What are cosmetic procedures and beauty treatments?

Cosmetic procedures are elective (optional) surgical procedures that can change your appearance. These procedures are done to change an otherwise healthy part of the body because of how it looks or functions, not for a medical reason. You might choose to have a procedure because you believe it will improve your appearance.

Some examples of cosmetic surgery are:

• abdominoplasty (tummy tuck)
• blepharoplasty (removes extra skin from your eyelids)
• augmentation or reduction surgery to change the size or shape of your breasts
• liposuction
• pinnaplasty to change the shape of your ears
• rhinoplasty to change the shape of your nose

During pregnancy, your skin and body go through many changes. While these changes are normal, some people may still want to have beauty treatments. Beauty treatments can change how you look, but do not change your underlying features. These include hair removal, dyes, cosmetics and personal care products.

You might have had a procedure before becoming pregnant and want to keep having it.

Are cosmetic procedures safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding?

There is limited research about the safety of many cosmetic products and procedures during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Safety quick guide

Safety of cosmetic procedures and beauty treatments during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Cosmetic procedure or beauty treatment	Safety during pregnancy or breastfeeding
Cosmetic surgeries that involve local anaesthesia	Not recommended
Skin tag, wart or lesion removal	Generally considered safe*
Urgent skin procedures (skin cancer removal)	Safe during second trimester
Sclerotherapy (varicose vein removal)	Not recommended during breastfeeding
Laser hair removal	Generally considered safe*
Botox™ (for aesthetic purposes)	Not recommended during pregnancy
Dermal filler	No recommendations currently made
Skin care products	Avoid using products that are not essential or not proven safe
Fake tan	Generally considered safe* — avoid applying to nipple/areola while breastfeeding
Hair dye	Generally considered safe*
Nail treatments	Generally considered safe*
Tattoos	Not recommended

* This table is a summary of the recommendations based on the limited available research, but it is always best to speak to your maternity care provider. Let all your health and beauty professionals know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, before booking in for any procedure or treatment.

Cosmetic surgery

Cosmetic surgery during pregnancy

Your doctor can help you understand the risks of a particular cosmetic surgery based on your circumstances. There is limited evidence in this area to make safety recommendations. They may recommend that you wait until after you've finished breastfeeding. If you must go ahead with cosmetic surgery in pregnancy, the recommendation is to wait until the second trimester.

Cosmetic procedures often involve local anaesthetic injections that may cross the placenta. This means that the effects may reach your baby. There are many types of local anaesthetics, and some are safer than others. Depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy and the type of anaesthetic used, there are risks involved, including:

• slowing your baby's heart rate
• triggering early labour
• a risk of birth differences (congenital anomalies)

To prevent too much local anaesthetic from spreading through your body, a medicine called adrenaline may be used. If this is used in a high dose it can reduce the blood flow to your uterus and to your baby, and may cause your baby to be born early. Even local anaesthetics applied directly to the area of the body (topical) can put your baby at increased risk by reducing the oxygen going to their organs.

Some small cosmetic procedures are thought to be safe. Examples include removing:

• skin tags
• warts
• other non-cancerous (benign) skin lesions

If you need an urgent skin procedure (for example, removal of a skin cancer) it's best to have it in the second trimester or after your baby is born, if possible. This is because your baby's organs are developing in the first trimester, while in the third trimester you risk having a premature baby.

If the procedure is only for cosmetic reasons, the advice is usually to wait until after your baby is born. In some cases after discussing the risks and giving informed consent, your doctor may carry out the procedure.

Cosmetic surgery while you’re breastfeeding

There is very little information about the safety of cosmetic procedures when breastfeeding. If you’re worried about varicose veins that occur in pregnancy, remember that these often go away on their own once your baby is born. It’s best to wait until after you’ve finished breastfeeding since the chemicals used in sclerotherapy (a type of treatment for varicose veins) may pass into your breast milk.

Laser hair removal and laser skin treatments

There is limited research about laser treatments during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The laser light used in hair removal treatments heats the skin from the outside only and doesn't affect any deep layers. It is not considered a risk to your unborn baby.

Due to changes in your hormones and body during pregnancy, laser hair removal may be less effective and long-term results less predictable.

There is no evidence that laser hair removal affects breastfeeding or your breastfed baby.
It is recommended that you speak to your doctor before having light-based cosmetic treatments. You may want to choose safer hair removal options such as:

• waxing
• shaving
• threading
• other topical hair removal products

Waxing

You may choose to wax your legs or other parts of your body to remove hair. Waxing can be safely done during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

Botox™ and dermal fillers

Botulinum toxin Type A (for example, Botox™) is used to treat wrinkles by injecting it into the muscles of your face. It is also used to treat some neurological conditions. Small amounts are unlikely to enter your blood and do not usually cross the placenta so it is unlikely to reach your unborn baby.

If you were to get Botox™ before you knew you were pregnant, it is unlikely to cause any problems. Since it is for beauty reasons and isn't medically necessary, it is not recommended to have this treatment during pregnancy.

Based on the existing research, Botox™ is not likely to enter breast milk. There are no special considerations or recommendations for the use of Botox™ while you're breastfeeding.

Dermal fillers are injected under your skin to fill out wrinkles and make your skin look smoother. There isn't enough research on dermal fillers to know how they might affect pregnancy or breastfeeding — speak to your maternal health provider if you are considering treatment.

Skin care products

Most cosmetics and products that you apply to your skin and can buy over the counter are not likely to be harmful. However, they may contain chemicals that can pass through your skin.

The general recommendation is to avoid using products that are not essential or have not been proven safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Always consider whether you really need to use the product. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you're concerned.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

Acne treatments

Due to hormone changes during pregnancy, your skin can change, and sometimes this includes acne. Acne treatments are safe to use in pregnancy if they contain:

• benzoyl peroxide
• salicylic acid spot treatment
• glycolic acid

However, salicylic acid peels should be avoided during pregnancy.

Over-the-counter products containing vitamin A (or retinol) usually only have low concentrations so you can use them in pregnancy. Avoid retinols with stronger formulations (for example, compounded or prescription products). Check with your pharmacist before you buy these products, and tell them if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.

Tretinoin for acne and minoxidil for hair growth both need a prescription and they should not be used during pregnancy.

Hydroquinone is available over the counter and used for skin bleaching. It should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding as large amounts are absorbed from the skin into the blood.

Don't use unbranded products or buy products online if you can't be sure what they contain. Don't borrow products from friends without first checking with your pharmacist.

Spray (‘fake’) tan

Self-tanning is considered safe in pregnancy since only very small amounts of the product are absorbed.

Spray tans have higher levels of chemicals than self-tanning lotions. If you are getting a spray tan or if you give spray tans as your job, use protective measures to prevent breathing the product in.

Spray tan is generally considered safe while breastfeeding, but avoid applying it to the nipple, areola or any area that your baby may come in direct contact with.

Hair dye

Hair dye contains chemicals that can be harmful to your unborn baby. Because it is applied to your hair and scalp, your unborn baby would have very little exposure. Many people dye their hair in pregnancy and there is no clear evidence that this causes harm. Some people wait until the second trimester.

Most studies have shown no increased risk of pregnancy problems or birth differences among hairdressers who are pregnant. You can lower your exposure to chemicals by:

• opening windows
• using gloves
• washing your hands before eating
• storing and disposing of chemicals safely

Masks may not fully protect you from breathing in chemicals, so having good ventilation is still important.

Manicures and pedicures

It's generally considered safe to have nail treatments during pregnancy. The chemicals used are generally in low concentrations and are not easily absorbed by the skin.

You can reduce your risk of harm by following the same precautions recommended for hair dye, such as ensuring good ventilation and limiting contact with chemicals.

Avoid nail treatments if you have any cuts around your nails, and make sure your technician uses sterilised tools to prevent infection.

If you're unsure about the type of nail polish used, ask your salon to avoid products that contain:

• dibutyl phthalate
• toluene
• formaldehyde

Tattoos

It's generally recommended to avoid getting a tattoo while pregnant or breastfeeding. There isn't much research available, and there's currently no clear evidence that tattoos are either safe or unsafe while pregnant or breastfeeding.

There is a very low risk that tattoo ink could pass into breast milk. Tattoo ink mainly contains large particles, but some smaller particles may be present, and it is not known how these might affect breast milk. There is a risk of infection if the tattoo is done in an environment that isn't hygienic.

The safest option is to wait until after pregnancy and breastfeeding before getting a new tattoo.

Resources and support

For information on specific cosmetic procedures and treatments during pregnancy and breastfeeding, speak with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist.

MotherSafe has a helpful fact sheet with information about the safety of different types of cosmetic procedures and products.

The Australian Breastfeeding Association has information that covers beauty treatments and their safety in breastfeeding.