How do I get rid of stretch marks?
Great question! And one we hear a lot. So let’s get into it in some detail….
Tiger stripes. Lightning bolts. Stretchies, angel scratches (even striae distensae if you want to be all medical about it!). We have lots of different names we use when talking about our stretch marks. Most people see them as a fact of life, especially after childbirth. But this isn’t necessarily the case…. Read on!
First of all, what are stretch marks and why do they form?
Stretch marks happen when your skin is pulled too much by rapid growth or weight change. Although your skin is usually fairly elastic, when it’s overstretched, the normal production of collagen (the support protein in your skin) is disrupted. This damage results in line-like scars called stretch marks.
When stretch marks first form they are often red and angry-looking streaks, but these generally fade over time to a silvery-white colour. The appearance of them may fade a little with time, but they are there to stay.
Common areas to be affected are on your thighs, hips and on your buttocks, but pregnant women often get them on the overstretched skin on the belly as well as the other areas.
While it’s great to know what they are and why they form, most people are most interested in how to get rid of them!
What can get rid of my stretch marks?
Well, there’s good news and bad news.
The good news is that they can be treated. The bad news is that you can never 100% get rid of them. But we can significantly improve their appearance.
The best approach we’ve found is to use a combination of treatments when tackling stretch marks. By harnessing the scar shrinking abilities of Plexr Plus combined with the remodeling and rebuilding properties of microneedling with PRP (platelet-rich plasma), we’re getting fantastic results that just can’t be replicated by one treatment method alone.
It doesn’t work overnight, we’ve got to work with you over a course of 4 treatments over 4 months minimum for the best results. But it’s worth the wait!
What’s involved in the stretch mark treatment?
The treatment starts with an initial Plexr Plus treatment to shrink the width of the scars. You literally see the stretch mark shrink before your eyes! As this heals you get the first stages of new collagen being formed in your skin.
We next target the old stretched and disorganised scarred collagen with the microneedling & PRP. Two treatments, each a month apart, improve the health and structure of your skin, readying it for the final Plexr Plus treatment at the month-four stage.
At this point, the health of your stretched and scarred skin has been increased greatly with the microneedling & PRP so that this final Plexr Plus treatment really can do its work improving your remaining scars.
Want to learn more…head over to our dedicated landing page.
Dr James Dean
Medical Skin Specialist — Freyja Medical Clinic
