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Can Botox Injections Harm my Unborn Baby?

asked 1 year ago by Sandy19 in Auckland New zealand
Latest answer by Todd C. Miller, MD
Question viewed 1,054 times
Tags: forehead, female, pregnancy, risk

Hi Doctors, I am pregnant (10 weeks) and was also wondering whether I can have s/c injections of any kind in my face? Also how local agent like Botox, which to be injected to the forehead can harm baby? Can you provide pathophys rationale, please? It is not a challenge,I just want to know it,before commencing any of those procedures. Sorry to be a pain, but I am also a health professional and will understand and appreciate your answers.

17 answers to Can Botox Injections Harm my Unborn Baby?

+1

Botox While Pregnant?

Hi Sandy.  There is no evidence to show that Botox would have any effect on your baby if used while pregnant.  But, because this procedure is not necessary for health reasons, there is no research available to show that there would not be any effects.   Physiologically speaking, the Botox should not reach the fetus as it is absorbed into the muscles at the point of injection and metabolised in the immediate area.
Harold J. Kaplan, MD

Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.celibre.com

+2

Pregnancy and botox or fillers

There is no evidence on the safety of botox or fillers in pregnant women and there is no way to safely study this in pregnant women due to the potential risks.  Of course, there have been women who get treated with a neurotoxin or filler when they do not know they are pregnant, and there are no adverse reactions.  Most experienced injectors will tell you that it is unlikely to cause any adverse reaction and that lIkely, neither are absorbed at high enough levels to have an adverse... more
Amy A. McClung, MD

Austin Dermatologist
+1

Botox and pregnancy

Great question. There is no evidence to support that botox would cause any type of damage to your unborn baby. However, there are also no studies to support that it is absolutely safe. It is best to avoid any type of elective cosmetic procedures while pregnant.
Todd C. Miller, MD

Orange County Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Pregnancy and botox

The safety of Botox in pregnant women has not been studied. However, notwithstanding that these are localized injections, common sense would dictate that you defer any unnecessary treatment until after giving birth. I do not treat pregnant women for any cosmetic concerns and, if surgery is required for excision of lesions that are of concern, will operate only with obstetric clearance and without the use of epinephrine and then only after the first trimester.
Robert L. Kraft, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Botox while pregnant

Botox is a cosmetic treatment. Being pregnant makes you responsible for yourself and for your baby. I am sure you are aware that pregnancy carries a lot of potential problems of a biologic nature. To add a potential problem of a cosmetic nature would not be wise. No study can ever be done to prove statistically that Botox is safe in pregnancy, as it would be both illegal and unethical. Even though logically, there would be no harm to the fetus, I would never inject Botox in... more
Eugene Mandrea, MD

Chicago Dermatologist
+1

Do not get Botox while pregnant

There has not been a study done to determine if using Botox while pregnant is safe for the fetus, but I would absolutely not recommend it.  Nor do I think any licensed physician would treat you while knowing you are pregnant.  Your baby is more important right now!
Babak Azizzadeh, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Safety of botox during pregnancy

The safety of cosmetic injectables has not been studied.  Botox is injected locally without systemic absorption however. It is an elective procedure/ treatment and therefore most physicians would recommend not taking the risk and waiting until your pregnancy is over before receiving treatment.  Please inform your physician/ surgeon that you are in your first trimester before proceeding.  
Keshini Parbhu, MD

Orlando Oculoplastic Surgeon

www.orlandoeyeopener.com

+1

Absolute no no for Botox or Dysport injection during pregnancy

One should never inject Botox or Dysport during pregnancy. Even though the possibility of botulinum migration to fetus may be just theoretical, there is no published data declaring its safety during pregnancy.
William Ting, MD

Bay Area Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

Botox and Pregnancy

I will not inject a patient with Botox who is pregnant. I doubt that any Board Certified well trained surgeon would.
Michael Sullivan, MD

Columbus Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Can Botox Harm Unborn Baby

Unless medically necessary I will not treart any pregnant woman. Even if there is no possible connection between an unnecessary treatment and an ill or challenged child, the parents will question their decision and that possibility for the rest of their lives. 
Richard W. Fleming, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Botox saftey for pregnancy

While the scientific data may not be completely in, it makes good sense not to put your new baby in any type of potential danger. I personally do not treat any pregnant women with Botox or  Dysport injections.
Jon Sattler, MD

Glendora Plastic Surgeon
+1

Botox is not for pregnant or nursing women

WIth all procedures we weigh risks v. benefits. Although there is no specific evidence that Botox cosmetic causes fetal harm it is not recommended that this procedure be done during pregnancy or on lactating women. There may be harmful affects we don't yet know about. Be patient.
Dina D. Strachan, MD

New York Dermatologist
+1

Botox During Pregnancy

The basic rule of any drugs or injections during pregnancy, regardless of how safe they may seem, is that anything that is not absolutely necessary is put off until after the pregnancy. It's just common sense.
Mitchell Schwartz, MD

South Burlington Dermatologic Surgeon

dorsetstreetdermatology.com

+1

No ethical doctor will perform these treatments for cosmetic reasons.

There is no evidence that injecting BOTOX or Hyaluronic acid filler is in any way harmful during pregnancy.  Then again there is no evidence that it is actually safe either.  There is a small study of women who were treated while pregnant and there were no issues with the pregnancies.  However, the data set is so small that it is not enough to make any strong conclusions.  However, it does occur that a woman will have BOTOX only to discover that she was actually one or... more
Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon
+1

Botox use on pregnant women

Hi Sandy, There have been no controlled studies looking at Botox administered to pregnant women and its subsequent effects on the fetus. So we cannot be sure what effects Botox will have on the unborn child. For this reason, I personally will not inject any pregnant women. However, there are other physicians who have injected pregnant women without reporting any issues. Hope you have a happy and healthy pregnancy! Dr.Sunder
Sarmela Sunder, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Botox, Dysport, Wrinkle Treatment, Beverly Hills Botox Dysport, Los Angeles Botox Dysport, Juvederm

I have used Botox and fillers for over 20 years and do not treat women while they are pregnant or nursing.  I would think that's not uncommon among plastic and cosmetic surgeons or dermatologists using these materials.  You'll have plenty of time after you done nursing to seek out these treatments.  Until, don't have anything done IMHO.
Francis R. Palmer, III, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

BOTOX® at cosmetic doses will not interfere with pregnancy

There is no good evidence that BOTOX® at the doses used for cosmetic treatment can interfere with pregnancy, and many pregnant women have been accidentally or deliberately treated with BOTOX® for both cosmetic and therapeutic purposes over the past 20 years, with no good evidence of harm to the fetur or mother. Having said that, it is worth noting that there is quite a high incidence of spontaneous miscarriage in the first trimester, and most physicians understandably don't... more
Kevin C. Smith, MD

Niagara Falls Dermatologic Surgeon

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