At ThriveOB and Women’s Wellness, we proudly offer Botox® Cosmetic treatments for our patients seeking relief from active wrinkles formed by expression muscles. Botox injections are a safe way to temporarily reduce the appearance of factors that age your face.
However, we’re primarily an obstetrics and gynecology practice, so you may wonder if our medical aesthetics services are appropriate during pregnancy and in your child’s infancy, when you may be breastfeeding.
Let’s take a closer look at Botox treatments from that perspective, so you can comfortably make informed decisions about your cosmetic goals.
While Botox is best known for its cosmetic uses, it was first developed to control dysfunctional eye muscles. Since then, a wide range of additional applications for its unique properties have emerged. These include treatments for:
Some of these conditions can overlap with pregnancy and your child's nursing years. There’s a question of safety for your child when you’re receiving Botox treatments.
The active ingredient in Botox is related to one of the most dangerous natural toxins known to science. The clostridium botulinum bacteria is found in the general environment and the digestive systems of some animals.
Normally, C. botulinum is only toxic when it reproduces at a rate severe enough to cause infection. When this occurs in humans, it’s called botulism, a potentially life-threatening condition.
However, toxicity depends highly on dose. Virtually any substance can be toxic when taken in a large enough dose, even water.
The amount of botulinum toxin used in Botox is tiny and highly purified, so it poses little risk to a patient unless they have an allergy to the medication or its ingredients.
The small amount of toxin in a Botox injection is generally regarded as too small to be passed on to a child while breastfeeding. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which approves Botox for its on-label uses, reports that the safety of Botox during breastfeeding is unknown at this time.
If you’re considering Botox treatments while you’re breastfeeding, it’s doubly important to choose a medical practitioner with experience in Botox injections. Non-medical spas simply don’t have the resources necessary in the unlikely event that something goes wrong.
Visit Dr. Jennifer Moreira and the team at ThriveOB and Women’s Wellness in Barrington, Illinois, to discuss your aesthetic goals as a nursing mother. Call our appointment hotline at 847-868-2908 to schedule your visit today.
