Can you get lip fillers while pregnant? Here’s what you need to know.

A close-up of a woman receiving a lip injection.
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Created with Nataliia Yermolovych, MD, Obstetrician-Gynecologist, Ukraine

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In a nutshell

There is not much research about the safety of lip fillers (or any fillers) during pregnancy. Therefore, it is best not to get your lips done while pregnant or breastfeeding. You could experience uncomfortable side effects or compromise your baby’s health. There are safer alternatives to lip fillers that will make you feel good about the way your lips look.

Pregnancy is the time to feel like your most beautiful and radiant self. Some women rely solely on Mother Nature’s cocktail of hormones to get that glowy and plump look, but others might want to spice things up. That can be anything from a little spray tan to amplifying your facial features with a cosmetic procedure. 

We understand. Your body is changing in so many ways that all those tried and true beauty rituals feel like a safety net. Pregnancy will require more or less adaptation depending on what your maintenance routine normally looks like. 

With full transparency: you will have to temporarily part ways with some of your favorite skincare, like retinol or certain acids. Your best-performing SPF might not work anymore, and neither will some cosmetic interventions. This might be very disappointing news for some ladies, and we know what you are thinking: is it okay to get some work done? Can you get lip fillers while pregnant?

Lip filler treatments enhance the volume, shape, and structure of your lips. As with any invasive medical procedure, there are certain risks nobody likes to think about. Still, when you are expecting or breastfeeding, contemplating the safety of everything becomes your daily mantra.

Can you get lip fillers while pregnant?

We know lip fillers might be a regular part of your beauty routine, but there are good reasons to postpone the next appointment. If you are wondering whether you can get lip injections while pregnant, the answer is a quite straightforward “no.” Here’s why: 

Most healthcare professionals advise against getting lip injections during pregnancy and feel uncomfortable performing cosmetic procedures on pregnant ladies. If your injector does not seem to worry about the potential risks to your and your baby’s health, consider it a red flag.

There is very little research on using lip fillers, also known as dermal fillers, during pregnancy, mainly due to the ethical and legal concerns of testing on pregnant women. However, despite the lack of specific research, everything we know about the general risks of lip fillers plus the effects of pregnancy on the body tell us that the two are not a good combination.

A woman smiling while applying lip balm as an alternative to getting lip fillers while pregnant.

What do the medical recommendations and guidelines say?

Can you get lip filler while pregnant, according to the current guidelines? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not review or approve lip fillers for use during pregnancy, since there is not much evidence of their safety. Most lip filler manufacturers also decide to err on the side of caution and recommend avoiding their products while expecting. 

The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery advises against using dermal filler during pregnancy, as well as while breastfeeding. There is a solid agreement regarding this among cosmetic industry professionals across the U.S.

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Potential risks of getting fillers while pregnant

What could go wrong if you get lip filler while pregnant?  Let’s take a closer look.

Allergic reactions

Pregnancy changes the way your hormone production and immune system work. As a result, pre-existing allergies might get worse, and you may even develop brand new allergic reactions. This includes substances like lip filler, even if getting it has never bothered you before. 

Most lip fillers contain hyaluronic acid. This molecule is naturally present in the skin and However, lip filler formulations often include ingredients used to modify the solubility and viscosity of the filler, which may potentially trigger an allergic reaction.

Infection risk

If your immune system didn’t change while expecting, it would think of the baby as a foreign invader. Luckily, your body learns to accept the fetus without attacking it. The downside of this natural phenomenon is that it might tolerate microorganisms more easily too, which puts you at greater risk for infection.

Heart damage

Hyaluronic acid in dermal fillers is often mixed with small amounts of a local anesthetic, such as lidocaine. If the mixture is accidentally injected into a small blood vessel of the lip, both the baby and mother could be exposed to a substance that can damage the heart. The mother may experience dizziness, sweating, heart racing, and headache. If these symptoms happen after a lip injection procedure, it is best to seek urgent medical attention. 

While these complications are theoretically possible, they are very rare. Always consult with your healthcare provider for personalized advice and to understand the risks and benefits of any procedure.

Unknown effects on the baby

Since there is not enough scientific data on the effects and safety of fillers during pregnancy, we have no way of knowing whether they can affect the baby’s development and cause any other serious health concerns.

Alternatives to fillers during pregnancy

Your appearance can affect the way you feel throughout pregnancy. So, even though lip filler is off the table, there  are plenty of ways to pamper yourself while pregnant or breastfeeding that come with zero risks. Let’s take a look at some of the options we’ve researched to help you feel and look your best during this special time.

  • Lip care products. There are many lip balms, conditioners, and treatments that will keep your lips hydrated and plump while being safe for pregnancy. 
  • Exfoliation. Smooth lips = pretty lips. Use a gentle scrub to exfoliate and remove dead cells. This will make your lips look better instantly. 
  • Non-invasive options. Are you ready for some spicy plump? There are so many lip-plumping glosses and lipsticks on the market. These products can really enhance lip volume for a limited time. Just make sure to go for the ones that contain pregnancy-safe ingredients.

We know this might be a bummer, but you can still make your lips look nice and pouty. After you give birth and finish breastfeeding, consult with a trusted healthcare provider to make a safe and effective beauty plan.

Questions from the Femia community

What if I had fillers before I knew I was pregnant?

Make sure to talk about this with your healthcare provider. In general, there should be no reason for concern. Fillers containing hyaluronic acid usually stay put in the area treated, as opposed to migrating through the body and potentially getting into the bloodstream. They also typically go away on their own within six to nine months, depending on your body and the type of filler used.


If you wish to err on the side of caution and get them dissolved, you can do that with the hyaluronidase enzyme, which breaks down hyaluronic acid. Still, that intervention comes with the risk of developing an allergic reaction to the enzyme itself, so discuss with your healthcare provider first.

Can fillers affect breastfeeding?

The available information on the effects of dermal fillers while breastfeeding is scarce. That’s why most health organizations and healthcare providers advise against using them while breastfeeding. This makes a lot of sense: whatever gets into your body and bloodstream may also become part of the milk for your baby. Waiting seems like the safest bet.

Is it safe to use over-the-counter lip-plumping products during pregnancy?

The safety of lip-plumping products during pregnancy depends on their ingredients. Most of them are pregnancy-safe, but make sure to stay away from irritants.


For instance, it’s okay to apply hyaluronic acid, peptides, and natural oils on the surface of your lips. Products that contain these ingredients will do a great job of hydrating your lips and making them look plumper. However, strong active substances like menthol may irritate your already sensitive skin and lips, so it’s best to stay away from them.

The bottom line

So, can you get filler while pregnant? In short: pregnancy is a time to enjoy a more natural look  – lip fillers and other injectables can wait. There is an overall agreement about this among the healthcare specialists and regulatory bodies in the U.S. 

The risks that come with getting lip fillers during pregnancy simply outweigh the benefits: you could get an allergic reaction or an infection, expose your baby to toxic molecules, or compromise its health in ways we don’t even know about. Take your sweet time, and wait to give birth and finish breastfeeding before getting lip injections. 

And, don’t forget that there are other ways to pamper yourself while pregnant or breastfeeding, such as using a lip moisturizer, exfoliant, or non-injection lip plumping products. 

Most importantly, discuss any cosmetic procedures you wish to get with your healthcare provider or obstetrician first. They will know what to do and how to keep you and your baby safe.

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