Mesotherapy during pregnancy: should I do it or is it better to wait?

The essence of the procedure

If you translate the name of mesotherapy, it will roughly sound like “treatment from the middle.” When performing this procedure, specially developed drugs are injected under the skin using a thin needle, laser, or non-injection method. These cocktails may include:

Hyaluronic acid - moisturizes the skin, replenishes lost soft tissue volumes and stimulates collagen production.
Multivitamin complexes provide the dermis with all the necessary nutrients and slow down the aging process.
Fat burning components are substances that destroy fat cells and stimulate metabolic processes.
Amino acids and peptides are protein compounds that are building materials for cells.
Immunomodulators – increase the protective properties of the skin, help fight pathogenic microorganisms.
Antibiotics – these drugs are used to treat acne.

In principle, high-quality cocktails are hypoallergenic and absolutely safe for humans. But during pregnancy, everything changes dramatically. And most cosmetic procedures and drugs are prohibited.

Why not

Often women turn to doctors with the question of whether it is possible to do facial mesotherapy during pregnancy and what kind. Doctors believe that you should abstain from the procedure throughout the entire period. Moreover, expectant mothers are always charming in themselves. And here are some completely logical arguments that justify such categoricalness:

Getting drugs into the blood. Since punctures always damage the capillaries (as evidenced by the “bloody dew” appearing on the skin), some of the drugs enter directly into the bloodstream. This means that it can affect the body of the developing fetus. How this will happen is unknown. So it's better not to take risks.
Danger of infection . This is especially true if the procedure is performed with a mesoscooter, which is a reusable instrument. But even when working with a conventional syringe or pneumatic gun, there is still the possibility of insufficient treatment of the surface of the skin or hands. Absolute sterility is guaranteed with laser fractional mesotherapy. But pregnancy is a categorical contraindication for this technique.
Change in pain threshold. A pregnant woman's skin is much more sensitive. And those procedures that she previously tolerated easily become very painful for her. And the use of even local anesthesia is extremely undesirable.
Psychological factor. It is also of great importance, since ordinary fear of the procedure can provoke: increased blood pressure, uterine hypertonicity, and a sharp hormonal surge. In the early stages, the most negative consequence can be a miscarriage, and in the later stages, premature birth.

In addition, post-traumatic skin pigmentation is a common phenomenon in pregnant women. It can also appear after mesotherapy on the face.

Is it possible to do facial cleansing during pregnancy?

Many girls in an interesting position are interested in whether it is possible to do facial cleansing during pregnancy. Their fears are quite clear: even gentle cleansing injures the skin, and strong chemicals are often used during sessions.

To understand whether it is worthwhile for pregnant women to cleanse their skin in a salon, we will interview experts in this field. Cosmetologists with specialized education will tell you whether it is worth cleaning your face professionally, or whether you should refrain from such a procedure until the birth of your child.

Anna K., cosmetologist of the highest category

Of course, it is beneficial for pregnant women to go for a cleanse. Cleansing the epidermis is no less useful for expectant mothers than for other women. During pregnancy, cleansing is even more necessary: due to hormonal changes, many women begin to suffer from greasy shine, severe rashes, and redness during pregnancy. Cleansing helps to cope with these symptoms and restore beautiful and healthy skin.

The most important thing is to consider what type of procedure you choose. For example, chemical or laser cleansing is not recommended for pregnant women. But vacuum, ultrasound and manual methods are allowed at any time and for almost any indication.

Evgenia A., cosmetologist in a beauty salon

Many girls ask me: “Can pregnant women go for a cleanse?” This question has always surprised me, because for a cosmetologist the answer is obvious. Of course, it is possible and necessary! Facial cleansing is a necessary procedure in the life of any woman, allowing her to feel confident, attractive and joyful at any time. Why should pregnancy be an exception?

Except that I would not recommend using mechanical or chemical cleansing for pregnant women. The first method causes severe pain and provokes stress, which is very harmful for the baby. And in the second method, concentrated acids are used that can cause an allergic reaction in a pregnant woman.

Tatyana T., Ph.D., cosmetologist

Professional facial cleansing is very important in early pregnancy. It improves the general condition of the skin, allows you to cope with many problems, improves your mood, and restores self-confidence. Despite the beliefs of many cosmetologists, even chemical peeling or laser can be used in the situation. The main thing is to choose a salon with good equipment and preparations, and make sure of the qualifications of the specialist.

But in the last months of pregnancy, cleaning your face in a salon is no longer worth it. The fact is that in the later stages a woman gets very tired in monotonous positions, and cleaning lasts quite a long time. This can cause back pain and swelling of the legs.

Features of different periods

The harm that mesotherapy can cause varies at different stages of pregnancy. It’s not for nothing that it is divided into trimesters. Each period has its own characteristics that affect the outcome and consequences of the procedure. Here's what experts say about it.

First

Recently, family planning has been widely promoted. And it’s not in vain. Often a woman finds out that she is carrying a child under her heart in the second or even third month of pregnancy. And until this moment he continues to lead his usual lifestyle. Including visiting a cosmetologist, performing hardware and injection procedures.

Mesotherapy is very dangerous during early pregnancy, because the fetus is not yet protected by the placental barrier, which filters toxins and substances harmful to it. And in the first trimester, the formation of all vital organs and systems occurs. Some components of mesotherapy cocktails can provoke congenital diseases.

Second

The smoothest and calmest period of pregnancy. Toxicosis usually passes by this time, the baby’s bloodstream is separated from the mother’s by the placenta, therefore, if necessary, at this time it is even allowed to take previously prohibited medications.

For medical reasons, oxygen mesotherapy sessions can be carried out with great caution from the fourth month. This should only be done by a specialist. Performing any procedures on your own at home is categorically unacceptable.

Third

In principle, starting from the seventh month, the baby is already viable. But every additional day in the mother's womb allows it to develop and get stronger. This is why it is so important to prevent premature birth. And they can be provoked by many factors, some of which are also present in a mesotherapy session:

severe stress - may occur due to fear of the procedure;
hormonal surge - when fear or excitement is produced, adrenaline is produced;
high blood pressure - it is provoked by drugs with caffeine used in anti-cellulite therapy.

An infection that gets into the blood can also negatively affect the course of pregnancy and the condition of the fetus. And this can happen after the procedure if the formed crusts are accidentally or intentionally torn off.

What a pregnant woman may face

Risk	Description
Allergy	Possible allergic reactions become unpredictable. The reason is the same hormonal changes. Some substances to which your body previously did not react in any way can eventually become a strong allergen. This is in full It concerns mesotherapy, during which a real cocktail of various substances enters the body. This is due to the fact that the immune system slightly changes its work. Even completely harmless substances may seem like dangerous allergens to her. Experts believe that this is one of the manifestations of the peculiar care of the mother’s body in relation to the unborn child.
Infections	Mesotherapy involves creating several punctures on the skin into which a syringe needle is inserted. This is damage to the epidermis, a kind of entrance gate for infections. It is clear that the injection site is first thoroughly treated with high-quality antiseptics, but this will not save the situation. The reason is simple – the immune system is now responsible for the health of two organisms at once. Accordingly, its defense mechanisms are weakened. Even a small microbe is enough for an acute inflammatory process of an infectious nature to develop. The threat will persist until the punctures completely heal, that is, several days.
Unexpected reactions	It is absolutely impossible to predict how a pregnant body will behave during or after such a cosmetic procedure. There can be plenty of unexpected and dangerous reactions. For example, this is a pathological expansion of blood vessels that nourish the skin of the face, which can cause heavy bleeding. The risk of noticeable scar formation may significantly increase, as hormonal changes also affect the ability of the epidermis to synthesize collagen. Such scars can be keloid, which in the case of the face is generally a disaster.

It is also necessary to take into account that mesotherapy is a very unpleasant procedure from the point of view of the patient’s feelings. In addition, it is also painful. The body's reaction to discomfort and pain is understandable - it is excitement of the nervous system, overexertion, even stress. That is, all factors that a pregnant woman should avoid in every possible way.

Categorical prohibition

You should not even think about performing mesotherapy during pregnancy in the following cases:

with severe toxicosis, the body’s reaction to the administration of drugs can be unpredictable;
if there is a threat of miscarriage and the tone of the uterus is increased;
women over 35 years of age – they have more natural risk factors.

Under no circumstances should home portable electrical appliances be used to perform needle-free mesotherapy. Their use is prohibited throughout pregnancy.

The procedure is undesirable in the interests of the patient herself

During pregnancy, a woman's body may respond inadequately to the introduction of a foreign substance. Such special conditions also include menstruation or its delay, menopause, and other gynecological abnormalities. Therefore, mesotherapy is considered undesirable.

During pregnancy, hormonal levels change, which often causes dry skin and increased irritability. On the other hand, a natural process is taking place and it is quite possible to do without cosmetic, dangerous procedures. There are safe moisturizing cosmetics, vitamins, and serums that doctors can recommend.

There are also special massages and peelings for pregnant women using safe products such as honey, coffee, lemon or cucumber juice. Women leave good reviews about the use of seaweed, which is used as a food additive or cosmetic product. Wraps with these plants help maintain skin elasticity and ensure normal blood flow without interfering with fetal development.

Massage with natural oils will replace mesotherapy

Summing up

According to the reviews of most women on the forums of expectant mothers, there is objectively no need for hardware or injection cosmetic procedures while carrying a baby. Yes, acne or pigmentation characteristic of an “interesting situation” may appear on the face, but they quickly disappear after childbirth.

Mesotherapy during pregnancy can do more harm than good and is an additional risk factor. Therefore, it is better to refuse it. If there is an urgent need to improve the condition of facial skin, before oxygen therapy you must consult with the supervising gynecologist and obtain permission from him to carry out the procedure.

An alternative method of solving the problem is massage and masks prepared according to folk recipes. They will help quickly improve your complexion, restore skin firmness and elasticity, tighten and even lighten it. And at the same time, such procedures are completely safe for the expectant mother and baby. And it is better to carry out more intensive therapy after childbirth or the end of the lactation period.

What is mesotherapy?

With the help of mesotherapy, many aesthetic problems of the face and body are solved, during which certain drugs are injected deep into the layers of the skin with a thin needle. Before administering the drug, the skin is treated with an antiseptic and anesthetic cream. At the end of mesotherapy, the skin is disinfected again. The entire procedure lasts no more than 40 minutes. They do from 10 to 15 sessions, and the full result can be seen after a few days, when the swelling and redness go away.

They practice injection and fractional procedures. The composition of the drug includes:

hyaluronic acid;
plant extracts;
vitamins and other substances.

In some cases, injections are made with hyaluronic acid alone. Fractional mesotherapy involves the use of an electrical device to administer the drug. The device can be used both in salons and at home.

During the procedure, many microtraumas form on the skin, but they heal quickly. The diameter of the wound is so small that scarring does not occur. As a result of mesetherapy, restoration processes are enhanced and collagen production is increased. Injections with a thin needle stimulate the body's defense processes and improve metabolism.

Injections are indicated for:

stretch marks;
cellulite;

acne in remission;
pigmentation;
loss of skin turgor;
hair loss;
anti-aging;
scars and scars.

The recommended age is from 30 years, when the first signs of aging appear.

Despite the ineffectiveness and simplicity of the procedure, mesotherapy is prohibited during pregnancy. Mesotherapy is not performed on any part of the body, even on the face, during pregnancy. During breastfeeding, the drug does not pass into breast milk, provided that injections are not made in the breast area, but, nevertheless, it is worth waiting with mesotherapy until the end of lactation.

If the skin is insufficiently treated, the technique is incorrect, contraindications are not taken into account, or large needles are used, complications may arise. Complications appear in certain processes:

hematoma;
inflammatory process;
erythema;
formation of fibroids;
necrosis;
itching

To reduce side effects (redness, swelling), it is important to drink plenty of water and eat fresh vegetables and fruits after a cosmetic procedure. It is also recommended to refrain from thermal procedures (visiting a sauna and bathhouse, taking a bath), and using decorative cosmetics.