Stretch marks can be so annoying to deal with! They can take a huge toll on anyone’s confidence. Some people may not care, while others do everything they can to avoid getting any in the first place.
Once you get stretch marks, it can be a pain to get rid of them again. There is no natural way of getting completely free of the dreaded tiger stripes. So what can you do?
Laser treatments are a great option in getting rid of stretch marks. It's a very easy process that can leave you free from marks with a smooth surface.
Why Do We Get Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks are a very natural thing. It's usually associated with weight gain, and this may be the reason why so many people feel embarrassed when they occur.
The skin is the biggest organ in the human body! It is the protector of all bones, blood vessels, ligaments, nerves, and everything else in our body.
The skin stretches as we grow. But sometimes if we grow a little too fast, the skin has a hard time following along. Rapid weight gain and pregnancy usually is what causes the stretch marks to make an appearance. It's something many people are dealing with and it can be hard. Some stretch marks are small and practically invisible. While others get huge dark marks that cover a great part of the body.
Stretch marks can occur anywhere on the body. But the stomach, hips, thighs and butt is usually the most common places to see the dreaded marks. It really depends on which body part is affected the most by the weight gain.
There are a ton of different products available claiming to prevent or erase stretch marks. But once they are there, it can be close to impossible to completely erase them.
One thing you can do is moisturize daily. This may not remove any stretch marks, but it might prevent them from getting too out of hand. Aloe vera gel is a really nice natural product that can help ease the stretching.
If you do wake up one day and notice any stretch marks, make sure to not expose them to the sun without protection! This will cause them to whiten and may make them more noticeable. It can also make it harder to remove them. So don't forget the sunblock!
What Is Laser Stretch Mark Removal?
Laser is a non-invasive treatment. There is no cutting involved and it should be moderately pain free. The goal with laser treatment is to get rid of the old dead skin cells. After they have been removed, new fresh skin cells will take their place. These new cells are full of collagen, this is the protein that makes the skin elastic.
During a treatment, the laser will remove a very thin layer of the skin around the stretch marks. This will cause the skin to form a new, beautiful layer and leave you stretch mark free.
Some clinics use an excimer laser. This laser doesn't burn or remove any of the skin. Instead, it uses ultraviolet light to change the color of the stretch marks. This laser is most effective on new or pale marks. The ultraviolet light stimulates the melanin production in the skin. This will make the natural color come back, leaving you with a smooth surface.
How Effective Is It?
Laser treatments usually are very effective. It does however depend heavily on the severity and age of the stretch marks. New marks can easily be removed. But older, deeper stretch marks may need up to ten or more treatments, and may never completely disappear.
Setting your expectations high when going into an appointment might leave you disappointed. Most stretch marks will need a couple of treatments before you can see any difference. Some marks will only become less visible with laser treatment, and not fully disappear.
It's also important to understand that although laser treatments are effective. You shouldn't expect to see results right away. The laser removes a small, thin layer of the skin, this will then have to grow back before you will notice any difference.
Recovery
Immediately after the treatment the area will become red. It can also get a bit sensitive and tender, or sore. This is normal due to the thin layer that has been removed from the skin. Sometimes blisters can occur, and the skin might feel like as if it has been burned. Which it technically has, so this is normal. But, if you experience any extreme effects, it’s important to seek medical care.
The healing process varies depending on the treatment. If you only need a couple of treatments it may only take a few days for the skin to heal. But if you get several treatments it can take a few weeks for it to heal.
Is It Worth It?
Laser stretch mark removal is definitely not a quick fix. It takes time for the skin to grow back. But, when it does grow back it will be new, fresh skin ready for bikini season! So if you have been living with stretch marks for a while it will surely be worth it.
If your stretch marks are very deep, they may not go away without doing several treatments. Even after that, they may still be a little visible. So this is something to keep in mind.
Is It Safe?
Laser stretch mark removal is non-invasive. This means there is no cutting, anesthesia or down time involved.
When choosing to do laser treatments, it’s vital that you choose the right clinic. It has to be a licensed and certified cosmetics dermatologist performing the procedure. The laser removes a layer of the skin, if the dermatologist is inexperienced it might go wrong. You may end up getting too much skin removed, leaving you with bigger burns and blisters.
This can do a lot of tissue damage, which will then need to be treated. Worst thing is, you may still have visible stretch marks after.
Laser stretch mark removal can cause some redness, soreness, and maybe a few blisters, but all of these should go away on their own within a few weeks. There is no life-threatening effects to the treatment.
Are There Other Options Available?
There are a few other options available if laser treatment is not for you. Laser treatment can become quite pricey, but there are other effective ways to remove the tiger stripes without emptying your bank account:
Surgery
Surgery is the only way to fully remove the deeper stretch marks. Laser will only fade them. The surgery used to remove stretch marks is usually a tummy tuck. Stretch marks on other areas of the body are treated through other procedures. In order to remove the marks through surgery, you will first have to qualify for a tummy tuck operation. To qualify you have to be:
Chemical Peel
A chemical peel is a very popular method in removing stretch marks. It’s most commonly used in treating wrinkles or age spots on the face. The dermatologist will use a blend of different chemicals, depending on the patient. They will then apply the chemicals carefully on the area using a cotton swab or pad, or sponge.
The chemicals will peel off a thin layer of the skin, it will give a slight burning or stinging sensation. This is the chemicals removing all the dead skin. This treatment will not remove the stretch marks, it will only fade them. But it will leave your skin looking and feeling very refreshed.
Blue Light Therapy
During a blue light therapy treatment, a photosensitive gel is applied to the area. It is then exposed to light energy. Blue light therapy is usually used in treating acne. This method will not remove any stretch marks, but it can fade them a little. It is most effective on newer stretch marks.
Microdermabrasion
A microdermabrasion treatment uses a crystal spray to remove the top layer of the skin. This is different from the chemical peel in that this doesn’t burn the skin away, it uses small crystals that exfoliate the skin removing dead skin and renewing the cells. This treatment is less used in treating stretch marks, it won’t remove them but it can help them fade.
Is It Possible to Prevent Stretch Marks?
This depends on the individual’s skin. Some people have lots of collagen in their skin cells, which will make it more elastic. While others don’t. You can use different oils and creams to lessen the effects or severity of stretch marks. But usually they can be hard to keep away.
Here are some different things that might work:
Using any natural oil can help the skin stretch without leaving marks. It is, however, difficult to get rid of the stretch marks completely without the help of treatments such as laser or surgery.