Latest Stretch Mark Removal Therapies

Stretch Marks — By admin on July 20, 2009 at 1:48 pm

Stretch marks occur when the dermis layer of tissue is stretched too rapidly and is not properly suited to handle such a stretch. A stretch mark is actually a scar deep within the tissue, and can be caused by a number of events like pregnancy, puberty, or any type of rapid growth.

It is safe to say that these scars are the bane of every woman’s existence and many of us would, or already have, dipped into our retirement funds to find a product or procedure that can erase these dermal layer scars. The problem is this fact has lead to the development of some very expensive, yet sometimes ineffective treatments, which boast false claims of total reversal. Lets go ahead and address the elephant in the room, stretch marks are difficult to treat, and any treatment you choose is going to take time and determination. Even the more invasive stretch mark removal procedures require subsequent visits to completely fade the mark, and no cream is ever going to “cure” you overnight!

That said lets take an in-depth look at the procedures and treatments available to help you decide which treatment is best for you. From where I stand there are four basic options available; natural treatments, laser treatments, surgical procedures, and other dermatological procedures. Other than these four things, there is time and sun bathing which aren’t really options for most of us because of the skin damage associated with sun bathing, and the unrealistic amount of time it takes for a stretch mark to fade naturally. The first treatment we will discuss is the natural approach.
Natural treatment is by far the most popular of all four treatments because it is the cheapest and least invasive. Natural treatments include the use of creams and serums, and the reason we call it natural is because the greater majority of the creams and serums on the market work with your body to speed the natural process of filling in and covering over the scars. Some of the creams on the market are quite effective at what they are created to do. However, some of these creams are nothing the more than foot cream, and they are useless at diminishing the appearance of stretch marks. Choosing a cream to diminish the appearance of your stretch marks can prove to be a daunting task because the market is so extremely flooded with creams that claim to “cure” your stretch marks.

Choosing a cream should be a well thought out and researched decision, so you don’t get scammed into buying an eighty dollar tube of foot lotion. But you must remember that researching on the internet can be quite tricky because many of the “stretch mark cream reviews” are sales gimmicks. Currently there are a few creams on the market that hold the top spot for popularity and effectiveness; they are Revitol, StriVectin-SD, and Trilastin-SR. These products are commonly suggested by doctors and surgeons as treatments for stretch marks and wrinkles because of their proven effectiveness. Because these creams have been endorsed by doctors and plastic surgeons, and are so effective, it should come as no surprise that these particular creams cost around $70.00 to $140.00 a bottle. However, cost in comparison to the next treatment, these creams are quite reasonable.

Moving on….
Laser treatments are a relatively new option in the fight against stretch marks, only becoming approved by the FDA in 2002. There are mixed reviews about the effectiveness of this procedure. On mild to moderate stretch marks the procedure seems to produce amazing results. However, when faced with severe stretch marks the laser seems to be lacking the ability to completely fade it. Nearly all reports state that the laser’s effectiveness is patient specific, meaning that each person will respond differently and the outcome does vary from person to person. This is because there are several factors to consider; the size of the stretch mark, the severity of the stretch mark, and the age of the stretch mark. Only a dermatologist will be able to tell you if he or she thinks that the procedure will help your specific case.

The laser used to remove stretch marks is not your average run of the mill laser. This laser does not cut or burn, like the lasers of the past, it actually disintegrates scar tissue using a beam of ultraviolet light. Once the old scar tissue has been obliterated the new, scar free, tissue will form; thus removing the old stretch mark. Completely removing your stretch marks will take anywhere between 6 to12 sessions, and these sessions are typically priced between $300 to $700.00 a session; depending on your physicians fees. From what I have found average overall price is about $2800.00 to $3000.00.
Surgical procedures are the oldest and most conventional way to rid your stomach of stretch marks. However, this procedure is limited to one specific area of the body; beneath the navel. Since stretch marks occur on the buttocks, breast, thighs and arms, as well as the stomach this procedure is not an ideal procedure for those individuals who have stretch marks scattered through out the body. A tummy tuck is the procedure that plastic surgeons use to tighten the abdomen and remove excess skin, as well as remove stretch marks. While this procedure is extremely effective at removing stretch marks from under the belly button, it also very invasive and requires a lot of recuperation, AND it is not recommended to have a tummy tuck to specifically remove stretch marks…it is just an added benefit.

Other Treatments include those performed by a licensed professional cosmetic dermatologist. These cosmetic dermatologists perform non-surgical procedures in their office everyday. As a matter of fact many of the procedures used to remove stretch marks are often used on other areas of the body like the face, one such procedure is a chemical peel; another is Microdermabrasion, and lastly blue light therapy. Usually these procedures are used to treat wrinkles, age spots, or acne. However, when you think about it becomes quite logical that they would work just as well for stretch marks.

Chemical peels use chemicals at different strengths to peel off the top layers of damaged, dead skin and activate new skin cell production. This is basically the same premise as stretch mark cream, except super charged to jump start the regeneration process.
Microdermabrasion is bascially the same thing as a chemical peel except with out the chemicals. During microdermabrasion fine crystals are blasted at your skin to remove the outermost layer of dead skin, and improve the over all appearance of your skin.
Blue light therapy is typically used for treatment of acne, and is used to slightly reduce the appearance of the stretch marks. This works on the same lines as tanning.

These treatments vary greatly in cost from practitioner to practitioner, and are not typically thought of as the most effective form of treatment for stretch marks. However, they have been shown to reduce the appearance slightly, and improve the appearance of skin over all. Choosing a procedure or treatment for your stretch marks is completely up to you, but, should you choose a surgical procedure you must know that they should only be considered if you are in optimum health. No matter what you choose always remember that beauty radiates from the inside out!