Botox and Breastfeeding

Botox is a purified form of botulinum toxin and is FDA-approved for reducing facial wrinkles, migraines, incontinence, muscle spasms, and more that works by temporarily relaxing muscles and paralyzing nerves.

The idea of using Botox while lactating can be scary because of the associations with botulism, a very dangerous illness for infants.

However, the limited research on Botox use during lactation shows that its use is likely safe as injections remain localized with minimal systemic absorption.

One study showed that half of participants who received Botox did not have any show up in their milk, and those that did have the toxin present were in amounts much lower than were dangerous to the infant. There is no evidence of harm to a breastfeeding infant caused by facial Botox injections by a licensed and reputable provider. Extra caution may be needed if an infant is preterm or low birth weight.

More questions or need personalized support? Schedule an in-person or virtual consultation with me!

Sources:
https://infantrisk.com/content/botox-injections-and-breastfeeding
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501400/
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/fpsam.2023.0326