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24 May 2012

Answer to Question #220 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Pregnancy and Radiation

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

Before I realized I was pregnant, I had laser surgery performed on my forehead for scar revision. They burned off layers of skin to remove the pitted scars.They also protected my eyes. Through my own research I believe they used a level four laser. I am now eight months pregnant and doing well but I have this concern that I might have exposed my baby to harmful radiation. Can you tell me what the risks are with this type of laser and pregnancy?

I would like to refer you to a question that we have under the "Ask the Expert" feature on our Website. It is question #30 under the category, "Pregnancy and Radiation." Our laser expert says that this question should answer your question. He wants to confirm that the effect the Nd:YAG laser (which has output in both visible plus infrared light) referred to in that question would be a thermal effect on/in the skin only and in either case there is no hazard to the fetus.

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