Can You Get Botox While Pregnant?
Finding out you’re pregnant is usually all smiles. But the smile might drop momentarily when you realize all the things you’ll have to give up. You might even be wondering, ‘can you get Botox while pregnant?’
Botox should be at the top of your avoid-during-pregnancy list. Getting this cosmetic treatment is a complete no-go, even if you’re trying to get pregnant.
But you probably want to know more before you take my word for it, so carry on reading to find out why you shouldn’t inject Botox while pregnant.
What is Botox?
So, you’ve heard of Botox. Or maybe you’ve had Botox before. But do you know what you’re injecting into your face?
According to the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, Botox is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in the US. Botox is a brand of neurotoxin produced from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum (botulinum toxin). It temporarily paralyzes the muscles and causes them to relax. Of course, this gives you that smooth baby skin.
Botox is now approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat frown lines, forehead lines, crow’s feet, excessive sweating, and headaches. But in the late 1980s, it was initially approved as a lazy eye and uncontrolled blinking treatment.
Is it safe to do Botox while pregnant?
Many people wonder, ‘do celebrities get Botox while pregnant?’ Even the doctors to the stars will never recommend using Botox while pregnant unless for genuine medical reasons.
As you can imagine, pregnant women are not generally willing to put their unborn babies at risk for a research study. Hence, doctors can’t say Botox is safe while pregnant because there’s no sufficient amount of research to suggest it is or isn’t.
However, a handful of animal studies suggest that the botulinum toxin injected into pregnant animals doesn’t cross the placenta. In theory, this could mean it’s not likely to happen to humans, but animals aren’t humans.
Without empirical research confirming Botox’s safety while pregnant, it cannot be considered safe for human pregnancy.
Pregnancy quickly changes everything about you. Your desires, priorities, and needs change. Everything is about your baby now.
So, if you’re wondering can you get Botox, think if there’s no research to say it’s safe, then don’t do it.
Can Botox cause miscarriage?
Perhaps because the evidence for the safety of Botox while pregnant is limited, doctors and experts tend to suggest caution. But, again, there is no evidence to indicate that a Botox can cause a miscarriage.
Even with extensive investigations, the cause of a miscarriage can rarely be determined.
That’s why experts would almost never provide Botox injections into a patient’s face; they and you don’t want to add any potential risks of miscarriage, especially in the first 12 weeks.
When should I stop getting Botox if pregnant?
If you plan on getting pregnant, you should stop using Botox when you start trying. At the very least, you should stop using Botox the minute you find out you’re pregnant.
Remove the Botox clinic from your speed dial and wait until after the baby is born and you’ve finished breastfeeding for any Botox top-ups.
Sometimes, our little blessings can also be little surprises. You won’t be the first, celebrity or not, to get Botox and then find out afterward you’re pregnant. It’s no different from going for a heavy night out of drinking and finding out a few days later that you’re pregnant.
Understandably, your first thought may be that of dread and worry. But don’t fret; although the evidence is limited, some studies suggest women who have mistakenly injected Botox while pregnant have reported no untoward effects.
It’s ok, breathe. If you’ve mistakenly injected Botox while pregnant, your baby is probably fine. But make sure you stop then. If you’re worried, go ahead and talk to your healthcare provider for reassurance.
5 things you can do instead of Botox
Just because you’re pregnant, it doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice everything. If you still want to look as good as you usually feel, you can try other pregnancy-safe skincare treatments.
1. A little TLC goes a long when pregnant. First, drink plenty of water for well-hydrated skin. Then, try exfoliating your skin a couple of times per week and use a good, pregnancy-safe moisturizer several times a day. Combining these cheap and easy tricks is a great way to minimize frown lines and wrinkles or stop them from getting worse.
2. Get a good night’s sleep. You might find it harder to sleep as you reach the third trimester. But if you can get a good eight hours of sleep per night, it can help you look younger and fresher.
3. Try a facial peel. Glycolic and lactic acid peels are considered generally safe in pregnancy and can give your face the rejuvenation you’re looking for. But stay well away from salicylic acid peels.
4. Try skincare products that include Hyaluronic Acid. This hydration-holding molecule can be found naturally in the body. Because it attracts and holds water, it can be a suitable alternative to preventing and treating fine lines and wrinkles. Look for it in skincare products such as serums and face creams.
5. Look for peptides like Argireline to prevent and treat fine lines and wrinkles. Acting similarly to Botox, Argireline inhibits the neurotransmitters responsible for muscle movement. Although in a more gentle form, it reduces muscle activity and leads to more relaxed skin.
Some Last Thoughts
It’s safe to say that you should avoid Botox while pregnant. But, of course, Botox is a perfectly safe option to get rid of those fine lines and wrinkles when you’re not pregnant.
To keep your unborn baby safe and happy, try the alternatives listed above or just run with it and accept your flaws for a few months. You’re beautiful just as you are.
Remember, if you’re ever unsure about anything during pregnancy or breastfeeding, always ask your healthcare provider for medical advice.
