Are dermal fillers safe during pregnancy?

What does the evidence say about dermal fillers during pregnancy?

1. A review of dermatologic and cosmetic procedures in pregnancy lists fillers, sclerotherapy, and liposuction as absolutely contraindicated during pregnancy. 1
2. FDA has approved dermal fillers for adults 22 years of age and older for specific facial uses, and has not approved any dermal filler for over-the-counter use or any needle-free device for injecting one. 2
3. Removing or reducing filler can require injections, surgery, or other procedures that carry their own risks, and it may be difficult or impossible to remove some filler materials at all. 2
4. Because controlled trials of cosmetic procedures in pregnancy do not exist, a systematic review had to work from case reports and case series, and concluded better evidence is needed before firm recommendations can be made. 3
5. Safety data on dermatologic medicines in pregnancy is difficult to locate and is not consolidated into a single reference, which is why clinicians lean on published capsule summaries when counseling patients on risk. 4

Is dermal fillers safe in each trimester?

• First trimester. A clear stop. There is no pregnancy safety data on filler materials, and the review covering this classes fillers as contraindicated rather than merely cautious.
• Second trimester. Facial fullness shifts on its own during pregnancy from fluid changes, so any result now would be judged against a face that is already changing week to week.
• Third trimester. Swelling peaks late in pregnancy. Even setting the safety question aside, this is the worst time to judge a cosmetic result that is not easy to undo.