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Safe to Have a Laser Treatment (Hair Removal) with Pacemaker?

Doctor Answers 6

Safe to have Laser Hair Removal with a Pacemaker

April 29th, 2011
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There is no transmission of electricity or electrical current during the delivery of laser energy to the target site in the process of laser hair reduction. Electrical activity is what may disrupt pacemaker activity. You can safely have laser hair removal treatments with a pacemaker.

Web reference: http://www.skinmdseattle.com

Anifat Balogun, MD


Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Laser hair removal is safe with pacemakers

April 18th, 2011
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Lasers work through a focused light beam; there is no electricity traversing the body, so they are safe with pacemakers.

Anatoli Freiman, MD

Anatoli Freiman, MD
Toronto Dermatologist
5.0 out of 5 stars 4 reviews

Laser hair removal is safe with a pacemaker

April 18th, 2011
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Electrical currents may disrupt the function of the pacemaker but laser treatments send light into the skin, not electricity, so there is no medical reason not to get laser hair removal with a pacemaker.

Emily Altman, MD

Emily Altman, MD
Short Hills Dermatologic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 4 reviews

It is Safe to have Laser Hair Removal when you have a Pacemaker

April 18th, 2011
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It is perfectly safe to have Laser hair removal treatments when you have a pacemaker. Lasers create a beam of highly concentrated light that penetrates deep into the skin where it delivers a controlled amount of therapeutic heat.  This light energy is absorbed by the pigment located in the hair follicles.  The laser pulses for a fraction of a second, just long enough to destroy numerous follicles at a time and leaves the surrounding skin unaffected. Since this light energy is quickly absorbed, it should have no effect on a pacemaker beneath the skin. There are also no electrical currents involved in Laser hair removal treatment that would cause concern about it affecting your pacemaker.

 

Web reference: http://www.dorsetstreetdermatology.com/cosmetic-dermatology/laser-hair-removal/

Mitchell Schwartz, MD

Mitchell Schwartz, MD
South Burlington Dermatologic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 10 reviews

Laser hair removal and pacemakers

August 6th, 2011
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Hairs are destroyed by the hair follicle absorbing visible light, which creates heat in the dermis. There is no electricity contacting you. As long as there is no electromagnetic energy from the laser box that can interfere with the pacemaker, there shouldn't be a problem. You can call your pacemaker company and ask the doctor's office what wavelength laser they use, just to be sure.

Web reference: http://www.thenyac.com/laser-hair-removal/index.html

Ronald Shelton, MD

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologic Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 37 reviews

Laser hair removal safe with pacemaker

April 18th, 2011
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Pacemakers can in theory be influenced (e.g. reprogrammed) by electrical currents passing through the skin, most typically the electrosurgery used to stop bleeding during surgery.  Lasers for hair removal deliver light to the skin that generates heat to get its effect but there is no transmission of electrical current, so they are safe with a pacemaker.

Daniel Berg, MD

Daniel Berg, MD
Seattle Dermatologic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 1 review

These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.