Stretch marks (also called striae distensae) are a major problem for 50% to 90% of women worldwide. This statistic suggests that stretch marks are also something completely normal for modern life.
Unfortunately stretch marks don’t heal and disappear in time naturally. Usually women need to “do something” about this aesthetic issue. There are two types of treatments that are most familiar:
- Topical cream – slower results, less effective for old stretch marks, cheap.
- Laser treatment – fast results, permanent removal, effective for old and new stretch marks, cost efficient.
Today we will discuss the causes of stretch marks and how to remove them forever with CO2 Laser Fractional Resurfacing treatment.
How stretch marks develop?
Stretch marks are tearing of the skin. Women suffer from stretch marks more than men. Nonetheless men should be cautious too because they don’t have immunity against skin tearing. This skin damage appears:
- When we gain or lose weight too fast;
- During pregnancy due to stretching of the skin;
- When dehydrated;
- Prolonged use of corticosteroids;
- Some diseases which decrease skin elasticity: Cushing’s Syndrome and Marfan syndrome.
Stretch marks usually appear on the buttocks, inner thighs, outer thighs, breasts, arms, calfs, love handles, belly. When the stretch marks are new and fresh they have pink or red color. In time they become lighter. Those we call “old stretch marks”.
Old marks are more difficult to remove. CO2 Laser is effective for both new and old marks.
Important: We always advice women who are pregnant to apply natural oils on the belly. This will help them protect the skin from overstretching and tearing.
How CO2 Laser helps with stretch marks?
The essence of CO2 Laser is simple: The laser damages the skin tissue (in a good way) to stimulate collagen and elastin production. It sends laser beams to the deeper layers of the skin and restructures all skin cells. This is followed by healing and building of new healthy skin tissue.
Since it’s very effective for wrinkles, scars, acne and hyperpigmentation, it also works very well for stretch marks. They are a type of scars that don’t heal by themselves.
Is CO2 Laser clinically tested?
Yes. This is a FDA approved treatment that shows impressive results when removing stretch marks.
Research shows that CO2 helps in significant decrease in stretch marks appearance compared with topical cream. This clinical study was done by Ethic Committee of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. 92 women were divided in two groups. Group 1 used CO2 Fractional Laser for stretch mark removal (5 sessions) and Group 2 – topical glycolic acid cream 10%.
Research results show better healing results for Group 1 – two weeks after the treatment with 5 sessions of CO2 stretch marks were almost invisible and completely gone. In comparison: 3 months after the topical cream treatment there was no skin improvement for Group 2.
Conclusion: 5 sessions of CO2 Laser help you completely regenerate your skin and make stretch marks invisible (new and old marks).
How many sessions do you need?
The number of sessions usually depends on your stretch marks condition – old/new, thick/thin, volume. A professional assessment should be done.
The recommended number of sessions is minimum 5 sessions in every 2-4 weeks.
When is the best time to do laser treatment for stretch marks?
During the colder months of the year – winter and autumn. The reason hides behind the fact that after a laser treatment your skin is injured and any sun exposure can cause inflammation.
What happens after CO2 Laser?
From the day you have your session the skin starts to heal. This healing goes through several phases from which the last one is peeling. Never pull the peels – they should fall naturally. Otherwise you may cause scarring.
As a conclusion
Stretch marks are a common aesthetic issue. The best way to remove them is with aesthetic treatment such as CO2 Laser. Remember: The results you will receive depend on the expertise and professionalism of your doctor/aesthetician. Always choose carefully your medical practitioner.
Here at 7 Derma Dr. Ludmila Yaghorova and Olga Lelekova have more than 15 years of experience in the field. They’ve helped thousands of women achieve their beauty goals and are always ready to help you too!
Book a consultation with our experienced practitioners and get rid of stretch marks.
Call +971 50 400 5666.
Note: Prices for CO2 Laser Treatment for stretch marks are individual. They depend on the size of the area.
Check out our latest offers for CO2 Laser Fractional Resurfacing for Face.
