Since stretch marks develop below the epidermis or the surface of the skin, it can be quite difficult to get rid of. Stretch marks occur when the second layer known as the dermis tears. Consequently, reddening will occur where the tearing has appeared.

These marks will end up becoming silvery lines that are visible on the surface of the skin. These are what stretch marks are: scars. And the best way to get rid of them is to go through cosmetic laser treatment for stretch marks.

What It Is

The Process – Laser treatment to get rid of stretch marks is exactly what it sounds like: it involves a real laser that is run over your body, specifically around areas where stretch marks are present. The laser beam is able to clear or fix the areas where stretch marks occur by “sewing up” the torn areas of the dermis.

The fix is so effective that it will be permanent and you will not have visible stretch marks on the areas where you had the laser treat you. Laser treatment is not an easy thing to do and it takes a specialist to use the actual machine. That specialist must also have knowledge in cosmetic or dermatologic surgery.

What Does “Sewing Up” Mean?

When you undergo the treatment, the surrounding skin of a stretch mark is targeted. Since a stretch mark is essentially a scar on the skin, the laser will then be focused to removing different layers of it as a scar and the process is then repeated until the whole stretch mark is removed. The area will then be left to heal and it will eventually as the new layers of skin start to form again naturally.

How Effective Is The Treatment?

The laser treatment is not only used to get rid of stretch marks. This treatment has been designed and used to get rid of various skin conditions, regardless if they were caused naturally or not. This laser treatment is so effective that it can also get rid of wrinkles, scars, all types of acne, tattoos, and even facial or body hair. It is even said that a successful procedure will result in skin being in a much better condition that it was before.

Is It A Painful Treatment?

Some people who have undergone the treatment say that it is not painful. Still, those who give the treatment also will apply anesthesia if it is something you think you will need. Many people have stated that although there is a little pain, it is something that is bearable.

Stretch marks are one of the biggest skin problems plaguing men and women today. We have to admit: they are not nice to look at and they also suggest that one who has them is not really healthy at all.

Stretch mark is indicative that the dermis is not strong enough to support itself when it stretches and tears. But this does not mean that you are an unhealthy person. Millions of healthy people have them on various parts of their body. The question is “Is there a way to get rid of stretch marks?”

The Answer

Do something about your stretch mark if you don’t want to live with it for the rest of your life. There are many ways to get rid of them. Stretch marks occur in various areas of the body like on the chest, the stomach area and around the waist, thighs; just about anywhere that fatty acids can collect and cause the skin to stretch faster than the dermis can react.

This is how it happens: when this stretching happens, chances are that the skin will then redden in those areas and the dermis (the middle area just underneath the surface of the skin) will tear and it is those tears that can lead to forming stretch marks. These stretch marks can last for a very long time and if not treated early, they can stay on your body for years.

Old Stretch Marks – In the case of removing stretch marks that have been there for a long time, you may opt for laser treatment that is virtually painless, or you can also opt for prescribed medicines from a dermatologist. These medicines are actually very effective in eliminating stretch marks and you only have to take a dose each day for at least a month to start seeing results.

Prevention

To avoid asking the question “Is there a way to get rid of stretch marks?” is to prevent the stretch marks from happening in the first place. After all, for any disease and condition, prevention is the best cure. Make sure that you eat foods that are rich with essential fatty acids like fish and vegetables. A diet rich with citrus fruits will also help your skin keep healthy and the dermis strong under any stretching.

Moisturize – If you feel that your skin is dry, you must also moisturize it to maintain its health. Cream products available in the market can help you maintain better skin and also get rid of stretch marks in their early stages. Keep in mind that stretch marks occur the most in people who gain weight at a fast pace. This reminder should help you maintain your ideal weight and will also help you to avoid stretching your skin at paces that your dermis cannot catch up with.

So, is there a way to get rid of stretch marks? Yes, there is more than one way to get rid of them. The best way is to prevent stretch marks from forming at all, but for those who have stretch marks already, you can consider the medical treatments or a simple change of diet and stretch mark cream application for less severe cases.

The most common stretch mark removal surgery is known as the tummy tuck or abdominoplasty. Despite the fact that this procedure is available for almost everyone, there are still some physicians who argue that it is not the best solution for your stretch marks. There are many reasons behind this argument; therefore, it would be wise to learn about them and also everything else about the procedure before undergoing a treatment as serious as this.

Finding The Right Surgeon

The first concern of anyone planning to go under the knife is to be certain that the right instruments are in the right hands. Meaning, you have to find a surgeon you can trust. Obviously, the surgeon you end up selecting has to have five years of surgical training with a minimum of two years in plastic surgery. He or she should be trained and experienced in all plastic surgery procedures and should only operate in accredited medical facilities. The surgeon should also strictly follow code of ethics, and standards in patient safety. Most importantly, the physician that you choose should be certified by the board of plastic surgeons in your country and area.

How To Prepare For Surgery

Once you have your surgeon, you can start to discuss your expectations and desired outcome. During the consultation, the surgeon will also take the opportunity to evaluate your general health status because having heart or digestive or vascular system problems can hinder your being able to undergo tummy tuck. Right before surgery, you may be asked to take certain medications to aid in the procedure, as well as avoid taking aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs that can increase bleeding. At this time, your doctor should have already explained to you the possible risks and costs involved.

Possible Risks and Costs

Here are some of the risks of a bad plastic surgery followed by the costs you may have to experience once you decide to undergo this treatment.

- Ugly scarring – Infection – Poor wound healing – Bleeding – Anesthesia risks – Persistent pain – Possibility of nerve damage – Blood clots – Surgeon’s fee – Anesthesia fees – Hospital costs – Prescriptions and Medications

If you have decided that the benefits outweighs the potential complications and costs, then the third step would include the plastic surgeon or staff asking you to sign consent forms to ensure that you have fully understood the procedure that you will undergo and any possible complications.

What Happens During Surgery

Surgery starts with an intravenous sedation and general anesthesia administered to the patient. Once they have taken effect, the surgeon is now ready to start the operation. A full Abdominoplasty will require a horizontal incision in the area between the navel and pubic hairline. With the incision, the surgeon can now repair weakened abdominal muscles and excess fat and skin is removed. If you want excess skin in the upper abdomen removed, a second incision around the navel has to be made. Once completed, the surgeon will use sutures, skin adhesives, and clips to close up the incisions.

Road To Recovery

The fifth and final step is as important as the preceding steps because this will ensure the effectiveness of the stretch mark removal surgery. Dressings or bandages may be applied to the incisions to minimize the swelling and a compression garment will help support the abdomen as it heals. Within a week or two, the patient will be able to stand upright comfortably once again and the swelling would have subsided.

Stretch marks can be very difficult to get rid of because they occur just below the epidermis or the surface of the skin. What happens is that the second layer known as the dermis tears and reddening will occur where the tearing has appeared.

If not corrected or properly treated, these tears will end up becoming silvery lines that are visible on the surface of the skin. These are what stretch marks are: scars. And the best way to get rid of them is to go through cosmetic laser treatment for stretch marks.

What It Is

The Process – Laser treatment to get rid of stretch marks is exactly what it sounds like: it involves a real laser that is run over your body, specifically around areas where stretch marks are present. The laser beam is able to clear or fix the areas where stretch marks occur by “sewing up” the torn areas of the dermis.

Is it effective? The fix is so effective that it will be permanent and you will not have visible stretch marks on the areas where you had the laser treat you. Laser treatment is not an easy thing to do and it takes a specialist to use the actual machine. That specialist must also have knowledge in cosmetic or dermatologic surgery.

What Does “Sewing Up” Mean?

In the process, the surrounding skin of a stretch mark is targeted. Since a stretch mark is essentially a scar on the skin, the laser will then be focused to removing different layers of it as a scar and the process is then repeated until the whole stretch mark is removed. The area will then be left to heal and it will eventually as the new layers of skin start to form again naturally.

How Effective Is The Treatment?

It removes other skin conditions. The laser treatment is not only used to get rid of stretch marks. This treatment has been designed and used to get rid of various skin conditions, regardless if they were caused naturally or not. This laser treatment is so effective that it can also get rid of wrinkles, scars, all types of acne, tattoos, and even facial or body hair. It is even said that a successful procedure will result in skin being in a much better condition that it was before.

Is It A Painful Treatment?

Some people who have undergone the treatment say that it is not painful. Still, those who give the treatment also will apply anesthesia if it is something you think you will need. Many people have stated that although there is a little pain, it is something that is bearable.

Striae, or what is most commonly know as stretch mark to most people, are some of the most annoying condition of the skin. This usually occurs when the body grows quickly, such as the case with gaining weight. The stretch marks are formed when the dermis cannot catch up or deal with the stretching, meaning its elasticity is not flexible enough to cope with the stretching. The dermis tears and wherever the skin has reddened is the area most likely that stretch marks will occur. If not prevented earlier, one has to the option of removing stretch marks by surgery.

Going Under The Laser

Laser surgery is, as of the moment, the only medical procedures that do not involve you taking any prescription medicines. This is similar to the laser surgery that is used to remove tattoos. It works by “cleaning and repairing” the dermis which is a layer just underneath your skin and where all the stretch marks form.

Quick and Painless – Laser treatment has become a very popular and painless way to get rid of stretch marks especially for women who have just had kids. Of course, this is a procedure that is not advisable for women who are still pregnant.

Why Use Laser Treatment?

Since laser surgery is a relatively new method for treatment, a lot of people might be skeptical of the procedure. But this surgery process is very safe and it is also quick.

The Procedure – A full procedure will only involve a few sittings on the patient’s part. Also, this is a very cost-effective way to get rid of stretch marks. The best thing about it is that removing stretch marks by surgery involving a laser means getting rid of them forever. You will not have to worry about any side effects as there are none.

It’s Really Inexpensive?

The Price – The laser surgery procedure is certainly not cheap but it is a lot cheaper than it used to be a few years back. Also, you can count on the fact that there have been major improvements to the procedure since then. The price you pay will depend on the extent of surgery that you want or need. So the more stretch marks you have, the more chances that you will have more than just a couple of sittings to go through the process completely.

Is It Safe?

The procedure is safe when done by the right person. You cannot do this procedure on yourself unless you too are a professional. But the specialists who can operate the machines and have medical degrees can assure you absolute success and zero side effects. There are many unregistered clinics who also offer this treatment and sometimes for a lower price but you cannot trust those places if they do no have the license to operate.