Which Aesthetic Treatments are Safe During Pregnancy?
Congratulation! You're pregnant and expecting a baby! It's just like in the movies, your skin is glowing and fresh, and you're walking around beaming with radiance, and you're glowing! Umm, except that's not really the case at all… Instead, you have broken out like a teenager with acne, and you are dehydrated all day due to the constant vomiting due to morning sickness. In addition, you have developed some patches of dark skin on your face.
To add to everything else, you can no longer do all the fun things you used to do to make yourself feel better. You can't drink wine anymore, and you can't even eat your favourite cheese! But whilst there are many things you can not do whilst pregnant, one thing you are definitely allowed to do is put your feet up and be pampered. As long as your midwife is happy, there is a list of nice and relaxing things you can still look forward to!
Here's a rundown of the aesthetic treatments that are considered safe for you and your baby for the 9 months ahead.
1. Facials
Great news, facials are generally considered to be safe during pregnancy, especially the ones that use all-natural products.
During your pregnancy, your skin may not be looking its best due to all the hormonal changes your body is going through. A deeply cleansing facial is an amazing way to exfoliate and unclog your pores which will help to reduce breakouts.
There are many different types of facials you can go for. Oxygen facials are particularly good because they can improve circulation and also help to reduce fine lines. Hydrating facials use moisture-rich ingredients to hydrate the skin.
2. Skin peels
Skin peels are a controversial one. There is a lot of conflicting advice on the matter. In general, superficial peels that use glycolic or lactic acid are safe during pregnancy due to their low penetration levels. Lactic acid chemical peels are frequently used to treat gestational acne. Peels that use other chemicals, such as retinol, should be avoided.
One thing to note is that your skin will change continuously during your pregnancy due to the constantly changing hormone levels. Therefore, despite getting a facial, it still might not give you the results you are looking for. In this case, saving it for after your pregnancy may be better.
Unfortunately, this one is a no. At the moment, there are no clinical studies evaluating the effect of Botox and dermal fillers on pregnant women. Therefore we don't know if these substances can be potentially harmful to unborn babies. Responsible practitioners should refuse to provide this service to pregnant women.
For women who regularly have Botox and filler treatments, this can be a big change to their normal routine. However, rest assured your pregnancy hormones and growing body can sometimes work in your favour when it comes to your face. Lips can become bigger during pregnancy, and your skin will plump up and improve as your pregnancy progresses. As the skin plumps up, it can reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles.
Unfortunately, it's a very similar story with laser hair removal. Once again, there are no studies that evaluate the safety of laser hair removal on pregnant women and unborn babies. Therefore, laser hair removal is not recommended during pregnancy.
There are 2 types of electric currents in laser hair removal: Galvanic and thermolysis. Galvanic electrolysis should be avoided completely as it sends a minute electrical current through your body and back to the device. This is not recommended because the baby is surrounded by amniotic fluid, which acts as a conductor of electricity.
The current from thermolysis hair removal does not flow through the body and has not been found to be harmful to pregnant women or their babies. However, we recommend you check with your midwife before having this treatment.
So hopefully, this blog should give you a better idea of which treatments are safe for you and your baby during pregnancy. Always book a consultation with a medically qualified aesthetic practitioner to ensure you only receive safe and appropriate treatments for yourself.
