Cosmetic Surgery Treatments for Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are a result of the collagen in your skin breaking down. They occur if you gain a large amount of weight or stretch your skin, as during pregnancy. Stretch marks are clinically known as striae, and are scars that remain after the dermal and epidermal layers of skin lose elasticity. They often fade over time, especially with the use of a massaging cream like cocoa butter. Some people are more likely to get stretch marks, simply because of the nature of their skin. There are a couple of cosmetic surgery treatments that are known to help stretch marks.

Laser

• Lasers are used to reduce the depth and color of stretch marks. Doctors move the laser tool along the scar. It removes or vaporizes a layer of skin, thus removing the scarred layer. The healthy and more natural skin that is below the surface emerges and heals over time to minimize the appearance of the scar. Other lasers can also be used on the deeper layers of skin, promoting new collagen growth and healing scars from the inside out. The cosmetic surgeon usually administers local anesthesia in an office, hospital or outpatient surgery center. The procedure can take as little as a few minutes or as long as 90 minutes.

Aftercare

• After you have laser removal performed on your stretch marks, your doctor will likely tell you to wash the area with a gentle, mild soap. Pat the area dry with a towel and apply antibiotic cream with a bandage. You may also be prescribed an antibiotic to keep infection at bay. To help the scar fade, use medicated creams and a cool mask. If there is any pain after the surgery, take a pain reliever. Within four days of treatment, you skin will start to regenerate. How fast that occurs is up to your skin, the technique and the type of laser used. Your doctor will schedule an evaluation six to eight weeks after laser treatment to see how your stretch marks look.

Complications/Cost

• It is relatively common to experience some side effects from laser surgery on stretch marks. You may experience hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation, which means your skin turns darker or lighter, respectively. Both conditions are more aggravated if you're in the sun. You could also experience an infection or have an allergic reaction to the laser. The cost of removing stretch marks with a laser will depend on your doctor's fees, facility fees and anesthesia fees. More than one visit may be necessary because of the wide range of scar tissues. Ask a physician for a cost estimate. Insurance doesn't cover purely cosmetic surgeries.

Abdominoplasty

• Since the only truly successful way of getting rid of stretch marks is by cutting them out, some plastic surgeons claim there is a marked improvement after an abdominoplasty, or tummy-tuck procedure. People can't undergo the surgery for the sole reason of removing stretch marks, but it is a side benefit to the procedure. As the doctor removes excess skin, muscle or fat from the abdomen, she is usually cutting out stretch marks. Tummy tucks tighten abdominal muscles and make the stomach look much better. There will be significant new scars where the surgeon closes the incision, but the area can be covered by a bathing suit.

Selection

• When looking for a plastic surgeon to remove stretch marks, check his credentials, certifications and accreditation. According to the American Board of Plastic Surgery, more doctors are using offices and surgery centers to perform procedures, rather than hospitals. Ask to tour the facility and request proof of the doctor's work. Talk about your hopes for your appearance following the surgery and determine if your expectations are in line with his.

Warning

• Some surgeons don't use laser surgery for stretch marks and aren't even convinced that it works. Michael Dermant, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon, states that laser surgery works on wrinkles, but he hasn't found it to be effective for treating stretch marks. According to Dr. Dermant, if a doctor claims to be able to perform this treatment successfully, make sure you get proof prior to making a decision. The only way to truly eliminate stretch marks is to cut them out. In addition, they look worse on loose skin. Get a body or butt lift to tighten up the skin, and the stretch marks will be less noticeable.