These days, Botox injections are extensively used to prolong the youthful appearance of the skin. Therefore, more and more women all around the world resort to them on a regular basis.
However, are Botox injections safe during pregnancy? What are the dangers of getting it injected during pregnancy? When is it safe to start getting Botox after bringing a child into the world? And, finally, are there any alternatives to it that might be used during pregnancy?
Well, keep reading this article to find answers to the above-mentioned questions. Let us delve into the world of Botox together!
What Is Botox?
Botox is a brand of injectable products that are based on botulinum toxin type A (a naturally occurring muscle relaxant produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum). It is frequently used in cosmetology for a great number of cosmetic purposes, such as:
Reduction of dynamic folds, fine lines, and wrinkles (such as nasolabial folds, forehead lines, crow's feet, or wrinkles between the eyebrows);
Creation of the upper lip flip;
Correction of facial asymmetry;
And so on.
Please Note:
Apart from the above-mentioned aesthetic purposes, Botox treatment might also be used to take care of medical conditions related to muscle tightness. They include neck pain, excessive sweating, cervical dystonia, overactive bladder, lazy eye, headaches, and so on.
Bitulinum toxin products are intended for professional use. Therefore, only certified healthcare providers with valid medical licenses might get Botox injected beneath the patients' dermis. The procedure should be performed intramuscularly with the help of a fine gauge needle.
The cosmetic treatment that involves Botox injections causes a temporary block of nerves that go to muscles around the injection site. As toxin spreads, it eventually leads to muscle relaxation that might last up to six months. At the same time, the exact duration after the administration of Botox strongly depends on the individual properties of each patient (including their current health condition, dermis type, or age). Moreover, it might be prolonged by periodical touch-up injections.
Please Note:
Botox is not the only product that is based on botulinum toxin. Such brands as Bocouture, Dysport, Xeomin, and many more also employ it as the main ingredient in their composition. They are also frequently used for both aesthetic and medical reasons.
It is also worth to mention that Botox is a safe product that has been approved by FDA. Therefore, it rarely causes any severe complications (except such temporary reactions of the human body as skin irritation at the injection site or flu-like symptoms). At the same time, however, Botox should not be used under one of the following contraindications:
An allergic reaction or hypersensitivity to any component of the product (especially botulinum toxin);
A severe health issue (such as poor blood clotting, diabetes mellitus, or untreated epilepsy);
An ongoing skin irritation around the injection site;
And so on.
However, can pregnant women undergo a cosmetic injection of Botox? Or is pregnancy also a contraindication to the administration of botulinum toxin? Let us figure it out right away!
Is It Safe to Inject Botulinum Toxin When Pregnant?
A very simple answer to the question of whether one could get Botox while pregnant is "no." In other words, both pregnancy and lactation serve as contraindications to the administration of the product.
However, the main reason for not getting Botox during pregnancy is not because of it is not safe. The thing is that the work of Botox has not been studied enough in pregnant people.
Please Note:
The research of the effect Botox has on pregnant animals (namely, pregnant rabbits and pregnant mice) includes a glimpse of hope. Namely, it does not show any evidence that Botox might cross the placenta or cause fetal abnormalities. At the same time, however, the effect of Botox on human pregnancy is largely unknown.
Therefore, FDA considers Botox to be a category C drug during pregnancy. In other words, there is no sufficient research that proves that the usage of Botox while pregnant is either safe or unsafe.
What Are the Dangers of Getting Botox Injections During Pregnancy?
It is not yet clear whether undergoing an injection of Botox during pregnancy might cause any birth defects of the unborn baby. At the same time, there exist several potential risks of getting Botox treatments while carrying a child, such as:
A potential risk of fetal malformations;
Premature delivery of a baby;
Miscarriage;
Hormonal changes;
And so on.
Please Note:
The above-mentioned dangers of getting Botox while pregnant have not been proved by clinical trials or animal studies. Therefore, they rather function as precausions.
Thus, it is preferrable to cation oneself and exclude Botox from one's pregnancy skincare routine (at least until it will be better researched).
When Is It Safe to Start Getting Botox After Giving Birth?
It is also necessary to mention that there do not exist studies that show whether Botox passes into breast milk or not. Therefore, there is no green light when it comes to the administration of the product during the period of lactation.
In other words, it is only safe to start getting Botox after delivering a newborn in case you are not going to breastfeed it. Otherwise, you will have to finish the lactation in order to start safely getting Botox after bringing a child into the world.
What Are Pregnancy-Safe Alternatives to Botox?
Luckily, there exist safe alternative that might partially substitute the usage of Botox while pregnant. Due to the fact that a vast majority of them is minimally invasive, they might not be as effective as Botox. At the same time, however, these alternatives might help to maintain a good-looking condition of the skin:
Hyaluronic-acid-based facial creams;
Manual massage of facial muscles;
Peels;
And so on.
As well, the avoidance of direct sun exposure and regular usage of the sunscreen cream during pregnancy will both prevent it from sun damage and prolong its useful appearance.
A Bottom Line
All in all, the safety of undergoing the injection of Botox during pregnancy still remains unclear. Namely, the research suggests that it might or might not affect an unborn child.
Therefore, it is only up to your healthcare provider to decide whether its risks outweigh its potential benefits. Remember, the physical and mental health should of your future child should remain your highest priority during pregnancy!
P.S.
It is of vital importance to order Botox from reliable supplier to ensure the safety of the product.
