Stretch marks appear as bands of lines running across your skin when your skin stretches or shrinks rapidly. Stretch marks aren’t painful or harmful, but they can leave your skin look unattractive. If you’re one of these someones, you may be considering a stretch mark revision, but how do you decide which one to use? Is it more reasonable to use a laser or have surgery?

Stretch marks are prevalent, with estimates indicating that 90% of people have them. They commonly appear during or after pregnancy and other drastic or rapid weight fluctuations. Adolescents who are rapidly growing, for example, may notice stretch marks.

These marks can appear almost anywhere, but they’re most common in the following areas: the stomach, upper arms, thighs, and buttocks. You may notice a slight ridge or indentation on your skin when you touch them with your fingers. They may also be itchy or painful.

Stretch marks themselves do not pose a health risk. They can be irreversible, just like other scars, but they can also change and fade over time. Stretch marks from pregnancy, for example, fade after six months.

Continue reading to understand better stretch marks and treatments that can help make them less noticeable.

What A Stretch Mark Looks Like

The presence and appearance of your stretch marks can be influenced by several factors, including the skin’s natural skin tone, health and elasticity, and which body part is affected. These lines, in general, are a different texture and color than your skin, and they can be purple, red, light gray, or whitish.

Stretch marks can also form indented lines or streaks on your skin that vary in length and width. They can also appear as whitish lines in your skin that are thinned and glossy. Likewise, skin irritation and itching are typical before a stretch mark appears.

Why Do Stretch Marks Happen?

Stretch marks are caused by either stretching the skin or an increase in cortisone levels in the body. There is nothing inherently wrong with cortisone; your body produces it naturally. However, too much of this hormone can cause skin elasticity to deteriorate.

Stretch marks also become more common when the following things happen:

• Stretch marks are prevalent during pregnancy since the skin stretches in diverse ways to accommodate the growing fetus. Stretch marks can expand as a result of this constant stretching and tugging.
• Stretch marks can emerge when you gain or lose weight quickly. Teenagers may also experience stretch marks due to a rapid growth spurt.
• Stretch marks can also be caused by corticosteroid creams, pills, and lotions, reducing your skin’s stretch capacity.
• Genetics also factors in whether you will develop stretch marks or not. If you have a family history with frequent stretchmarks, you will most likely have one.

How To Prevent Stretch Marks?

During pregnancy, staying hydrated, eating a balanced diet, and exercising regularly can help prevent stretch marks caused by rapid weight gain or loss.

On the other hand, Stretch marks tend to run in families, and there’s no foolproof way to avoid them altogether, even if you use lotions or creams regularly. At the end of the day, keep in mind that they’re natural, prevalent, and not a risk for your health.

Which Is Better For Removing Stretch Marks? Laser Or Surgery?

People with stretch marks have one thing in common: they want them removed. One of the core reasons people are reluctant to undergo laser stretch mark revision is the cost. Fortunately, patients have the option to choose between laser revision and surgical procedures, so you might be able to find the option that fits within your budget.

Laser Stretch Mark Revision

The laser stretch mark revision process includes removing the thin layers of skin in and around the stretch marks with high-intensity light beams. The ultraviolet laser causes the skin tissue to dissolve practically for new skin cells to form. Patients should be aware that laser stretch mark removal necessitates a few treatments. Multiple treatments are required to be effective since the procedure involves addressing various thin layers of skin at once.

After completing the laser stretch mark revision procedure, clients should expect redness, swelling, and irritation. This is perfectly normal and will heal in days, if not weeks. However, because everyone’s skin is different, it takes to recover varies.

Although the cost of laser stretch mark revision at PBK Medspa is much less costly and invasive than surgical procedures, it can still add up depending on the number of treatments needed. You’ll need to talk to your provider about the number of treatments you’ll need and how much each one will cost.

Surgical Stretch Mark Revision

Surgery is your best bet if you want to get rid of your stretch marks for good. The “tummy tuck” is when excess skin is removed from specific body areas, potentially leaving surgical scars just as unsightly as the stretch marks themselves. People with a lot of stretch marks and in good health have a lot of spare time to recover, and a lot of money should consider surgery.

Surgical stretch mark removal is generally more expensive than laser stretch mark removal. If you choose this option, you should expect to pay several thousand dollars for the procedure; however, your doctor can give you an exact cost after your consultation.

Which Is Better Depends On Your Needs

There are pros and cons of lasers and surgery, and it’s up to you, in the end, to see which one best suits your needs. For example, the laser option is non-invasive, doesn’t require much downtime, and is cheaper. However, the results aren’t as drastic as surgery; laser can only reduce the appearance of stretch marks by 60%-70%, not wholly undoing its effects.

On the other hand, the surgery option can eliminate stretch marks. However, the downside is that surgery can be too cumbersome and costly, and it requires full attention for your aftercare procedures.

Takeaway

While stretch marks aren’t health risks, they can be quite unattractive. So if you are considering a stretch mark revision, be sure to contact and drop by our clinic, PBK Medspa. We offer various services that you may find helpful in dealing with skin concerns or helping you achieve your aesthetic goals.