associated with injecting lip filler make this treatment unsafe for pregnant women. Overall, lip filler is a “NO” for our EMA team and NP injectors
These lip filler risks and side effects can include:
- Vascular Occlusions
- Infection
- Delayed/poor wound healing
Plus, anxiety with needles and general pain/discomfort with injections can cause unnecessary stress on mom and baby. Additionally, when you are pregnant, its common to retain more fluid than normal and can cause areas of the face (like the lips) to be more puffy and swollen than normal. Overall, you are not at your baseline for an appropriate filler assessment, and this aesthetic treatment is considered to be elective.
Is lip filler safe while breast feeding?
Lip filler is theoretically safe during breast-feeding but there are risks to every procedure. We require a 1:1 consult with one of our Nurse Practitioner (NP) injectors at Elite Medical & Aesthetics in order to do lip filler at any time, but especially if there are other factors such as breast-feeding.
Ultimately it is a personal choice and we typically leave this up to the woman to decide after she is given all of the pros and cons during informed consent. She will also be required to sign a waiver acknowledging that there are no double-blind placebo controlled studies and that she participates at her/her babies own risk.
When women do choose to proceed, many women will “pump and dump” the day they get injections.
Please be aware that for medical reasons we may at times still decline to treat if mom is not in great health postpartum.
Is microneedling pregnancy safe?
Our Nurse Practitioner providers view microneedling (with a consultation beforehand) to be safe during pregnancy. Especially if you do not use the topical numbing agents, like lidocaine, and receive a lower-depth treatment (aka micro-channeling) to lower your risks.
Keep in mind though, that any time the skin is punctured or broken, there is a potential risk for the following:
- Poor or impaired wound healing, especially if the treatment is done at higher depths
- Unnecessary stress or anxiety triggered from needles
Although lidocaine is considered a safe drug during pregnancy, it is still a medication that was once used for cardiac reasons and it can effect blood pressure, making some pregnant women sensitive to it. It is best to avoid using any unnecessary medication (topical or internal) during pregnancy. A full drug dictionary definition is provided below
Overall, since microneedling is more of an elective treatment during pregnancy, it could be best to wait until baby is here to do a series of treatments at an appropriate depth for total results depending on what your aesthetic concerns are. Book a consultation with one of our providers if you have lingering questions about microneedling during pregnancy.
Is microneedling safe while breast feeding?
Microneedling is considered theoretically safe while breast-feeding so long as the client (the mom) is in good health. However, every treatment will require a 1:1 consult with one of our Nurse Practitioners for approval at Elite Medical & Aesthetics.
Ultimately it is a personal choice and we typically leave this up to the woman to decide after she is given all of the pros and cons during informed consent. She will also be required to sign a waiver acknowledging that there are no double-blind placebo controlled studies and that she participates at her/her babies own risk.
When women do choose to proceed, many women will “pump and dump” the day they get the procedure if lidocaine is used.
Please be aware that for medical reasons we may at times still decline to treat if mom is not in great health postpartum.
Is IPL 3-in-1 pregnancy safe?
Technically IPL, or photofractional, is contradicted treatment during pregnancy, because there are no studies showing its safety during pregnancy. However, if the client is a candidate for IPL, is only spot treating certain areas, or is avoiding the use of topical lidocaine, this treatment could be considered safe (case by case scenario always). Overall, we recommend to consult with a medically trained professional, and to get clearance by your OBGYN/midwife, to see if IPL is a treatment that could be considered safe for you.
Note: Topical lidocaine, like mentioned earlier, is considered a safe drug to use during pregnancy. However, if it can be avoided, then that is best as some people can be sensitive to it and it can affect blood pressure in some. (See image above of lidocaine drug dictionary definition)
Is IPL 3-in-1 safe while breast feeding?
IPL is considered theoretically safe during breast-feeding so long as the client (mom) is in good health. However, every treatment will require a 1:1 consultation with one of our providers.
Ultimately it is a personal choice and we typically leave this up to the woman to decide after she is given all of the pros and cons during informed consent. She will also be required to sign a waiver acknowledging that there are no double-blind placebo controlled studies and that she participates at her/her babies own risk.
When women do choose to proceed, many women will “pump and dump” the day they get the procedure if lidocaine is used.
Please be aware that for medical reasons we may at times still decline to treat if mom is not in great health postpartum.
Are chemical peels pregnancy safe?
Medium to deep chemical peels like our favorite, VI Peel, are not safe to do during pregnancy. Topical chemical peels contain certain chemicals that are not considered safe to put on the skin or inhale while pregnant.
Additional ingredients that are often found in chemical peels that are also NOT pregnancy safe include:
- Retinoic acid
- TCA
- Benzoyl Peroxide
- Phenol
- High doses of Salicylic acid (products containing 2% or less of salicylic acid are pregnancy safe, as some women struggle with hormonal acne during pregnancy and this ingredient does help mitigate it).
Keep in mind that what we put topically onto our skin is absorbed through the skin into the blood stream. This aesthetic facial treatment is a definite “NO” for our EMA providers, to ensure pregnant mommas steer clear of potentially harmful chemicals.
Are chemical peels safe while breast feeding?
Some chemical peels are safe while breast-feeding but we do require a 1:1 consultation to discuss an appropriate treatment plan and various options during breast feeding.
Is facial filler pregnancy safe?
Facial filler during pregnancy is not recommended from our providers at Elite! It’s not that the ingredients of the filler itself is harmful for pregnancy, it’s the potential risks that come along with facial filler that could be harmful during pregnancy.
These risks and side effects may include the following:
- Infection
- Vascular Occlusion
- Unnecessary stress from needles and pain
- Poor or delayed wound healing
Important to note: your facial features change during pregnancy because it is not uncommon to retain more fluids and swell causing you to look a little more “puffy” than usual. Injecting filler into someone who is not at baseline is not smart anyways. Once baby has arrived, and you feel back to normal come see us for your facial filler concerns 💜
Is facial filler safe while breast feeding?
Just like with lip filler above, facial filler is theoretically safe during breast-feeding but requires a 1:1 consultation with a Nurse Practitioner.
Ultimately it is a personal choice and we typically leave this up to the woman to decide after she is given all of the pros and cons during informed consent. She will also be required to sign a waiver acknowledging that there are no double-blind placebo controlled studies and that she participates at her/her babies own risk.
When women do choose to proceed, many women will “pump and dump” the day they get the procedure.
Please be aware that for medical reasons we may at times still decline to treat if mom is not in great health postpartum.
Is Sculptra pregnancy safe?
There could be arguments that Sculptra during pregnancy is safe, however at Elite, we still do not recommend getting this injectable treatment while pregnant, mainly because it is an elective treatment that could cause pain=stress during pregnancy.
Sculptra is made of PLLA (ploy-L-lactic acid) that is not itself unsafe during pregnancy, but instead it is the procedure and needle in the face that can lead to potential infection, poor wound healing, possible vascular occlusion, and unnecessary stress on the body. These risks and side effects are unsafe for pregnant women, so we steer clear of this and always put your safety as the number one priority.
Our general consensus is: maybe could be safe, but not recommend due to the risks of the actual treatment and that you are not at baseline for injectable treatments.
Is Sculptra safe while breast feeding?
Sculptra is considered theoretically safe while breast-feeding so long as the client (the mom) is in good health. However, every treatment will require a 1:1 consult with one of our Nurse Practitioners for approval at Elite Medical & Aesthetics.
Ultimately it is a personal choice and we typically leave this up to the woman to decide after she is given all of the pros and cons during informed consent. She will also be required to sign a waiver acknowledging that there are no double-blind placebo controlled studies and that she participates at her/her babies own risk.
When women do choose to proceed, many women will “pump and dump” the day they get the procedure.
Please be aware that for medical reasons we may at times still decline to treat if mom is not in great health postpartum.
Conclusion:
Again, none of this is medical advice, but more an insight into how we view aesthetic treatments and their individual safety during pregnancy being a women-owned and operated business. Oftentimes, medical spas won’t even consult with pregnant women, so we wanted to ensure we provide information that can provide a brief insight into what our NP providers believe and always offer consultations to talk through anyone’s questions or concerns in regards to this topic (as always, case by case scenario).
We take your safety seriously, and will always pride ourselves for being open and honest with our lovely clients
Elite Medical & Aesthetics is a premier med spa located in Lone Tree, CO. Our all nursing staff of Nurse Practitioners take a holistic approach to natural results with safety as #1 priority.
Talk with one of our providers.
