Some cosmetic procedures require surgery; these are a type of plastic surgery. Examples include liposuction, breast augmentation, and rhinoplasty (nose). These types of cosmetic surgeries are best avoided while pregnant. But what about less invasive procedures? Let’s look at some commonly asked about treatments:

Botox

Botox is an injectable form of botulinum toxin. When used cosmetically, Botox is typically injected in the face or neck to help smooth out wrinkles or fine lines in the skin by temporarily paralyzing or relaxing the muscles. Botox is expected to stay in the area where it is administered and not enter the bloodstream. Because of this, it is unlikely to enter breast milk or to cross the placenta where it could reach a developing baby. However, it is important to note that Botox hasn’t been studied specifically for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. There is also a risk for infection at the injection site, and the possibility that the toxin could spread beyond the area where it was administered. Read more about Botox here: https://mothertobaby.org/baby-blog/botox-baby-what-we-know-about-the-risks-during-pregnancy-breastfeeding/

Semi-Permanent Makeup & Microblading

Semi-permanent makeup is achieved by tattooing areas of the face to highlight natural features and typically lasts for a few years before fading. This might include eye liner, lips, or eyebrows. Microblading is another form of tattooing used on the eyebrows. When it comes to the ink used in semi-permanent makeup, it isn’t clear how much of the pigment in the ink is able to enter the blood stream, cross the placenta, or how much is able to reach the baby. For folks who are breastfeeding, it also isn’t clear how much of the pigment might pass into breast milk. This makes it difficult to know if the pigment itself might cause a risk. We do know that with any tattoo, there is a possibility of infection if the equipment is not sterilized properly. There can be a risk for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, and other infections like staph. There is also a possibility of infection during the healing process. If you do choose to get semi-permanent makeup while pregnant or breastfeeding, be sure to go somewhere that is practicing good hygiene. Also be sure to contact your healthcare provider if the tattooed area seems like it isn’t healing correctly.

Teeth Whitening

Many people are also interested in brightening up their pearly whites. Some common teeth whitening products include whitening strips, whitening toothpastes, at home Blue (LED) Light Therapy, and professional whitening procedures administered by a dental hygienist or dentist. For the most part, these products are not expected to increase risks to a pregnancy or a breastfeeding baby. For more details about specific ingredients in teeth whitening products see: https://mothertobaby.org/baby-blog/whitening-teeth-during-pregnancy-or-breastfeeding-lets-bite-into-the-subject/

Chemical Peels

There are a few different types of cosmetic chemical peels that are used to address uneven skin tones, wrinkles, acne scarring, or sun damage by applying a product on the skin (topically) that then removes part of the upper layers of the skin. This usually involves a type of acid – it might be a combination of hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid, trichloroacetic acid, salicylic acid, or lactic acid and other ingredients. Light chemical peels involve the outer layer of skin (epidermis). Deep chemical peels can penetrate a bit further into the layers of your skin. Because the chemicals in each peel can vary, it can be a good idea to ask ahead of time for an ingredient list. A MotherToBaby specialist can talk with you about the active ingredients in the specific chemical peel you are considering. Read more about your skin & skin care here: https://mothertobaby.org/baby-blog/whats-the-skinny-on-skin-care

Lip Fillers & Dermal Fillers

Lip and dermal (or face) fillers are injected substances that are used to fill in lines and wrinkles or add volume to areas in the face or lips. There are currently four types of fillers that are approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). Hyaluronic acid fillers are the most common. Hyaluronic acid, along with Calcium hydroxylapatite and Polylactic acid fillers are considered temporary – these will eventually be broken down and absorbed by the body. Polymethylmethacrylate is not absorbed by the body – this filler is made up of small round plastic beads suspended in collagen. So what do we know about the use of fillers during pregnancy or breastfeeding? The answer is not much. There is limited research on these substances when administered during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, so it may be best to pause any injections until a later date. There is also a potential risk for infection at the injection site. The FDA advises anyone interested in fillers to get them from a licensed healthcare provider and to discuss the risks and benefits with them before the procedure.           

So, what did Erin do about their appointment for dermal fillers?

When it comes to cosmetic procedures while pregnant or breastfeeding, it is important to consider what is known about a procedure and weigh any potential risks. In Erin’s case, they decided it would be best to wait to reschedule their next dermal filler appointment until after their child was born. They ended our call by telling me, “I think it will give me more peace of mind to cancel my appointment and wait until after my pregnancy now that I know there isn’t much research. I’ll talk to my dermatologist about other skin care options in the meantime.” 

Do you have a question about a cosmetic procedure during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Speak with a MotherToBaby specialist via phone, text, chat, or email.

The post Maintaining Your Glow: Navigating Cosmetic Procedures While Pregnant or Breastfeeding appeared first on MotherToBaby.

“I love the way my eyebrows look!” Emily just found out she was 6 weeks pregnant, and had started the process of microblading (a cosmetic tattooing technique, in which a tool made of small needles is used to add semi-permanent pigment to the skin; resembling the hair on the brow) before she knew she was pregnant. Logging into the MotherToBaby chat for some guidance, after online searching resulted in mixed answers, she wanted to know if it was still ok to continue microblading during her pregnancy.

Emily’s question is a common one we receive here at MotherToBaby. With new and upcoming products in the beauty industry, many women want to know if it is ok to start or continue treatments like microblading when they become pregnant. Procedures like these often require more than one visit, broken up between weeks or even months. For pregnant women, the “nine month stretch” raises questions about their use in pregnancy.

The difficulty in answering a question like Emily’s comes down to the lack of information about these types of procedures in pregnancy and also while breastfeeding. Without the research available, we simply do not know about how they may, or may not, affect your pregnancy or your breastfed infant.

Ink

The pigments used in microblading are made up of different types of chemical compounds, like oxides, which can be pre-mixed and purchased by the cosmetic tattoo artist. They may also be mixed by the professionals themselves. A few unknowns are how much pigment, if any, is going into the skin, is entering the mom’s blood, crossing the placenta, and reaching the baby – which also means we do not know if the ingredients in the pigment could pose any risk. The same goes for breastfeeding moms – without good data, we do not know how much pigment, if any, is getting into the milk reaching the breastfed baby.

Possibility of infection

Another thing to consider about microblading in pregnancy and breastfeeding is the risk for infection. As previously mentioned, during the microblading process, a cosmetic tattoo artist deposits pigment into the outer layer of the skin by penetrating the skin with tiny needles. There is a possibility that the needles used may not be completely sterilized, which can lead to a higher risk of health issues such as staph infection, abscess, skin inflammation, or other infections like Hepatitis B and HIV. Medications like antibiotics may be needed to treat these conditions, sometimes requiring weeks or months of treatment. If left untreated, they can lead to health issues for mom and baby. Visiting a reputable business with good hygiene practices in place is a good idea should you choose to have microblading done during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Pain

Some women report that the microblading treatment can be painful. If that’s the case, the cosmetic tattoo artist may recommend the use of additional medications to control the pain (e.g. a topical lidocaine cream, or Tylenol). During pregnancy and breastfeeding, Tylenol (acetaminophen) is considered by most healthcare professionals to be the preferred pain reliever: https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/acetaminophen-pregnancy/. With topical exposures, like lidocaine cream, a significant amount is generally not expected to enter the mom’s blood and result in an exposure to the pregnancy. Consider these additional exposures during pregnancy or while breastfeeding when deciding whether or not to book an appointment.

With all these unknowns in mind, it can be difficult to evaluate what possible risks a developing baby or breastfed infant might face. Ultimately it comes down to weighing the risks vs. the benefits, and this is exactly what I discussed with Emily on our chat. Having gone to a licensed cosmetic tattoo artist, Emily was reassured that her microblading procedure early in pregnancy was unlikely to be a concern. Moving forward, she decided that given the lack of research, she would prefer to wait until she was no longer pregnant or breastfeeding to resume further treatment. “My eyebrows might not look as great for the next year, but I won’t have to constantly worry about the ink reaching the baby or the possibility of infection from having this done!” she shared as we wrapped up the chat.

If you have questions about microblading while pregnant or breastfeeding, don’t hesitate to contact a MotherToBaby specialist via phone, text, chat, or email.

Angela Messer, MS, is a Teratogen Information Specialist with MotherToBaby California. She earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from Chapman University and her Master’s degree from Kansas State University in academic advising/counseling.  Angela has been with MotherToBaby since 2009 and holds a special interest in maternal medical conditions in pregnancy. In her free time, she enjoys spending time in her hometown of San Diego, CA with her husband and 9 month old daughter.

About MotherToBaby 

MotherToBaby is a service of the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS), suggested resources by many agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If you have questions about exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding, please call MotherToBaby toll-FREE at 866-626-6847 or try out MotherToBaby’s new text information service by texting questions to (855) 999-3525. You can also visit MotherToBaby.org to browse a library of fact sheets about dozens of viruses, medications, vaccines, alcohol, diseases, or other exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding or connect with all of our resources by downloading the new MotherToBaby free app, available on Android and iOS markets. Also, make sure to subscribe to The MotherToBaby Podcast available on iTunes, Google Play Music, Spotify and podcatchers everywhere.

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