Latest Breakthroughs on Stretch Mark Removal Procedures

Stretch Marks — By admin

Not so long ago if a man or woman developed stretch marks they were simply stuck with them. Unless they wanted to have a full blown surgical procedure performed to cut out the section of skin with the stretch mark on it, there was nothing that could be done. Now days however, there have been numerous medical breakthroughs in laser surgery for several procedures, including the removal of stretch marks. Medical advancements have made it so that many of these procedures have little to no side effects. Older treatments with lasers were not near as effective as the lasers in place now days.

The newest lasers that are used in the effort to eliminate the marks on your body were actually intended for a completely different purpose. The excimer laser is almost exactly the same as the laser used in Lasik eye corrective surgery. This tiny laser was employed to obliterate stretch marks, and other skin blemishes, in 2002 and is much more effective, less painful, and has a lesser incidence of side effects than the lasers previously used. Unlike any other lasers in use the excimer laser does not burn or cut the skin, it uses a specially concentrated ultra violet ray of light that disrupts the molecular bonds in the stretch mark. After the procedure the area may be tender and red, although this will fade within days.

Each case is of course different but typically results are excellent, and stretch marks can be completely removed in only a few treatments. Although, doctors do warn that very bad stretch marks that are several years old may take longer to eliminate. However, if lasers don’t really sound like your kind of thing, there are also some newer treatments available by prescription that can aid in the battle of the stretch mark. These drugs are powerful topical treatments that contain drugs called tretinoin or isotretinoin, and are classified as a retinoid. These drugs promote the production of new collagen.

Even with all these advancements, there is much room for improvement in the area of stretch mark removal. Because many of the creams and other procedures on the market simply don’t work. Fact is right now the only way to rid your body of these marks is with the assistance of a plastic surgeon, and this is all too often out of reach for your everyday person. Hopefully one day in the very near future someone, somewhere, will come up with an effective, inexpensive, treatment that will either treat stretch marks, or completely prevent them!