Can You Get Botox While Breastfeeding?
After giving birth, you may long for your pre-pregnancy body and youthful complexion. In an understandable attempt to reduce wrinkles and fine lines on your face, you may be considering Botox, but is it safe to use while breastfeeding?
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Summary
Botox is injected intramuscularly to decrease the appearance of facial wrinkles. Made from the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum, it disrupts the messages sent from the nerves to the muscles, causing temporary localized paralysis, thereby allowing facial lines and wrinkles to relax and soften. Very little data exists for the effects of Botox on breastfeeding or breast pumping, and although Botox seems like a safe option and side effects are rarely reported, it is wise to wait until after you have finished breastfeeding to get your first Botox injections. Acupuncture is a viable alternative to Botox that is found to be effective. Additionally, breastfeeding/pumping mothers should take skincare measures such as wearing sunscreens, covering up in the sun, eating a wholesome diet, drinking lots of water, and applying lotions rich in hyaluronic acid and glycerine to maintain healthy skin.
What is Botox?
Botox has been used cosmetically for years to successfully reduce the appearance of facial creases and wrinkles. It has become an extremely popular option, with around 8 million users in the United States alone. Botox is made from the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum and works by disrupting signals sent from the nerves to the muscles, effectively causing temporary localized muscle paralysis. This action allows wrinkles to soften and relax. With age, we develop lines on our forehead from frowning and smile lines around our eyes (crow’s feet) and lips. Botox is specifically injected into these muscles to prevent their contraction which gives the skin a smooth, youthful appearance. Unfortunately, Botox will not improve wrinkles on skin that is sun-damaged.
How is a Botox procedure performed?
Botox is a quick procedure that does not require anesthesia. Fine needles are inserted intramuscularly just below your skin, causing only minor discomfort. Botox will usually take full effect within three to seven days. For the best results, you should not consume alcohol, take anti-inflammatories or aspirin for at least a week before the procedure, to prevent bruising.
The relaxation effects of Botox generally last three to four months. As your muscles begin to resume their contractile action, the appearance of fine lines may recur but are often less severe because the muscles have been trained to relax. At this stage, you may consider having the procedure again.
Safety of Botox while breastfeeding
According to sources, little data exists on the use of Botox injections for breastfeeding women. However, in those sources that do exist, none of the Botulin A (Botox) injected into the facial muscles was found in the bloodstreams of mothers or in their breastfeeding infants.
In one case, even a mother who contracted full-blown Botulism continued to breastfeed her baby, and no Botulinum toxin was detected in her breastmilk or the baby. Botox injections contain far lower doses of the toxin than those that result in Botulism, and so it is unlikely this will pose a threat to your baby’s health.
Even though it is unlikely that toxins will pass from your breastmilk to your baby following Botox injections, it is wise to exercise caution and only receive cosmetic procedures such as Botox once you have stopped breastfeeding altogether.
Additionally, there is also no current research on how long it takes for Botox to metabolize out of breast milk or if indeed it enters the breast milk. Unlike alcohol or other drugs, Botox remains in the tissue for many months. As a result, methods such as pumping and dumping will not work to rid breast milk of the potential neurotoxin.
It is important to ensure that Botox injections are always prescribed and administered by professional and licensed medical personnel. You want the correct dose and to ensure that it is injected into the right facial muscles.
What are the side effects of Botox?
Even though it has been rarely documented, Botox can cause various medical conditions if left untreated. If you experience any of the following symptoms following Botox treatments, contact your healthcare provider immediately:
Respiratory distress
Headaches or migraines
Nausea, diarrhea, and stomach pain
Undesired muscle pain or weakness
Excessive sweating
Droopy eyelids
Double or blurred vision
Dizziness or feeling faint
It should be noted that eyelid drooping usually occurs when the Botox moves around. It is, therefore, best to avoid touching or rubbing the treated area for at least 12 hours after injections. It is also advisable to avoid lying down for one hour following the procedure.
Alternatives to Botox
A safer alternative to Botox for cosmetic purposes is facial acupuncture or dry needling. Acupuncture is the insertion of fine needles into the facial muscles to promote blood flow and relaxation of these muscles. Participants of a small-scale study found significant improvement in the elasticity and tone of their facial skin following acupuncture.
Eating a wholesome diet and staying well-hydrated also go a long way toward enhancing the appearance of your skin. Furthermore, these nutrients and vitamins improve the quality of your breast milk and help keep your baby healthy.
Other ways to keep your skin healthy include:
Wearing sunscreens (with UVA and UVB protection and at least SPF 30) and hats
Washing your face at night and removing makeup before going to bed
Avoid using tanning or sunbeds
Having procedures such as chemical peels instead
Using hydrating creams, oils, and serums rich in glycerine and hyaluronic acids
Ensuring that you stay hydrated (drink at least eight 8 ounce glasses of water a day)
Conclusion
Although there is very little data on the effects of Botox on breastfeeding or breast pumping, in the case of a mother with Botulism, none of the neurotoxins were detectable in the mother's bloodstream or in her breast milk. However, experts suggest only receiving Botox injections once you have stopped breastfeeding altogether. Acupuncture is a viable alternative to Botox that has been found to be effective. Breastfeeding mothers should take measures such as wearing sunscreens and hats, eating a wholesome diet, drinking lots of water, and applying lotions that contain hyaluronic acid and glycerine to ensure their skin maintains its elasticity and glow.
References
Bethesda. (2006). Botulin A. In B. (MD), LactMed. United States: NCBI.
Bomba-Warczak, E., Vevea, J. D., Brittain, J. M., Johnson, J. A., Yeh, F. L., & Chapman, E. R. (2016). Interneuronal Transfer and Distal Action of Tetanus Toxin and Botulinum Neurotoxins A and D in Central Neurons. Cell Reports, 16(7), 1974-1987.
Doctor Medica. (2018, August 24). Botox and breastfeeding: Complete Guide for Mothers. Retrieved January 2021, from DoctorMedica: https://www.doctormedica.co/blog/botox-and-breastfeeding-guide.html
Huizen, J. (2018, January 26). Is it safe to get Botox while breast-feeding? Retrieved January 2021, from MedicalNewsToday: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320735
Meadows-Fernandez, A. R. (2017, June 1). Is it safe to receive botox while breastfeeding? Retrieved January 2021, from healthline: https://www.healthline.com/health/botox-and-breastfeeding#can-i-pump-and-dump
Murray, D. (2020, April). Getting Botox While Breastfeeding. Retrieved January 2021, from verywellfamily: https://www.verywellfamily.com/botox-and-breastfeeding-431603
Yun, Y., Kim, S., Kim, M., Kim, K., Par, J., & Choi, I. (2013). Effect of Facial Cosmetic Acupuncture on Facial Elasticity: An Open-Label Single-Arm Pilot Study. Evidence Based Complementary Alternative Medicine.
