Laser hair removal during pregnancy — can you have the treatment?
At LASERRIX, we do not perform laser hair removal during pregnancy.
It is not because laser hair removal has been proven to harm the baby. The reason is simpler: there are no good, direct safety studies of cosmetic laser hair removal during pregnancy, and the treatment is elective and can comfortably wait until after birth.[1–3]
If you are pregnant, we do not start a course now or continue further appointments.
If, however, you had a treatment before you found out you were pregnant, there is no reason to panic. Available data on the use of dermatological lasers during pregnancy do not show a characteristic signal of fetal harm. We simply postpone further treatments.[1]
This text was written after a conversation with my friend. During her pregnancy she told me:
"I have a lot of unwanted hair. What can I do about it? You're a laser specialist."
This is a very natural question - especially when the pregnant body starts to behave differently than before.
Why don't we perform laser hair removal during pregnancy at LASERRIX?
For me the rule is simple:
if the aesthetic procedure can be safely postponed, and there are no good direct studies on performing it during pregnancy - I see no reason to do it now.
Laser hair removal is not a treatment that must be performed at a specific time for medical reasons.
Therefore, at LASERRIX during pregnancy, I do not start a series and do not continue subsequent treatments.
This is not meant to scare anyone about lasers.
This is a conscious decision: pregnancy has its time, and we can safely return to hair removal later.
Does the laser reach the child?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions.
In laser hair removal, light energy is absorbed primarily by melanin in the hair and converted into heat acting within the hair and the hair follicle in the skin.
The target of the treatment is the hairy skin - not the uterus or fetus.
In a review on the use of dermatological lasers during pregnancy, the authors also point out that from the point of view of the physics of typical skin lasers, direct exposure of the fetus to laser light is not expected.[1]
But this does not automatically mean:
"since the laser light is not directed to the fetus, cosmetic hair removal must be performed during pregnancy."
These are two different questions.
At LASERRIX, I am interested not only in whether it is possible to figure out the mechanism of damage, but above all in whether there is a good enough reason to perform the planned procedure now.
I don't see any reason for this when I'm pregnant.
What does the research really show?
Here it is worth separating two things.
Dermatological lasers used during pregnancy
The literature describes the use of various dermatological lasers in pregnant women - most often for medical reasons.
A systematic review of 22 publications including 380 pregnant women did not reveal a distinctive pattern of maternal or fetal complications attributable to laser therapy. At the same time, the authors emphasized that the available evidence was based mainly on case reports and series, i.e. on lower quality data.[1]
This is reassuring information.
Cosmetic laser hair removal
However, these are not studies in which a large group of pregnant women underwent a full cosmetic laser hair removal course and compared the results with an appropriate control group.
We simply don't have such good direct data.
Reviews on aesthetic treatments during pregnancy recommend postponing elective cosmetic procedures, including laser hair removal, until after pregnancy.[2,3]
And that's exactly what we do at LASERRIX.
What happens to your skin and hair during pregnancy?
Pregnancy changes both your skin and your hair growth cycle.
Many women experience changes in skin pigmentation, including melasma and darkening of selected areas.
The hair cycle also changes.
During pregnancy, more hair may remain in the active growth phase for longer. After giving birth, some of them enter a resting phase and then shed.[4]
Therefore, what hair looks like during pregnancy does not necessarily correspond to what a given zone will look like a few months after giving birth.
This does not mean that all the hair that appears during pregnancy will definitely go away on its own.
However, it means that the body is going through a major physiological change and it is not the best moment for me to start the planned course.
I answered my friend exactly like this: choose the temporary method for now, and we will return to the laser after giving birth.
What if I had the procedure before I found out I was pregnant?
It happens.
Someone may have a treatment and find out a few days or weeks later that they were already in the early stages of pregnancy on the day of the visit.
Don't panic.
Available publications on dermatological laser therapy in pregnancy do not show a characteristic signal of fetal damage.[1]
This does not mean that we are continuing the series.
Once pregnancy is confirmed, further treatments are postponed.
If the situation worries you, you can of course inform the doctor supervising the pregnancy that such a procedure has taken place.
When can you go back to hair removal after giving birth?
I don't set one mandatory date for every woman.
After giving birth, we look at the real situation:
- how do you feel;
- whether the skin in the treatment zone is already calm;
- what does your current hair growth look like?
- whether there are any other contraindications;
- Are you breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding itself is a separate topic and is not the same as pregnancy.
If you are breastfeeding, see the separate LASERRIX article about laser hair removal while breastfeeding.
You also don't have to automatically start the entire course from the beginning.
If you have already had treatments performed before pregnancy, during the next consultation we assess the current regrowth and plan a further course on this basis.
You can also see what the first visit and consultation are like at LASERRIX.
Frequently asked questions
Can LASERRIX perform laser hair removal during pregnancy?
No - at LASERRIX we do not start or continue a series of laser hair removal treatments during pregnancy. It is an elective treatment, so we postpone it until after childbirth.
Does this mean that the laser has been proven to be harmful to children?
No. The reason for LASERRIX's decision is primarily the lack of good direct research on cosmetic laser hair removal during pregnancy and the fact that the procedure can be easily postponed.[1–3]
I had laser hair removal before I found out I was pregnant. Should I be worried?
There is no need to panic. Available data on dermatological lasers do not show a characteristic signal of harm to the fetus. We postpone further treatments until after pregnancy.[1]
Can I use the razor normally during pregnancy?
Yes. If you need hair removal during pregnancy, shaving is an easy solution until you return to your laser series.
After giving birth, do I have to start the series from the beginning?
No. First, we assess the current regrowth and the previous dynamics of the zone, and only then we plan subsequent treatments.
Does breastfeeding mean you still can't have laser hair removal?
Not automatically. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are two different situations. I discuss feeding separately in the LASERRIX article on lactation.
The most important thing
We do not perform laser hair removal at LASERRIX during pregnancy.
Not because there is evidence that cosmetic laser harms the baby.
The reason is simpler: we do not have good direct studies of laser hair removal in pregnant women, and the elective treatment can wait.
If the procedure was performed before you found out you were pregnant, don't panic. We are postponing further visits.
After giving birth, we come back to the topic and determine the next series based on your current situation.
If your situation is unusual or you are unsure when to return after giving birth, write to LASERRIX.
Diana Bashynska
co-owner of LASERRIX and laser hair removal specialist
Wrocław
Sources
- Wilkerson E.C. et al. - Utilization of Laser Therapy During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of the Maternal and Fetal Effects Reported From 1960 to 2017
- Trivedi M.K., Kroumpouzos G., Murase H.E. — A review of the safety of cosmetic procedures during pregnancy and lactation
- Kovacs T. et al. - Cosmetic Dermatology in Pregnancy and Lactation: A Risk-Benefit Framework for Clinical Practice
- Gizlenti S., Ekmekci T.R. — The changes in the hair cycle during gestation and the post-partum period
Want to resume your course after giving birth? See what the first visit is like and check laser hair removal prices.
