Pregnant women deal with many changes in their hormones, their bodies and therefore their mental health. Dealing with conflicting emotions, fears, and typically significant weight gain can be extremely taxing on the female mind with the pressures that society can place on women to look and appear “perfect”.
These cosmetic and hormonal changes often lead pregnant women to consider surgical and cosmetic procedures during pregnancy to improve how they look in the hopes of improving how they feel. Although a dermatological procedure has seemingly no effect on a fetus and a laser treatment may be nowhere near the uterus, we always recommend that pregnant women put off any cosmetic procedures until after pregnancy, and after breastfeeding in some cases.
Plastic Surgery and Pregnancy
Although many pregnant women require surgery to deliver a baby by C-section and these cases are typically very safe, elective surgery that is not meant to treat a condition affecting pregnancy should always be avoided until after the baby is delivered. Placing your body under any undue stress will reallocate white blood cells to the site of the wound and away from the uterus, which needs the extra care and attention as the fetus grows. Nutrients and healing properties of the body should not be compromised for dealing with elective surgical recovery in case of a fetal emergency. Pregnant women should always take care to live a fairly “normal” life, free of undue stress or pressure on the body.
Cosmetic Procedures and Pregnancy
Although cosmetic and dermatological procedures are safe for the body and may not cause harm to a fetus, we firmly recommend that you wait to receive these treatments until you have delivered your baby.
Your skin may change dramatically during pregnancy. Often hyperpigmentation, varicose veins, acne and other dermatological conditions may and affect psychological and hormonal balance in a woman. However, also affected are your physiological functions such as increased flushing, decreased wound healing and increased blood volume (to name a few) because of the care the body gives to the growing fetus. For these reasons, all cosmetic procedures should be avoided until your physiological systems can be completely dedicated to only you.
Many cosmetic procedures continue to have unknown side effects and may even affect physical and hormonal balance within the body that is vital for healing.
What Can I Do?
As a pregnant woman, it is important to upkeep a regular skincare routine, healthy diet, and regular exercise routine to stimulate your health and that of the baby. If you begin to see changes in the skin, including stretch marks, you may consider trying new skincare products or introducing natural butters and oils to your skin to help produce collagen and heal the skin of any scarring that comes with pregnancy. A healthy diet rich in leafy greens and water-based fruits is also helpful in improving the tone and texture of your skin, as well as maintaining a healthy weight during your term. Exercise is important to keep up during pregnancy, in moderation. Walking daily is the best thing you can do, as it will keep your heart healthy and help you avoid varicose veins.
If you have any questions about cosmetic procedures offered at Coastal Plastic Surgeons, please feel free to contact our offices at (858) 365-3558.