Laser Surgery for Stretch Marks

Stretch marks occur on the body when skin is stretched.  This usually occurs as a result of rapid growth such as with puberty, pregnancy or muscle building.  Stretch marks are often considered unsightly and many people wish to get rid of them.  Luckily, it is possible to remove stretch marks using laser surgery.

Stretch marks appear when the layer skin is stretched and torn.  The torn skin is replaced by scar tissue.  This usually happens when someone gains weight.  If they lose the weight, the stretch marks are visible.  They look like pink threads on the skin.  They are usually found around the thighs, stomach, hips, arms or breasts.  These marks are not a threat to one's health in any way, but they are not exactly a desired look.

Stretch marks can plague a lot of women that have been pregnant or have lost a lot of weight.  There are many ways to try to remove stretch marks like cremes and ointments, but it's hard to say if any of them really work.  They may make the stretch marks look lighter, but they never actually remove them completely.

One of the best options for removing stretch marks almost completely is through laser surgery.  It might sound complicated, but laser surgery for stretch marks is actually a pretty simple procedure.  There are also very few side effects to worry about.  The actual surgery uses a beam of light that is concentrated in one small point.  The light is guided along the stretch marks and removes the very thin skin layers.  Along with removing the thin layers of skin, the stretch mark scar tissue is removed as well.  When the procedure is finished, the skin starts to heal on its own.  New skin is formed to cover up the damaged skin where the stretch marks were, making them much lighter and less visible.

You might be wondering how long it takes to have laser surgery for stretch marks.  It actually doesn't take very long at all.  The procedure usually takes as little as 10 minutes to about an hour.  It all depends on how badly the skin is stretched and how much skin is being treated.  Sometimes it can take multiple treatment sessions to complete the job.  You might have to go for up to six treatment sessions if that's what it takes to remove the stretch marks.  There is not much pain to deal with during the procedure.  You will only feel a slight pinching from the laser light when it is being applied.  The pain is very quick and you won't feel it after the treatment is done.  There are some minor side effects to be aware of, even though they are very rare.  It is possible that after the surgery you can experience some scarring, bruising, swelling or blisters on the skin that was treated using the laser.  There is nothing to worry about if you do experience these symptoms because they will go away within a few days or as long as a few weeks.  The color of the skin that was treated may also change color, but this is also temporary and will go away in a short amount of time.  Your skin will be back to normal, yet new and improved, in just a short amount of time.

When it comes to treating stretch marks, new ones are easier to treat.  It is the stretch marks that have been around awhile that can be problematic.  Newer marks are pretty easy to remove, but older ones may have turned white or silver in color.  They are harder to remove, but their appearance can at least be diminished, so it's not like they can't be treated.

Even though laser surgery to remove stretch marks seems like a simple procedure, it is not cheap.  In fact, each session can cost anywhere from $400 to over $1500.  This can really add up if you need more than one session.  This can be a lot of money for most people, but if you can't afford it all at once, there is the option to finance the payment through the surgeon's office.  Just be aware of the conditions of the plan before you sign anything.  Don't get caught with high fees or high interest rates.

Laser surgery is definitely the best way to have stretch marks removed, but don't jump into anything until you get all the information you need.  If you are interested in getting this type of treatment, then you should schedule an appointment with a surgeon to ask any questions you might have.  Make sure you choose a qualified doctor to perform laser surgery so you can avoid any serious complications afterwards.  Then you can say goodbye to your unsightly stretch marks once and for all.