Can You Get Laser Hair Removal While Pregnant?
Being pregnant means quickly getting up to speed on things that are and aren’t considered safe during this exciting new journey. After all, certain foods, medications, exercises and even spa treatments are no longer recommended when you’re expecting. It’s important to know the details to keep you and your rapidly growing little one safe.
But some things fall into a gray area, making it hard to know if they’re safe to start or continue during pregnancy. Laser hair removal is one of them. So can you get laser hair removal while pregnant, or should you wait until after baby arrives? One thing’s for sure: There are conflicting opinions. “My doctor said that it’s okay to have laser hair removal done during pregnancy. However, most of the laser hair removal places [I’ve been to] won’t perform it on a pregnant woman,” says The Bump community member McFelix5711.
There’s little data on whether laser hair removal during pregnancy is safe. But here’s what ob-gyns want you to know so you can make an educated decision.
Laser hair removal is a non-invasive procedure that uses concentrated light to target hair follicles, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). The pigment in the hair shaft absorbs the laser light and damages the follicle, preventing future growth.
It can take several treatments to fully remove hair with laser hair removal, according to the American Academy of Dermatologists (AAD). The procedure is often performed on the face, body, legs, armpits and pubic area, per the ASPS.
While laser hair removal is usually done by a dermatologist, plastic surgeon or trained technician, there are home devices you can use too. These typically aren’t as strong as professional options and require more sessions to get the same results.
Can you get laser hair removal while pregnant? This is up for debate. “There’s not a lot of evidence or data on laser hair removal during pregnancy,” says Alessandra Hirsch, MD, an ob-gyn at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian Allen Hospital. She points to one 2019 study that looked at existing research and found that it’s probably safe. “However, the quality of the evidence is low,” Hirsch says. “It makes some sense that this has been a neglected field of study: Hair removal is considered a cosmetic procedure that can typically be delayed during pregnancy.”
Doctors agree that laser hair removal during pregnancy is likely okay, though. “You’re not going to hurt baby by lasering your face,” says Jennifer Leighdon Wu, MD, an ob-gyn at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. “It’s not going to be a problem,” agrees G. Thomas Ruiz, MD, lead ob-gyn at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California.
That said, Wu says there are a few things to consider before getting laser hair removal while pregnant. One is that there’s usually a lot of hair growth during pregnancy anyway. As a result, you may not get the lasting results you want. “You may laser some of it off, but then it’ll come back, because you’re going to continue to be pregnant and your hormones will continue to be elevated,” she says.
Your skin and certain areas of your body may also be more sensitive and likely to become irritated than usual during pregnancy. “Lasering your bikini line will be excruciatingly painful,” Wu adds.
I was cleared by my OB for lower-leg laser hair removal. She was fine with it, as long as it wasn't near the baby (like bikini). I had to give the laser hair removal center her written approval. I’ve had no problems with hyperpigmentation, as it seems some have.
Physical hair removal during pregnancy is safe, Hirsch says. That means tweezing and threading is just fine. “Shaving is okay as long as the razor is clean and you’re not prone to ingrown hairs or infection,” she says. “Waxing is okay too, as long as you have experience with waxing and/or the salon is hygienic—and the wax doesn’t burn.”
Hirsch stresses that there’s “very little data” about hair removal during pregnancy. “I would tell my patients to avoid chemical depilators or anything that could irritate their skin,” she says.
You’re going to be busy with your little one in the immediate aftermath of giving birth, and laser hair removal might not be your top priority. But if you’ve been itching to get laser hair removal and held off during your pregnancy, Wu recommends waiting until you’re at least six to eight weeks postpartum.
This is a good time to see where you might have lingering excess hair growth, she points out. Your pregnancy hormones should also be coming down at this point, so you’re unlikely to grow too many new unwanted hairs.
Of course, if you’re unsure of how to navigate laser hair removal during pregnancy—or postpartum—ask your doctor. They should be able to help answer your specific questions.
I've had laser hair removal done. My advice is to wait until after you're done with babymaking, since—in my experience—all of the hormones in pregnancy cause a lot of the hair to grow back anyway! Save the money and then pamper yourself post-pregnancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get electrolysis during pregnancy?
Electrolysis is slightly different from laser hair removal. The process uses a tiny needle inserted into hair follicles to deliver an electric current and prevent future hair growth, per the Cleveland Clinic. The American Pregnancy Association (APA) says there are no studies to evaluate the safety of electrolysis during pregnancy, and that many healthcare providers and spa professionals recommend avoiding it because of the lack of information. “We won’t recommend it,” adds Wu.
Can you get laser hair removal when breastfeeding?
Like with laser hair removal during pregnancy, there’s no hard and fast guidance here. However, doctors say it’s generally okay to get laser hair removal while you’re nursing. “So long as the hair is not being removed from the breast, it should be safe to get laser hair removal while breastfeeding,” Hirsch says.
Can pregnancy cause hair re-growth after laser hair removal?
Unfortunately, yes. People who undergo laser hair removal can be hair-free for months or years, per the AAD. But Hirsch says it’s possible for that hair to regrow during pregnancy. “Some women experience hair thickening and growth during pregnancy,” she says. “However, this is usually temporary. Often, women will then experience hair loss in the postpartum period. So even if hair does grow back for a pregnant person who’s had laser hair removal in the past, it's best to wait until after the pregnancy to assess whether more treatments are necessary.” (One thing to keep in mind, according to the AAD: Hair that grows back tends to be less noticeable.)
What other spa treatments should be avoided during pregnancy?
There are a lot of procedures and treatments that fall into this category, making it tough to cover them all. However, Ruiz says the big ones to avoid are things that cause extreme temperatures, like sitting in a sauna, going into a hot tub, doing a cold plunge and undergoing cryotherapy treatments. “Those will affect blood flow to the uterus,” he says.
“You should also avoid skin therapies that contain retinols,” Hirsch says. But, of course, if you’re unsure about any treatment, talk to your doctor.
While it may be safe to go through laser hair removal during pregnancy, ob-gyns generally suggest holding off since it’s an optional procedure and there could be unwanted side effects. Moreover, waiting can help you get the most bang for your buck. In the meantime, shaving, waxing or plucking should help remove those unwanted hairs.
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.
Plus, more from The Bump:
Alessandra Hirsch, MD, is an ob-gyn and assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian Allen Hospital. She earned her medical degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
G. Thomas Ruiz, MD, is the lead ob-gyn at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. He received his medical degree from University of California Irvine School of Medicine.
Jennifer Leighdon Wu, MD, is an ob-gyn at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. She earned her medical degree from the University of South Carolina at Charleston.
American Academy of Dermatology Association, Laser Hair Removal: FAQs
American Pregnancy Association, Laser Hair Removal and Pregnancy
American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Laser Hair Removal
Cleveland Clinic, Electrolysis, January 2021
Dermatologic Surgery, Utilization of Laser Therapy During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of the Maternal and Fetal Effects Reported From 1960 to 2017, June 2019
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