Pregnancy can cause doubts about changes to a woman's appearance. However, with proper care, many issues are preventable or reversible. Stretch marks, hair fall, pigmentation, and weight gain are common concerns that often resolve after delivery. The doctor reassures patients that most return to their previous appearance with basic self-care like nutrition, exercise and moisturizing. For long-lasting issues, specialized treatments from dermatologists or cosmetologists can further help manage appearance-related doubts during this beautiful phase of life.

1. Shining Inside and Outside
Beauty during and after pregnancy

2. Pregnancy & beauty
• Pregnancy is possibly the most beautiful phase of
a woman’s life.
• Inner beauty -- creating a new life, love for
partner and the baby, happy atmosphere in
family – all result in happy glow
• Hormonal changes happening in her body also
improves skin, impart glow.
• It is not uncommon for an elder person in the
family to comment, Oh you are glowing, looking
beautiful, is there some good news on the way?

3. AFTER THE INITIAL EUPHORIA
COME DOUBTS AND FEARS
• Major fears (Medical):
– Personal discomfort (morning sickness etc)
– Healthy baby
– Complications
– Type & Pain of delivery
• Slightly less major fears (Cosmetic):
– What will happen to my appearance?
– Will I lose the weight I gain?

4. DOUBT & FEAR ARE NEGATIVE
EMOTIONS – BAD FOR BABY
• Regardless of root of the fear – medical or
“cosmetic”
• Fears about appearance often relate to
emotional questions about self-worth – “How
can my husband love me when I look like
this?”
• In extreme cases can spiral down into sadness
or even depression.

5. REASSURANCE IS THE KEY!
• The gynaec is the most credible person that the
pregnant lady is in touch with
• I am sure you always reassure your patients
about going to full term, having normal delivery,
about healthy baby etc
• Of course you cannot commit, so you say
something like, “Please follow these instructions,
if you do there is no reason why you should not
have normal delivery, healthy baby” … Aap aisa
karenge to sab theek ho ga..

6. REASSURANCE ABOUT
APPEARANCE
• In the same way, we have to reassure about appearance.
• We also have to be proactive – the fears relating to
appearance are much less likely to be expressed
• If she follows instructions, there is no reason why she
should not get back to the same appearance as before –
with the added beauty of motherhood
• As busy gynaecs, we do not have time to go into deep
details
• But we CAN:
– mention some of the common problems
– give basic information, and
– refer to specialists according to need.

7. COMMON (nagging) DOUBTS
ABOUT APPEARANCE
1. Will I be able to lose the weight I gain ?
2. Will I get stretch marks?
3. My friend lost hair from her head, will it happen
to me also?
4. My other friend got dark patches
(Pigmentation)
5. Someone told me being pregnant means getting
lot of Acne
6. My elder sister lost weight but she became
shapeless due to feeding the baby

8. EVERY PROBLEM HAS A SOLUTION!
DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY
(AND WORK ON YOUR PROBLEM)

9. WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
Ms. Kareena Kapoor Khan one
year after birth of her son

10. WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
Super Model Ms. Heidi
Klum 40 days after birth of
her fourth child

11. WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
• Yes, celebrities can spend all the time (and
money)
• We are busy gynaecs and do not have
time to counsel each patient in detail about
diet, nutrition and exercise.
• We have to focus on the patient’s health
rather than appearance

12. WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
• But every patient can spend some time looking after
herself
• And at the very least, we can give her a page of
comprehensive, one-size-fits-all guidelines on
nutrition and exercise … a Minimum Common
Program
• Depending on her capacity, she can consult
specialists who would tailor the general guidelines
towards her specific needs.
• Patient has be reassured that weight loss can and
will happen, she just has to take a little care…

13. Stretch Marks
• Very common, often the cause
of great anguish
• But can easily be prevented or
minimized
1. Take care to maintain skin
elasticity
2. Avoid over-stretching the
skin (weight management).
3. Basic care is correct
massage
4. Specifically, she can use
products suitable for her
skin type.
5. Treatments like PRP are
available

14. HAIR FALL
• Occurs in over 50% of
pregnant women, mostly in
late stage. Primarily due to
high levels of progesterone.
• In majority of cases it reverses
naturally in about 4 months
post delivery, so reassurance is
the key.
• Basic care is proper nutrition,
cleanliness and gentle oil
massage.
• More specialized care would
include specific products and
treatments such as laser brush
and PRP.

15. As gynaecs we may not be directly
concerned about the patient’s
appearance, but we have to address
the patient’s each and every fear &
worry, even about appearance.

16. PIGMENTATION
• Occurs in embarrassing
places like inner thighs,
pubic region, abdomen,
under the breasts, even on
the face
• Linea Nigra can cause
concern if not explained
• Normally reverses in a few
months after delivery –
REASSURE!

17. PIGMENTATION
• Basic care – avoid sun,
stay happy
• Specialized care –
correct moisturizers and
sun block. If marks
remain after weaning
the baby, treatment
with antioxidants etc

18. Acne
• Very very common
• Reduces after delivery but
patient has tendency to
acne
• Basic care is cleanliness,
avoid scrubbing
• Specialized treatment
includes clearing masks
and essential oils during
pregnancy and laser
treatment after
pregnancy.

19. SLOPPY FIGURE
(Meaning: Sagging breasts)
• Changes start soon after
conception, you must
already be giving good
explanations
• Basic care: good supportive
bra, moisturizing massage,
• Advanced care (after
lactation stops): Firming
products and packs,
exercise & weight training,
electric muscle stimulation,
Radio Frequency Treatment,
Vampire Breast Lift

20. CONCLUSION
• Patient likely to be concerned / worked up about
her appearance even is she does not say so.
• She needs reassurance from her gynaec that
most changes in her appearance are reversible
provided she takes little care.
• She should be provided information on how to
care for her appearance. In particular, she should
be cautioned against self-treatment and home
remedies. If appropriate, she can be referred to a
cosmetologist for detailed counseling.

21. THANK YOU