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Treating Stretch Marks with Laser Cosmetic SurgeryStretch marks are characterized by purplish colored streaks in the skin. Over time, the coloring of stretch marks often fades away on its own, leaving marks in the skin that are often lighter then the rest of the skin. These marks, which can often look like bolts of lightening running throughout the surface of the skin, do not tan along with the rest of the skin because they are a form of scarring.
Causes of Stretch Marks
Stretch marks are caused by a variety of reasons. Women who are pregnant often experience stretch marks as the skin stretches at a rate too fast for the skin to keep up with. Obesity and bodybuilding can also lead to stretch marks as the body rapidly puts on additional weight. Even puberty can cause stretch marks as the adolescent’s body goes through rapid growth spurts.
In its most basic form, stretch marks are caused by the skin being overstretches. This interferes with the body’s normal production of collagen, which causes the skin to scar. Often, the tendency to develop stretch marks is hereditary. To better understand this process, it is helpful to understand the layers of the skin.
There are three layers to the human skin, the epidermis, the dermis, and the subcutaneous stratum. Stretch marks actually occur in the dermis, which is the middle layer of the skin that helps the skin keep its shape. When the dermis is continually stretched, it loses its elasticity and the connective fibers within it begin to break. Although the damage occurs in the dermis, it is visible on the epidermis, which is the top layer of skin.
These marks can appear anywhere on the body that the skin has been excessively stretched, though they are most likely to appear in areas where fat is stored. These areas include the breasts, the abdomen, the upper arms, the buttocks, an the thighs.
After the body returns to its smaller size, such as after childbirth or after losing excess weight, the stretch marks generally become less apparent. In addition, laser treatment can be used to help remove the appearance of stretch marks.
Laser Treatment of Stretch Marks
Usually, the same lasers used to treat vascular problems, which are yellow- and green-light lasers, are used to treat stretch marks. Researchers are not sure why these lasers seem to be the most effective, but believe it has to do with the ability of collagen or elastin molecules to absorb the light. It may only require one treatment to improve stretch marks, though repeated treatments may be necessary. In addition, the improvement may occur slowly and take up to a year for all of the improvement to take place.
About half of those undergoing laser treatment for stretch marks feel that there is an improvement. True testing of improvement is difficult to discern because stretch marks do not photograph well and can seem less apparent from one angle than another. In addition, younger patients seem to have the best outcomes, as do those that have stretch marks that are thin and pink. Flat, white stretch marks do not appear to have as much improvement following laser surgery, though improvement is possible. In addition, those with stretch marks as the result of weight gain, which tend to be very deep, generally do not respond as well to laser surgery.
Deciding if Stretch Mark Laser Cosmetic Surgery is Right for You
If you are self-conscious about your stretch marks, then you might want to consider undergoing laser cosmetic surgery. It is important for you to understand before undergoing treatment that the stretch marks will probably not be removed completely. Rather, they will become less apparent. In addition, you might not see much improvement at all. You should also be aware that, because stretch mark laser surgery is an elective surgery, your insurance company probably will not pay for any portion of the procedure.
On the other hand, there is a significant chance that you will see improvement in your stretch marks after undergoing surgery. Even lightening or reducing the appearance of your stretch marks can do wonders in boosting your self-confidence levels. In addition, treatment with vascular lasers is very safe. In fact, these lasers can even be used on infants because the energy level is very low. Patients with darker skin, however, sometimes experience an alteration in the color of the surrounding skin following treatment. This is because the surrounding skin absorbs the light from the laser. This change in pigmentation is usually temporary.
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