Dear Ski Girl,
Before I answer your question, please let me refer you to the
disclaimer on the bottom of this page. "Answers and comments provided
on Google Answers are general information, and are not intended to
substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric,
psychological, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other
professional advice. "
It is generally believed the laser treatments of the type you
described are harmless before and even during pergnancy. These are
usually preformed with types of laser, who would not usually affect
your pregnancy. A site specialising in rediation medicine, says "
laser radiation is just a strong light. It does not penetrate deeper
than the surface of your skin" and therefore, not harmful to a fetus
(SOURCE: The Health Physics Society,
<http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q30.html>;
SEE also:
Pregnancy and laser exposure
<http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q571.html>
Laser surgery while pregnant
<http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q1063.html>).
The FDA site also does not warn of these applications during or before pregnancy.
However, even the safest medical procedure could be dangerous to some,
and no-one is the "average" person - we are all different and have our
own health problems or disadvantages. This is not said to discourage
you - just to strongly suggest that you'll consult both with the
doctor and with the technician about your situation, and preferably,
with a family doctor (or another doctor who knows you well, and knows
how your body responds).
Please contact me if you need any clarification on this answer before you rate it.
I wish you success both with the pregnancy and with the beauty treatments! |
Clarification of Answer by
politicalguru-ga
on
11 Jun 2004 08:27 PDT
Sorry - Important correction.
IPL is *not* recommended during pregnancy, unlike laser treatments.
This is also the manufacturer's orders. However, there is no
information on the effect of the treatment before pregnancy.
|
Request for Answer Clarification by
skigirl-ga
on
12 Jun 2004 15:14 PDT
Dear politicalguru,
Thank you for your reply. Could you please refer me to a source
rather than the "health physics society" that comments on a safety of
above captioned laser procedures during pregnancy. All the three
links you have included point to the same source and I would need at
aleast a "second opinion" and, preferably, a third for $12. Also, you
added a comment that "IPL" is not safe. Where are you getting this
information and does not that contradict with your first answer? In
my opinion, only with this additional information would this answer
qualify for the highest grade.
|
Clarification of Answer by
politicalguru-ga
on
13 Jun 2004 02:48 PDT
Dear Ski Girl,
Thank you. Not *all* rediation is safe during pregnancy, and the IPL
manufacturers might not want to take the risk. They clearly state
that, as mentioned for example in a commercial site (whose interest is
to sell the thing, not to deter people of using it): "Although you may
have seen information on some websites stating that HI Pulsed Light
Treatment does not emit radiation of any kind and is safe for
treatment during pregnancy -- it is mentioned by the company that
treatment should not be undergone while pregnant and to wait until
after delivery to even have a patch test or spot treatment." (SOURCE:
Yes they are Fake, <http://www.yestheyrefake.net/intense_pulsed_light.htm>).
So does a private skin laser clinic: "Its effects during pregnancy are
unknown and it is safer to avoid the treatment when pregnant" (The
Private Laser Clinic, <http://www.skinlaser.u-net.com/rosacea.htm>).
The site BabyZone has a doctor's advice column where you'd find
answers to questions like that. Specifically:
"Christine Steinborn", asks,
"Is is safe to have laser treatments, such as hair removal, or removal
of freckles on the face and chest during pregnancy? I have already
paid a lot of money for a series of these services and the provider
says it is safe to continue as long as I don't use the numbing cream,
which can get into the bloodstream. But my OB, who pretty much says
nothing is safe, advises me not to continue, not just because of the
pregnancy, but in general. What do you think?"
Dr. Gerard M. DiLeo answers, that
"Ask the laser people if you can just temporarily suspend your
paid-for services until after delivery. Extra pigmentation that is
natural in pregnancy will only cost you more money and be an uphill
battle. Also, the energy used to deliver the laser pulses have no
adjustments for the edema and stretching that occurs in pregnancy, so
you may have some unpredictable results. It's safe to the baby,
though."
(SOURCE: Cosmetic Laser Treatments during Pregnancy, BabyZone,
<http://www.babyzone.com/features/expertsqa/default.asp?QAID=15602&ExpertID=1>).
Dr. Joseph B. Neiman writes in a document on the treatment " These
treatments cannot be performed if you are pregnant, planning
pregnancy, diabetic or have any bleeding disorders. We will advise you
if it is necessary to postpone or avoid treatment." (SOURCE: INFORMED
CONSENT FOR EPILIGHT? / EPIFACIAL?,
<http://www.theneimancenter.com/downloads/epilight-epifacial-informedconsent.PDF>).
In other words, while there are no safety concerns, it might not be as
effective as after the pregnancy. This doctor refers to
extra-pigmentation, but excessive hair growth is also common during
pregnancy.
|
Clarification of Answer by
politicalguru-ga
on
13 Jun 2004 02:52 PDT
Oops, I wanted to refer to the claims regarding anesthetics:
- IPL, as mentioned above, is not recommended anyways, because there
is not information on its effect on pregnancy.
- Laser treatments of the type you describe require sometimes local
anesthetics, some of which is safe during pregnancy.
|
