Can you get lip fillers when pregnant?

Pregnant and wondering whether it's still safe to get lip fillers? Here's what you need to know about whether you can get lip fillers when you're pregnant, and what the risks are.

Being pregnant means you inevitably have to start thinking about all the things you can and can't do anymore – like which foods it's safe to eat and which sports it's OK for you to do.

And if you're planning on getting lip fillers, you might be wondering whether it's safe to do so while pregnant.

The official advice on getting lip fillers while pregnant

Unfortunately, lip fillers aren't recommended during pregnancy. This is because lip fillers haven't been fully tested on pregnant women, so experts aren't sure exactly what effect – if any – they may have on you and your baby.

For this reason, many clinics offering lip fillers say that they advise against having lip fillers while pregnant.

The NHS doesn't have any direct advice on getting lip fillers during pregnancy. However, they do say that it's not recommended to have Botox (injections to relax the muscles in your face to smooth out lines and wrinkles) if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.

So, it's probably sensible to take similar caution when it comes to having lip fillers.

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How do lip fillers work and what are the risks?

Lip fillers in the UK work by injecting a natural substance called hyaluronic acid into your lips, which adds volume to them.

They're not permanent, and how long they last depends on things like the type of filler and where it's injected – but they usually last between 6 and 18 months.

While the NHS doesn't have any specific advice on getting lip fillers during pregnancy, they do warn of the general risks that come with having lip fillers or face fillers. They say that the risk will depend on whether the procedure was done correctly and the type of filler used, but that rare serious problems can include:

• infection
• a lumpy appearance under the skin, which might need to be treated with surgery or medicine
• the filler moving away from the intended treatment area, which may need to be removed using surgery
• scarring
• blocked blood vessels in the face, which can cause tissue death and permanent blindness

While these serious complications are rare, you ideally don't want to risk any of them during pregnancy.

The NHS says that having dermal fillers is usually safe if it's done by an experienced and qualified practitioner. However, to minimise risk, the NHS recommends that you:

• check the person doing your fillers is on a register to show they meet the right standards for training, skill and insurance
• avoid practitioners who have only completed a short training course
• book a consultation before you have the procedure, so that you can ask about their experience and qualifications, the products they'll be using, any risks or side effects, what happens if things go wrong, and what insurance they have.

What about if you’ve already had lip fillers and have just found out you’re pregnant?

Unfortunately, there's not a lot of research on how lip fillers can affect you and your baby during pregnancy. However, if you've already had fillers and haven't had any complications then it's likely to be fine.

If you're worried, you can always make an appointment with your doctor or midwife so that they can check everything's OK.

If you're wondering about whether it's safe to undergo other beauty and cosmetic treatments while pregnant, here's what you need to know about using hair removal cream during pregnancy, bleaching your hair during pregnancy, and whether it's safe to get a tattoo during pregnancy.

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