The short answer is: no. In the text below, you can read more about Botox during pregnancy, Botox and breastfeeding, and what alternatives are available for your skin instead of a Botox treatment.
Botox is a safe medicine
Botulinum toxin (Botox) falls under the Medicines Act, which means that years of research into its effectiveness, side effects, and complications were conducted before it was allowed on the market. To date, no adverse long-term effects have been registered. Botox is therefore an exceptionally safe medicine.
Botox during pregnancy
Too little is known about Botox during pregnancy. Research does not rule out that Botox can cross the placenta, but there is also no evidence that it can. The decision of the medical cosmetic doctors' professional group is therefore to advise against Botox during pregnancy. Cosmetic clinics in the Netherlands follow this decision. Therefore, a Botox treatment is not possible during pregnancy. However, there are situations where an exception is made, which you can read about further on.
I didn't know I was pregnant, what now?
It happens that a client was already pregnant during a Botox treatment but did not yet know it. A pregnancy is simply not as easy to plan as a Botox treatment. If that is the case for you, you don't need to panic immediately. Although not enough research has been done to guarantee the safety of Botox during pregnancy, there are some studies that may reassure you.
Li Yim and Weir 2010 [1] state in their study “Botulinum Toxin and Pregnancy—A Cautionary Tale” that the use of Botulinum Toxin is relatively safe during pregnancy. Morgan’s research (2005) “Botulinum toxin A during pregnancy: a survey of treating physicians” [2] supports this.
William and his team also state in their research (2004) “Botulinum toxin type A therapy during pregnancy” [3] that a Botox treatment during pregnancy has no influence on the child's health.
So, there are some studies indicating that Botox can be used safely during pregnancy, but there is not yet enough evidence. We therefore advise you to consult your (cosmetic) doctor if you have found out that you were pregnant during the treatment.
Breastfeeding and Botox
If you are breastfeeding after your pregnancy, you still have to wait for a Botox treatment. Unfortunately, not enough is known about the dangers of using Botox during breastfeeding, which is why we advise against a Botox treatment during breastfeeding.
Research has shown that Botox, when injected locally into the muscle and skin, does not enter breast milk. In this study, no traces of Botox were found in breast milk nor in the child's system. However, not enough research has been conducted to state this with 100% certainty.
What kind of Botox alternatives can you do during your pregnancy?
During pregnancy, blood flow to the skin increases (Skin Foundation, Skin changes during pregnancy, 2018), which can lead to small broken capillaries on your face. Therefore, opt for a mild superficial treatment. Think of:
- a facial treatment,
- a facial mask,
- and for example, a connective tissue massage.
What kind of Botox is not allowed during pregnancy
- Botox is not allowed during pregnancy.
- A filler treatment is also not allowed during pregnancy; the reason here too is that too little is known about the effects.
- Chemical peels and creams with vitamin A are also advised against during pregnancy. So, make sure you are well informed when choosing an alternative.
Exceptions for Botox
For medical reasons, a Botox treatment during pregnancy is possible. This includes, for example, chronic migraine and teeth grinding. In this case, it is up to the patient and the cosmetic doctor to carefully weigh the risks and benefits of a Botox treatment during pregnancy. The government therefore advises you to get good information from an officially trained cosmetic doctor (Dutch Government, Stricter rules for cosmetic procedures, 2017).
Experienced specialists
The above clearly shows the importance of having a Botox or filler treatment performed only by an experienced and certified doctor. Make sure your doctor is BIG registered, preferably NVCG certified (Dutch Association of Cosmetic Medicine) and affiliated with the KNMG doctors' federation.
Conclusion
To make a long story short; studies have been done on the effect of Botox treatment during pregnancy. Overall, not enough research has been conducted to determine with 100% certainty that Botox has no influence on pregnancy and thus on the baby.
If you are in doubt about a Botox treatment during your pregnancy, always seek proper advice from a certified cosmetic doctor. The doctor can advise you and discuss with you whether the Botox treatment has a cosmetic or a medical reason. It is very important to carefully weigh the risks and benefits. And usually, during your pregnancy, you are busy with completely different things than Botox and wrinkles!
Literature list
- Li Yim, J.F.T., & Weir, C.R., (2010). Botulinum Toxin and Pregnancy—A Cautionary Tale. Strabismus, 18 (2), 65-66. https://doi.org/10.3109/09273971003793930
- Morgan, J.C., Lyer, S.S., Moser, E.T., Singer, C., Sethi, K.D., (2005). Botulinum toxin A during pregnancy: a survey of treating physicians. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 77, 117-119. https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/77/1/117.info
- William, J., Newman, B.S., Thomas, L., Davis, M.D., Bismal, B., Padaliva, B.S., Cassondra, D., Covington, B.A., Chandler, E., Gill, B.S., Anna, I., Abramovitch. B.S.P., David Charles, M.D., (2004), Botulinum toxin type A therapy during pregnancy. Movement Disorders, 19 (11), 1384-1385. https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.20205
Bart Biermans is a cosmetic doctor and founder of The Body Clinic. After studying medicine at Utrecht University, he started one clinic in Amsterdam, which under his leadership has grown into a leading organization with multiple locations in the Netherlands and Germany. With over 20 years of experience in injectables, Bart has developed a clear vision on natural aesthetics, balance, and harmony. Although Bart now only sporadically treats patients, he plays an important role in coaching the doctors within The Body Clinic. He transfers his years of experience by guiding doctors in the same refined working method he developed himself: subtle improvements that suit a person's face, without it being visible that a treatment has taken place. Bart encourages his team to work with small, thoughtful adjustments and to prefer a refined follow-up rather than doing too much at once. In this way, he safeguards natural aesthetics and the preservation of facial expressions as core values within the entire organization. In addition, as director, Bart is closely involved in medical quality, strategic choices, and the further growth of The Body Clinic. His vision on meticulousness, natural results, and realistic aesthetics continues to form the basis of how the clinic operates and grows to this day.
