Doctors share their concerns about fillers as pregnant Karoline Leavitt debuts plump lips

EXCLUSIVE: After Karoline Leavitt appeared at a press gaggle with red marks on her lip line and a plumper pout, doctors have revealed whether you can get lip filler while pregnant

Numerous top doctors have shared their concerns about getting fillers when pregnant, citing a lack of evidence on whether they are safe to receive when expecting.

This comes as Karoline Leavitt, who recently announced her pregnancy, debuted plumper-looking lips, when she spoke to reporters with Donald Trump on Wednesday, March 11. Karoline has never shared she has undergone fillers or any cosmetic work.

Karoline, 28, who is Trump's White House Press Secretary, could be seen with rosy lips, which appeared to have red dots around their lines, also known as the vermilion border, a classic sign of having recently received lip fillers. However, while pregnant women are still able to have many cosmetic procedures done, such as lip fillers, several doctors have shared their worries.

Inside Nancy Guthrie Tucson home as sinister theory links Today Show video to disappearanceREAD MORE:

Expert reveals real reason why no one has come forward in Nancy Guthrie case

Speaking exclusively to Irish Star US, three top aesthetics doctors outlined why they wouldn't recommend getting fillers while pregnant, and they all gave the same reason: There's just not enough research into its safety in pregnant people.

Aesthetics doctor and the founder of Viva Skin Clinics, Dr. Rupert Critchley, shared his concerns with us and explained why there isn't a lot of evidence surrounding pregnant women getting fillers.

"Dermal fillers have not been formally studied in pregnant patients," Dr. Critchley explained. "This is largely because it would be ethically very difficult to conduct clinical trials involving pregnant women for elective cosmetic procedures. As a result, we simply do not have robust safety data confirming that fillers are safe during pregnancy."

Continuing, the doctor said he would advise against women getting fillers when pregnant, as he remarked, "Most responsible practitioners take a precautionary approach and advise avoiding dermal fillers during pregnancy.

"While the most commonly used fillers are made from hyaluronic acid, which is generally well tolerated by the body, the absence of clear safety evidence means it is sensible to avoid elective treatments during this time."

Dr. Critchley also detailed how pregnancy hormones can affect the way one heals after fillers.

"Pregnancy also causes significant hormonal and immune system changes in the body," the practitioner told the Irish Star US, "These shifts can alter how the skin heals and responds to inflammation, which may make swelling, bruising, or other reactions less predictable. Because of this, most clinics recommend postponing injectable treatments until after pregnancy and breastfeeding."

Fellow practitioner, double board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Fernando Ovalle Jr., agreed with Dr. Critchley's assessment, as he also noted that he would advise waiting until after pregnancy and breastfeeding to have fillers.

"In general, most invasive and minimally invasive cosmetic procedures, including injectables, lasers, and elective surgery, are deferred during pregnancy," Dr. Ovalle Jr. said. "That includes neuromodulators like Botox and dermal fillers. It's not necessarily that we know they're harmful; it's that they haven’t been adequately studied in pregnant patients."

However, he did note that he would carry out some procedures, such as medically necessary ones for conditions like skin cancer, as he explained, "Treatment of skin cancer or other urgent conditions, such as infections and trauma, can absolutely still be treated and performed from a plastic surgery standpoint during pregnancy when indicated. But for purely aesthetic treatments, there's rarely a reason they can't wait."

Board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Rachael Ford, too, shared the same sentiments, as she explained that data is behind the reason doctors often advise against getting filler.

"This recommendation is primarily due to the lack of safety data regarding fetal exposure, rather than evidence that these treatments are harmful. Because these procedures are elective, most physicians feel it is prudent to avoid any potential risk during pregnancy," she told us.

But, she said that there are still crucial ways that pregnant women can take care of their skin while pregnant, away from cosmetic treatments.

"Gentle facials, LED light therapy, and topical skincare using pregnancy-safe ingredients such as vitamin C and hyaluronic acid are generally considered appropriate options," Dr. Ford explained. "I also recommend daily use of a mineral sunscreen, which can help reduce the risk of melasma, a common pregnancy-related form of hyperpigmentation."