Pregnancy changes many aspects of a woman’s body. While some of these changes can be beneficial – like stronger nails and radiant skin – others like excess hair growth can be less than welcome.
Laser hair removal is an increasingly popular aesthetic practice, targeting individual follicles to eliminate them and destroy them permanently. Unfortunately, this treatment should not be undertaken during pregnancy.
What to Expect
Women who had C-sections often feel self-conscious when wearing bikinis or one-piece swimsuits due to visible scars from their incision site higher on their pubic area. Laser hair removal treatments offer hope, as they can eliminate scar tissue and restore your desired look. To determine whether laser treatments are right for you, talk with your obstetrician; they’ll understand any skin changes caused by postpartum hormonal fluctuations and advise when your hormone levels will return to normal and allow you to resume laser hair removal sessions.
Before receiving laser treatment, it is advisable to refrain from using any skin bleaching creams that darken the color of your hair or skin. Shaving also allows the laser heat to reach hair follicles without burning nearby tissues; additionally it is advisable to apply moisturizer prior and post treatment so as to keep skin from becoming dry or irritated during healing processes.
As part of your treatment session, protective eyewear will be worn during laser sessions to safeguard against laser beams. Once wearing their handpiece, laser professionals will move it across your skin in order to weaken scar tissue and stimulate new cell production – this process typically takes less than 30 minutes depending on the size and location of the area that requires treatment. It may cause some redness or swelling which should subside within three days afterward as well as possibly leaving behind an unpleasant odor due to dead cells being removed during this process.
Starting off the procedure will require conducting a patch test to make sure that laser treatment does not irritate or cause unwanted side effects on the skin. If successful, the laser technician will apply topical anesthetic prior to beginning treatment; you may feel several snapping sensations similar to when rubber bands snap against skin during this stage; for added comfort if discomfort arises during your appointment with doctor they may prescribe pain relieving medication as an added measure.
Preparation
Women who have undergone C-sections usually want to return quickly to their pre-pregnancy bodies; however, some find their caesarean scar causes discomfort and embarrassment, with conventional remedies like oils and chemicals not making much difference in this regard.
Laser hair removal can be used on scars safely and effectively for long-term results, provided you find the appropriate practitioner and undergo an in-depth medical assessment prior to starting laser treatment. However, it’s essential that you choose one carefully!
Important to keep in mind is that, although laser light treatments are safe, the skin near a scar may become slightly sensitive for a short period of time after each laser session due to how they heat dark target matter like hair and melanin; though this is beneficial in itself, it can sometimes cause irritation in surrounding skin.
Before beginning treatment, a practitioner will thoroughly clean and apply any necessary numbing gel before focusing a beam of light onto the area being treated. Smaller areas might take just minutes while larger ones such as back may take hours or even more for laser beam to treat. Protective eyewear must also be worn during this process in order to prevent eye damage caused by laser light.
Once treatment has concluded, the numbing gel will be removed and the area washed to ensure maximum healing results. Aftercare advice provided by your practitioner includes keeping out of direct sunlight; applying broad-spectrum sunscreens with SPF of at least 30 to protect the area; and avoiding hot baths or showers.
Some patients require multiple sessions for their hair to be effectively removed, due to differences in hair growth cycles between people. Some might require treatment every four weeks while others only require it once every six months or so; over time however, most patients find their hair growth significantly reduced with new growth being much less noticeable when it does return.
Results
Laser hair removal can often be an effective and permanent way to get rid of unsightly body hair. A person may require multiple sessions spaced out over four to eight weeks in order to achieve desired results, depending on individual and treatment area needs.
As part of laser treatment, your skin may feel tender and sensitive due to the intense heat produced by the laser. Therefore, it is crucial that any exposure to sunlight during laser therapy be limited in order to avoid burns and discolorations of the skin.
Opting for a qualified practitioner is equally essential, as improper techniques may result in side effects like blistering, burns and scarring. People should treat the treated area like any sunburn – keeping it moisturised and out of direct sunlight as much as possible.
If a person detects signs of infection following their laser treatment, they should contact the practitioner who provided it as soon as possible. A qualified practitioner can help manage their situation until professional medical help becomes necessary.
While most women can resume their previous body hair removal routine after giving birth, it is wiser to wait until their C-section scar is fully healed before commencing this regimen. This will avoid any complications with their body’s ability to recover after such surgery.
Pregnancy hormones can alter one’s pain threshold. Therefore, pregnant women are advised not to undergo painful skin treatments such as waxing and laser hair removal during this time, since estrogen and other hormones increase skin sensitivity significantly.
As alternatives to shaving or waxing, temporary methods exist that may temporarily help eliminate unwanted hair. These include shaving, waxing and threading – however there is no scientific evidence showing they are safe options during gestation.
Post-Procedure Care
Laser or intense pulsed light (IPL) hair removal utilizes heat energy from a laser beam or IPL to effectively eradicate unwanted body hair. The laser’s heat energy destroys hair follicles responsible for hair production, thus temporarily stopping its growth for an extended period. This procedure is an increasingly popular cosmetic procedure for the face, chest, arms, legs, underarms and underarms as well as women suffering from excessive hair growth known as hirsutism.
C-section scars can be embarrassing and unpleasant for women, particularly if they are large. Visible when wearing low-slung pants and undergarment, C-section scars may rub against clothing causing irritation; sometimes even raised or asymmetrical scars cause distress; fortunately though, C-section scars can be reduced in size through laser therapy for a smoother and more appealing abdomen.
When going under laser hair removal, it’s crucial that you follow your practitioner’s post-procedure care instructions to reduce risks and ensure an effective procedure. In particular, avoid sun exposure and artificial tanning prior and after your procedure as these could reduce risks by lessening its efficacy as well as potentially causing burns or other skin damages.
Avoid waxing and tweezing the area where you’re getting laser treatments; these actions could increase the number of hairs removed during each session, and cause them to grow back thicker or darker than before. In addition, only allow licensed professionals to perform laser procedures on you.
Laser hair removal should ideally be scheduled prior to becoming pregnant, since pain tolerance tends to drop as estrogen levels peak during the third trimester and this can alter how painful skin treatments feel.
Though laser hair removal poses no known threat to unborn babies, many new mothers opt to wait until their C-section scars have fully healed before considering laser hair removal as a viable option.
