- What are stretch marks and when do they appear?
- The essence of laser stretch mark removal using fractional photothermolysis
- Who is most prone to developing stretch marks?
- How does laser stretch mark removal work?
- Removing old stretch marks
- Benefits of Stretch Mark Removal Using Erbium Laser
- Contraindications
- Removing stretch marks on the stomach
- How is the rehabilitation going?
- Photos before and after
- Video
- How can I make an appointment?
The Moscow aesthetic cosmetology clinic Absolut Med LLC offers services for the removal of stretch marks or stretch marks using the MCL-30 erbium laser from the German brand Dermablate. Removal is carried out in several sessions and is absolutely painless for the patient. The procedure is very effective.
What are stretch marks and when do they appear?
Stretch marks are marks or scars that remain on the skin after stretching too much. In fact, it is a type of scar tissue. They are also called striae. They occur after pregnancy or if a person quickly gains and loses weight. In adolescents, stretch marks sometimes appear during a period of intensive growth. It may also be a consequence of hormonal imbalances in the body or result from long-term use of steroids.
Most often, stretch marks can be seen on the abdomen (in the postpartum period in women), on the thighs or on the chest. They are not dangerous to health, but can cause purely aesthetic inconvenience. Many women would like to get rid of such a defect on their skin.
They are a common cause of dissatisfaction with one's appearance. Unfortunately, stretch marks are very difficult to treat with local remedies (gels, ointments, etc.) due to the nonspecific structure of collagen. Many patients believe that anti-scar medications will help eliminate stretch marks, but this is not the case.
Treatment of fresh and old stretch marks
Can you feel the signs of stretch marks? In most cases no. However, everything depends on the individual characteristics of the organism. People with hypersensitive skin may experience itching and burning, after which a scar appears on the skin.
Old stretch marks that are more than a year old turn white. Such stretch marks cannot be completely eliminated. Microcracks that have appeared recently are much more treatable. They are red and blue in color.
To remove fresh stretch marks, they most often use:
- back massage using cocoa, jojoba and almond oils;
- cream for stretch marks with vitamins A, E, hyaluronic acid, oligopeptides and retinoids;
- honey wrap
Since stretch marks in athletic men appear mainly on the back and lumbar region, men notice them too late. But the earlier microcracks were noticed, the easier they can be removed. This is why stretch marks on the back more often than other stretch marks turn into old ones and are difficult to treat.
In this case, creams and wraps will not be enough. It is necessary to move on to more effective procedures:
- LPG or vacuum massage;
- RF or radio frequency lifting;
- mesotherapy is a method in which a drug containing biologically active substances is injected under the skin;
- Medium peeling – chemical removal of the top, damaged layer of skin.
If all these methods do not help remove microcracks, you should consult a doctor. An endocrinologist, after conducting tests and examination, will help to exclude diseases that provoke the appearance of stretch marks, and a dermatologist will select the most effective method to eliminate stretch marks in each specific case.
Who is most prone to developing stretch marks?
Women are more prone to developing stretch marks than men due to more pronounced weight fluctuations. The process of stretch marks formation is accompanied by plastic deformation of the skin frame, rupture of elastin and collagen fibers, damage to blood vessels and the structure of the epidermis as a whole. In addition, in some cases, there is a decrease in the production of elastin and collagen in the body, which aggravates the situation. Favorite areas for stretch marks are the thighs, buttocks, abdomen, and chest.
Prevention of stretch marks
Prevention measures should be taken even before stretch marks appear.
After all, this phenomenon is easier to prevent than to treat. Basic preventive measures:
- Drink plenty of water: about 2 liters of water per day. It is especially important to replenish the lack of water in the body during training and other physical activities.
- Avoiding excessive consumption of salt and sugar.
- Proper, balanced nutrition, in which the body receives all the variety of vitamins and microelements.
- Swimming and a contrast shower will help not only prevent, but also remove existing stretch marks.
- Massage using essential oils and scrubs.
Prevention of stretch marks should be done regularly. To prevent the appearance of stretch marks, men involved in sports should avoid extremes - overeating and excessive, uncontrolled physical activity.
The essence of laser stretch mark removal using fractional photothermolysis
Removing stretch marks using fractional photothermolysis allows you to get rid of them forever. During resurfacing, the top layers of skin are partially removed along with stretch marks.
The effect of the erbium laser in this case is very gentle, and skin restoration occurs faster, since under the influence of microscopic rays scar tissue is destroyed and the regeneration of healthy skin is stimulated due to the intensive production of collagen and elastin.
Is it possible to get rid of stretch marks at home?
First of all, you need to understand why this problem occurs. Professionals advise even women without stretch marks to take care of the issue of combating it: prevention will not be superfluous. Doctors call the main and most common reasons for the formation of stretch marks:
- Hormonal imbalance. Characteristic of adolescence, complicated by malnutrition, lack of physical activity in the proper amount, and pathologies of the endocrine system.
- Sharp fluctuations in weight, resulting in changes in volume. Stretch marks occur as a result of strict diets, especially in obesity, when weight loss at the initial stage occurs rapidly (loss of water). Postpartum stretch marks tend to appear in every third woman.
- Genetic predisposition. Preventive measures in such a situation rarely guarantee the absence of stretch marks.
If we talk about how to get rid of stretch marks at home, professionals tend to give a disappointing answer: success stories are one in a thousand. It makes sense to try to protect yourself from stretch marks, but when they appear, you can catch a chance to restore the skin if you do this while the stretch marks are young: they have not yet turned white. Old stretch marks are characterized by changes in blood vessels in the connective tissue, so they cannot be removed - only to reduce the contrast between healthy skin and scars.
Proper healthy eating
If you are thinking about how to remove stretch marks on your stomach by changing your diet, you can immediately abandon this thought: the hope will be false. This method is only suitable for preventing the formation of new scars, since it will protect you from sudden fluctuations in weight and volume. If you need to lose extra pounds, choose gentle options that do not promise a change from size 50 to 42 in a week.
Particular emphasis should be placed on the nutrition of adolescents, who, due to an unbalanced diet, suffer from hormonal fluctuations, skin imperfections, and a number of other cosmetic problems, which leads to complexes in girls. It is recommended to build the menu according to the classical principles of healthy eating, trying to protect yourself as much as possible from “empty” foods rich in factory-made sugar and animal fats.
How to remove stretch marks from your stomach at the gym
The benefits of physical activity for the skin are greatly underestimated: women are looking for ways to eliminate cellulite and decide how to remove stretch marks on their stomach with a miracle cream, when they should just sign up for the gym. Regular workouts not only tighten your silhouette, helping to get rid of fat: they increase skin tone, which leads to an improvement in its structure. Young red stretch marks from the abdomen can be removed, but more often this method only works as a preventive measure.
Vitamins against stretch marks
Ineffective, but a good method based on stimulating skin regeneration. To achieve this goal, they focus on vitamins that can affect connective tissue and the upper layer of the epidermis: these are retinol and tocopherol. They are rubbed into the area with stretch marks individually or made into a two-component cocktail. Some women add castor oil (a couple of drops), but the real benefits of such a mixture have not been proven.
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How does laser stretch mark removal work?
- Before the procedure, the patient should not sunbathe for at least two weeks.
- The number of sessions is calculated based on the size of stretch marks or stretch marks. As a rule, treatment lasts 4-5 months (approx. 4 - 5 procedures with an interval of 3-4 weeks). If the stretch marks are small (up to 0.3 cm), one session is enough.
- One session can reduce the width of the stretch by 20%.
- No anesthetic is administered before the procedure. As much as possible, treat the affected area with a cream with an anesthetic effect.
- After the procedure, the skin is treated with a special solution, and the doctor gives recommendations on how to care for it during the recovery period.
Stretch marks in teenagers are the most dangerous!
Stretch marks on a teenager’s back eloquently indicate changes in the body, and not only external ones. A teenager may have a genetic predisposition to stretch marks. If this is the only reason, then you should not worry about his health.
It is not uncommon for teenage boys to experience growth spurts. In a short period of time, a child can grow by 20 cm. The skin does not keep up with the growth, it stretches, the inner layer of the epidermis cracks, after which unsightly stretch marks appear on the boy’s back.
However, the appearance of stretch marks in a teenager can also be an alarming signal. So, they may indicate a lack of muscle mass. Also, stretch marks should be a reason to consult a doctor if they appear on the back and have a purple color. This may be a signal of serious illness:
- weakened immunity;
- diseases of internal organs;
- hormonal disorders;
- vertebral displacement;
- diabetes.
In addition, if microcracks are accompanied by hair growth in unwanted places and increased pressure, consultation with a therapist is required.
Laser removal of old stretch marks
Removal of old stretch marks, including teenage ones, is carried out using a laser device. Methods such as peeling and microdermabrasion will not give such an impressive result. The laser beam allows you to “remove” damaged fibers and trigger the synthesis of collagen and elastin. In addition, the patient receives a pronounced lifting effect. During exposure, the laser beam forms a microscopic “tunnel” in the epidermis (in scientific terms, isolated, non-communicating thermal microwounds). The process of skin restoration is accompanied by a tension effect. The area looks more toned and smooth.
Are there any differences between the structure of old stretch marks and new ones?
Old striae differ from new ones primarily in their appearance. Immediately after they appear, stretch marks have a pink tint; the skin in this area may be irritated and hyperemic. New stretch marks are made of connective tissue. After some time, they turn white, and the skin in this area loses its elasticity and turgor. In addition, the skin in the area of stretch marks does not contain melanin, and therefore they do not tan. New stretch marks are much easier to remove than old ones. This must be done within the first 6 months after their appearance. However, you need to remember that many procedures are contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women, and in this case you need to wait until the optimal time for cosmetic correction comes.
Reasons for appearance
The main causes of stretch marks are:
- pregnancy and lactation stage;
- diseases of the endocrine system;
- overweight, obesity;
- sudden change in body weight;
- puberty;
- hormonal imbalances in the body.
It is necessary to realize that the cause of such a skin defect is not physical or mechanical influences. The root cause will always be hormonal imbalance, disruption of the endocrine system.
Changes in the integrity of the layers of the dermis occur during adolescence, pregnancy and breastfeeding. Under their influence, body weight and the ability of the skin to deform dramatically change. The epidermis in its normal state is very elastic and copes with changes in body weight, but hormonal imbalance also affects it. This is how red stretch marks appear during pregnancy on the stomach and other parts of the body.
Removing stretch marks on the stomach
The abdominal area is the most problematic area for women who have undergone pregnancy and childbirth. Stretch marks in this area are deep, occupy a significant area, have a white tint and are practically impossible to disguise. The tactics for removing stretch marks is determined individually. A course of injection procedures gives a good effect: plasma therapy (introduction of one’s own enriched blood plasma), bioreparation. During bioreparation, a complex of active substances is introduced into the skin, including hyaluronic acid, vitamins, microelements, oligopeptides and amino acids. According to cosmetologists, this helps eliminate damage that is inflammatory, traumatic or destructive in nature. The procedure starts the processes of neocollagenesis and activates the regenerative potential of the skin.
Fractional stretch mark removal
Fractional laser photothermolysis is a method of skin rejuvenation based on the principle of selective absorption of light by skin chromophores (oxyhemoglobin and melanin). This causes heating and denaturation of collagen, as well as the release of inflammatory mediators. Mediators serve as a kind of signal for the skin to restore. Reparation processes are launched. The advantage of the method is the fact that the diffusion of heat into the surrounding tissues is minimal, which means they do not overheat and become damaged. The procedure improves skin texture and eliminates superficial dyschromia (in this case, hypopigmentation). The advantage of this technique is its safety, short rehabilitation period (discomfort is felt for several hours after treatment or is absent altogether). The thermal impact zones of the fractional laser are surrounded by healthy, undamaged tissue, due to which the recovery process occurs very quickly.
In men
Stretch marks in men are much rarer than in women. However, men also sometimes suffer from this disease, which can be caused by pancreatic disease, sudden weight gain or loss, or genetic predisposition. You need to get rid of them comprehensively. An integral part of measures to eliminate stretch marks on the abdomen is a properly structured diet, balanced in the number of proteins, carbohydrates and healthy fats.
There are special cosmetics for stretch marks, which come in the form of a cream or gel. One of the main active components of such preparations is vitamin A (often also supplemented with vitamins C and E), which makes the skin more elastic. The most effective for men are: Avent, Venus, Contractubex and Sanosan. The complex should be supplemented with special exercises.
