Is Botox Performed While Breastfeeding?

Botox treatment is one of the most used and increasingly common medical aesthetic procedures today. There is not enough data on the effects of the Botox procedure during breastfeeding on the mother and baby. For this reason, as is the case with many similar cases, Botox applications for cosmetic purposes are not preferred to women who are breastfeeding. In cases where there are health problems such as migraine and Botox is the only treatment option, an individual evaluation is made. 

Although Botox is a very strong toxin, in case of injection, very little blood is involved. For this reason, it is widely believed that it can pass into breast milk in trace amounts. Although the probability of this situation causing any discomfort in the baby is very low, the general opinion is that Botox injections should not be given to women who are breastfeeding.

Does the Drug Taken Pass into Breast Milk?

One of the issues that every mother who breastfeeds her baby is most worried about is whether the drugs she takes will pass into her milk and harm her baby. Although it is normal for mothers to experience this fear and to behave meticulously in all matters regarding their babies, contrary to common belief, very few drugs pass into breast milk.

The passage of drugs into milk occurs according to certain criteria such as the molecular weight of the drug. When the drug has a large molecular weight, it cannot pass through the intercellular spaces that are extremely small because they are large. In this case, it is not possible for the drug taken to pass into breast milk. Factors such as the dose of the drug, its solubility in fat, its ionizing feature, whether it is taken orally or intravenously can be considered among the factors that affect the passage of time. In addition, the age of the baby and whether the digestive organs are mature enough are among the important factors. Drugs that affect the central nervous system, that are stored in the body, such as vitamin A, or that have a chemotherapeutic effect are not included in this scope. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Botox

Botox is a prescription drug obtained from the bacteria Clostridium Botulinum, and the botulinum toxins produced by these bacteria are called neurotoxins. Although Botox is mostly used by dermatologists and plastic surgeons for cosmetic reasons, it is also used in many medical procedures. Botox injection applied to the face helps to correct fine lines and improve the appearance of wrinkles. Botox can be used to treat cerebral palsy, severe neck spasms, excessive sweating, chronic migraine, anal fissures, strabismus, and many other medical conditions. 

Botox injected directly into the muscle blocks the activity of the nerves in the application area and causes temporary paralysis of the muscle. The effect of Botox is only limited to the application area and is temporary. For this reason, Botox injections should be renewed periodically.

Every muscle tissue in the human body is connected to the brain via a network of neurons. Botox injection, which is properly applied to the muscle tissue, provides a shield between the muscle tissue and the neurons. Thus, all signals from neurons to muscle tissue are interrupted and relaxed. It is one of the most effective methods used to remove wrinkles on the face because the signals coming from the neurons in a localized area are cut off. 

Botox injection is a frequently preferred procedure for wrinkles on forehead, between eyebrows, crow’s feet and around the lips. The procedure is performed by diluting powdered botulinum toxin with physiological saline and injecting it. Injection is made into neuromuscular tissue. Before the application, local anesthesia is applied to the application area and a certain period of time is waited for it to take effect. After local anesthesia takes effect, very small doses are injected into the previously cleaned application area using fine-tipped needles. 

Botox procedure is usually completed within 15-20 minutes. The effect of the procedure begins 24-72 hours after the injection into the muscle tissue. After the application, it is normal to see a slight redness and pain in the area where the injection was made. As the redness resolves on its own, the pain is also short-lived. Pain can be controlled by taking simple painkillers prescribed by the doctor when deemed necessary.

The result obtained with Botox injection is not permanent. How long the procedure will provide permanent results may vary depending on the characteristics of the area where the application is made and the dose injected during the application. The result obtained with Botox injection usually maintains its permanence between 4 and 6 months. In order for the effects obtained as a result of Botox injection to be more permanent, a Botox procedure should be applied to the area at least 5-6 times regularly. 

Botox procedure is a medical aesthetic procedure that can be performed for people of all ages, as it is a preventive and temporary application. Since it is the most effective and practical method in preventing the formation of fine wrinkles, Botox can be applied to areas with forehead lines, crow’s feet and mimic lines, especially with the appearance of signs of aging at the end of the 20s. In order to get the desired results in people at this age, it is sufficient to give a much smaller amount of injection than in people of advanced age. It is possible to apply additional procedures such as peeling or filling in order to remove wrinkles and lines that settle on the skin, which cannot be corrected with Botox.