No. Elective dermal filler is not offered at Core Aesthetics during pregnancy. This is a conservative clinical position reflecting the absence of safety data for hyaluronic acid filler during pregnancy, the ethics of not enrolling pregnant patients in trials for cosmetic indications, and the shared position of the TGA and AHPRA that elective cosmetic treatment during pregnancy is not appropriate. Consultation and treatment planning can still take place, with actual treatment scheduled for after the end of pregnancy and breastfeeding.
The clinical position
Elective dermal filler is not offered during pregnancy at Core Aesthetics. This applies to lip, cheek, jawline, tear trough, chin, and all other hyaluronic acid placements. The position is consistent across registered injectors in Australia and aligns with the broader regulatory expectation set by the TGA and AHPRA that elective cosmetic treatment is deferred during pregnancy.
Corey Anderson RN (AHPRA NMW0001047575) discusses this openly at consultation rather than as a technicality at the appointment itself. Patients who become pregnant between a consultation and a scheduled treatment are rebooked for after pregnancy without a fee penalty.
Why the evidence base is thin
Hyaluronic acid filler has not been studied in pregnant patients. This is not because researchers believe it is dangerous — it is because it is not ethical to enrol pregnant patients in a trial for an elective cosmetic intervention. The absence of safety data is deliberate, and it means any decision to proceed would be made without the kind of clinical evidence that is expected before treating a pregnant patient.
In medicine, absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, but for elective treatment the risk calculus is simple: there is no clinical need that justifies proceeding before data exists.
What about the other way around, a patient who discovers pregnancy after recent treatment
A patient who has recent filler and subsequently discovers they are pregnant does not need to take specific action regarding the filler. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring molecule that is gradually metabolised. There is no requirement to dissolve placed product because of pregnancy. The practitioner is happy to have a conversation, and the obstetric team is informed as part of routine antenatal care, but the filler itself does not need to be removed.
What is different is that no further top-ups or new placements are offered until after the pregnancy and breastfeeding period.
The breastfeeding window
Elective filler is also deferred during breastfeeding. The rationale is similar — the evidence base is thin, and elective cosmetic treatment during lactation is not supported by the same clinical data that would be expected for a medical indication. Most patients resume treatment planning once breastfeeding has ended rather than partway through lactation.
Patients who are breastfeeding with a specific medical indication that might warrant earlier treatment have an additional layer of conversation that involves their treating medical practitioner, not the cosmetic nurse alone.
When treatment can be revisited
Treatment is typically revisited after the end of pregnancy and breastfeeding, once the body has returned to a stable metabolic and hormonal baseline. There is no fixed waiting period beyond that, and patients often schedule a consultation within the first one to three months after ending breastfeeding so that treatment planning can begin.
It is worth noting that pregnancy changes facial shape subtly and persistently in many patients. Volume loss after breastfeeding, changes to lip fullness, or shifts in midface contour are common. For that reason, a fresh assessment rather than a return to a pre-pregnancy plan is usually the more clinically appropriate starting point.
Why this is not a "come back and we will still book you in quietly" situation
Some patients ask whether the clinic can proceed at early-stage pregnancy, or under a confidentiality understanding. The answer is no. A nurse who proceeds with elective cosmetic treatment on a pregnant patient is outside AHPRA’s guidelines for registered nurses performing non-surgical cosmetic procedures, and that is treated as a serious professional matter regardless of patient preference.
Refusal is not a commercial decision, it is a safety position that Core Aesthetics would not change under any circumstance.
Other treatments during pregnancy
For completeness, anti-wrinkle treatment is also not offered during pregnancy at Core Aesthetics, on the same evidence-base grounds. Skincare and consultation conversations remain available, and the clinic is happy to keep in touch with a patient who is planning to return after pregnancy — but no injectable treatment is provided until after the pregnancy and breastfeeding period.
If a patient is unsure whether they are pregnant before an appointment, proceeding is deferred and the appointment is rescheduled without a fee penalty until the question is clarified.
Is this for you?
Consider booking a consultation if
- Patients who are pregnant and are considering whether to delay a planned filler appointment.
- Patients who are trying to conceive and want to understand the treatment timeline implications.
- Patients who have had recent filler and have since become pregnant and want clinical reassurance.
- Patients who are planning treatment for after pregnancy and breastfeeding and want to understand typical timelines.
This may not be for you if
- Patients seeking filler during pregnancy itself — the clinic does not offer elective filler under any circumstance during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Patients seeking filler during breastfeeding itself — the same position applies.
- Patients under the age of eighteen, for whom cosmetic dermal filler is not offered at Core Aesthetics regardless of pregnancy status.
- Patients seeking a same-day treatment slot before a definitive answer on pregnancy status has been established.
Suitability is confirmed at consultation. This list is general guidance, not a substitute for clinical assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Is hyaluronic acid filler dangerous for a baby?
There is no clinical evidence that it is, but there is also no clinical evidence that it is safe, because pregnant patients have not been enrolled in trials for elective cosmetic filler. Absence of evidence means the decision to defer is made on a precautionary basis rather than on a known risk.
I had filler three months ago and I just found out I am pregnant. What should I do?
You do not need to take specific action regarding the filler itself. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring molecule that is gradually metabolised. Inform your treating obstetric team as part of routine antenatal care. No further top-ups or new placements are offered during the pregnancy.
Can I have a consultation during pregnancy to plan future treatment?
Yes. Consultation and treatment planning can take place during pregnancy. Actual treatment is scheduled for after the end of pregnancy and breastfeeding. Many patients find this a useful time to discuss their goals without time pressure.
How long after giving birth before I can get filler?
Treatment is typically revisited after the end of both pregnancy and breastfeeding, not just after birth. There is no fixed waiting period beyond that — once the body has returned to a stable baseline, a fresh consultation allows an appropriate plan to be made.
Can I get filler while breastfeeding?
No. Elective filler is deferred during breastfeeding on the same evidence-base grounds as pregnancy. Most patients resume treatment planning after weaning is complete rather than partway through the lactation period.
If I had filler before I knew I was pregnant, can it be dissolved?
Dissolution is usually not clinically indicated simply because of pregnancy. Hyaluronic acid is biocompatible and is gradually metabolised. Dissolution is a separate clinical decision that is made on the basis of placement outcome, not pregnancy status alone.
Will the clinic discuss my pregnancy with anyone else?
No. Consultations are confidential. The reason for deferring treatment is discussed only between the patient and the practitioner, and the scheduling change is made without requiring explanation to reception or any other staff member.