Pregnancy, weight fluctuations, and even puberty can take their toll on the body. One of the most common unwanted side effects of these changes to the body is the appearance of stretch marks – those streaks that may develop on the abdomen, buttocks and thighs. Stretch marks may be red, blue, white or purple, but no matter what color your marks might be, it is likely they have a direct impact on your appearance and your confidence level when it comes to flaunting your figure. Dr. Barrett understands how these lines can affect your self-esteem and even your quality of life, which is why he offers stretch mark reduction treatments at his Beverly Hills office to minimize their appearance and give you smoother, clearer skin you enjoy showing off once again.
Why do Stretch Marks Occur?
While our skin possesses a degree of elasticity, as the name suggests, stretch marks are caused by excessive stretching of the skin from the inside out. This is why they commonly occur during and after pregnancy or substantial weight fluctuations. Stretch marks are also affected by factors like genetics, hormonal changes or some underlying medical conditions.
What is Stretch Mark Reduction?
Dr. Barrett and his team use CO2 fractional laser treatments to reduce the appearance of stretch marks. The Fraxel laser treatment is a safe, minimally invasive procedure that works with the natural processes of the body to rebuild and rejuvenate your skin. The device “tricks” your skin cells into regenerating, allowing your body to replace the treated area with newer, smoother epidermis. Patients will see noticeable improvement in just three to five 30-minute sessions in most cases.
What is Fractional Laser Resurfacing?
Fractional laser resurfacing works by creating microchannels into the dermal layers at a precise depth, based on the amount of correction you need. These channels stimulate the body’s healing processes to increase collagen production and cell renewal to refresh and rejuvenate the skin.
The procedure works on a wide range of skin concerns and aging symptoms, including stretch marks. As more collagen is distributed within the dermal structure, the surface of the skin becomes softer and smoother and stretch marks are visibly diminished.
Is Stretch Mark Reduction Right for You?
Fractional laser treatment for stretch marks is appropriate for all skin types and tones. In addition to addressing stretch marks, the procedure can also be used to treat the following conditions:
- Scars from acne, chicken pox or past surgeries
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Enlarged, visible pores
- Irregular skin texture
- Skin discoloration and pigmentation concerns
Dr. Barrett will assess you personally and discuss your precise concerns and cosmetic goals to determine whether CO2 laser resurfacing is the right treatment for you.
Benefits of Stretch Mark Reduction
In addition to the aesthetic value of laser stretch mark removal, there are other good reasons to select this treatment for your skin enhancement:
- Treatment is minimally invasive with little or no downtime afterward
- Offers positive results after a single treatment, full results can be seen after a treatment series
- Ability to treat more than one skin concerns in a single treatment
- Improves the health and appearance of the skin overall
Results will vary somewhat from patient to patient, as well as the number of sessions necessary to achieve your desired outcome.
Treatment Overview
Dr. Barrett and his experience team perform Fraxel laser treatments in his office at Barrett Plastic Surgery in Los Angeles. Before using the laser, we will apply a topical anesthetic that ensures your comfort throughout the process. The laser device then delivers energy beams deep into the skin’s surface, creating multiple tiny channels in the treatment area for enough collagen stimulation to produce your desired results. The skin surrounding the channels remains untouched, which provides a more comfortable procedure as well as a shorter recovery process without compromising results.
After Stretch Mark Reduction
You should not need any time to recover after your Fraxel treatment. Most of our patients are back to their regular activities as soon as they leave our office. Your skin may be pink and slightly tender after the procedure, similar to what you may experience if you have a mild sunburn. However, the discomfort should not be intense enough to keep you from any of your normal tasks.
It is vital that you avoid direct sun exposure on the treatment area for many days after your treatment. The freshly treated skin is especially vulnerable to damage, which could lead to pigmentation issues that are permanent in some cases. Dr. Barrett will give you clear instructions on how to care for your skin during the early healing process to ensure the best possible result.
Fraxel treatment results can often be seen shortly after your procedure. You will likely notice your skin is softer, smoother, brighter and more evenly toned in the days immediately following treatment. Those results will continue to improve over time as your skin begins to create new collagen to support skin cell renewal and new skin growth. In subsequent weeks, your stretch marks should also begin to fade.
After three to five treatments, you should see a significant reduction in the appearance of your stretch marks. Those results will be long-lasting, although you may need to schedule a touch-up session every year to maintain your positive outcome indefinitely.
Smoother Thighs, Better Booty
No matter where your stretch marks are located, fractionated laser treatment can work to improve the overall health of your skin and the streaks that are causing you embarrassment. To learn more about laser treatment for stretch marks, contact Barrett Plastic Surgery today at 310-598-2648.
The information about stretch mark reduction was reviewed by Dr. Daniel Barrett. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us using our contact form below.