Laser stretch mark removal can be an effective treatment option for improving the appearance of
unsightly stretch marks. Laser surgery can make stretch marks almost disappear.
Laser stretch mark surgery is similar to the treatment of scars. The procedure involves a very
narrow and intensive beam of light that transmits through the skin. This beam loosens the collagen
fibers and the actual stretch mark scarring. The laser energy also causes slight inflammation in
the dermis (middle layer of skin). This prompts the body to restructure that particular area,
creating new tissue. Over time this procedure helps the stretch marks scars to fade.
Laser Stretch mark removal usually requires multiple treatments, but this can depend on a number
of factors related to your specific skin type and color. Studies have also shown that the
appearance of stretch marks can continue to improve for at least six months after the initial
laser treatment was given.
Side effects are usually rare, but they can include blistering or bruising or some slight swelling
or reddening of the area that has been treated. Following a treatment, the skin may also become
lighter or darker, but it should return to its normal shade after a few days or weeks.
|
Stretch marks are very common among the general population, the factors that lead its
development are still poorly understood. There is no general consensus on what causes
stretch marks to occur, but there are several theories.
One theory is that they develop when the skin is stretched to the point of breaking
down, due to a dramatic increase in the size of tissue. This stretching of the skin
is similar to elastic losing its elasticity. The actual stretch marks develop in the
middle, elastic layer of the skin, called the dermis. It is made up of fibers called
collagen that allow your skin to stretch and then shrink back into shape.
If this layer of skin is continuously stretched over a long period of time, the
elasticity breaks down and the skin tries to remedy the problem by increasing the
amount of collagen in the over stretched area. This is what then creates the scars
in the dermis which show through to the epidermis (top layer of the skin).
The stretching of the skin can come about from rapid weight gain over a short space
of time, such as during pregnancy. Stretch marks can also be found on children who
have become quickly obese or on adolescents who have had a growth spurt during puberty.
Athletes and body builders can also develop stretch marks due to constant repetitive
exercises. The most common areas affected by stretch marks are the hips, breasts, buttocks,
thighs and abdomen.
|
