Is a Botox treatment safe during breastfeeding?

If you are breastfeeding, a Botox consent form ought to say something about it. Whether it does is worth checking before you sign.

What the two sources say

medlineplus.gov states: "You should not use Botox if you are pregnant or breastfeeding." dermnetnz.org states: "Botulinum-A should also be avoided during pregnancy and while breastfeeding." Both advise against it. You can read the full text in the MedlinePlus Botox entry and the DermNet overview of botulinum toxin.

Claims that deserve a second look

A salesperson who says treatment is fine while nursing is saying the opposite of both lines. A form that says nothing leaves you relying on a spoken answer, and spoken answers are the hardest to check later.

Product names matter too. A review titled Botulinum toxin type A products are not interchangeable is a reason to ask which specific product the paperwork names.

The line to ask for in writing

Ask the provider to state in writing whether they treat patients who are breastfeeding, and to cite the source behind that position. Readers in Ann Arbor, Michigan can then set the written answer next to the two sentences quoted above.