Stretch Mark Treatments

If you notice thin, long strips of pale or darkened skin emerging beneath your normal complexion, you’re likely seeing stretch marks. These marks may appear on various parts of the body. When tissue expands too rapidly for our skin to adapt, it can cause stretch marks.

If you struggle with unsightly stretch marks on your breasts, stomach, or extremities, Plastic Surgery Specialists (PSS) can help. Conveniently located in Greenbrae, California, PSS proudly serves the Bay Area. To learn how you may benefit from our expertise, please contact our office to schedule an in office or virtual consultation. 

What Are Stretch Marks?

Although the term “stretch marks” implies that the skin is pulled too far, the truth is a bit more complicated. The scientific name for stretch marks is striae distensae. They occur when the body produces an excess of glucocorticoid, a growth hormone associated with pregnancy and puberty^.[1] 

During these times in a woman’s life, she may develop tissue more quickly than her body can generate collagen. Since collagen is the protein that supports proper skin health and regeneration, a deficiency can manifest itself in the form of stretch marks. 

Breast Stretch Marks

Striations can appear on the breasts if they grow rapidly. In addition to the causes mentioned previously (i.e., puberty and pregnancy), stretch marks may also be triggered by sudden weight gain. Breasts are one of the most common places for stretch marks to appear since their size varies rapidly during certain transitional phases.

Abdominal Stretch Marks

Weight fluctuations often affect the belly region most noticeably. Between 50% and 90% of pregnant women experience stretch marks when they are expecting a baby^.[2] To minimize the onset and persistence of stretch marks on the stomach, contact Plastic Surgery Specialists.

Stretch Marks on the Arms and Legs

Significant weight gain and loss can leave skin lax and sagging and may result in stretch marks on the upper and lower extremities. In addition to addressing the stretch marks, patients with sagging skin along the arms, may want to consider the benefits of an arm lift. If the legs are more of your problem area, then the addition of thigh liposuction is a great option.

Flanks and Buttocks Stretch Marks

Years of office work can take its toll on your body. Extended periods of sitting puts stress on the skin along your buttocks. Stretch marks may radiate from your backside to your flanks, accentuating the areas most pressurized by tight clothing and restrictive body movement.

Treatment Options

Depending on the severity and location of your stretch marks, Plastic Surgery Specialists may recommend a wide array of remedies including topical solutions, laser resurfacing therapy, radiofrequency, or even surgical options.

Topical Solutions

Sometimes, stretch marks can be treated before they fully manifest themselves. If you notice thin skin that is easily irritated or itchy, this may be the precursor to stretch marks. During this period, dermatologists may recommend a topical treatment containing 0.1% retinoic acid, or tretinoin.^[3] Clinical trials indicate that topical solutions can reduce the length of burgeoning stretch marks by 14% and slim their width by 8%, on average. When compared to patients who received a vehicle moisturizer that contained no tretinoin, the results were significant. The control group experienced a growth in the length of their stretch marks averaging 10% as well as an increase of 24% in width.

Laser Resurfacing Therapy

When stretch marks go untreated, they can evolve into deep red and purple hues. To correct this phenomenon, your doctor may suggest laser resurfacing. High-energy bursts of light can target unwanted blemishes and discolorations on and under your skin. Lasers have proven to be highly effective in treating stretch marks, melasma, acne scars, and spider veins.

Radiofrequency for Stretch Marks

Stretch marks appear when the growth of the skin outpaces the collagen production necessary to adequately support it. To counter this trajectory, doctors may use radiofrequency (RF) technology. By treating the area surrounding stretch marks with RF waves, your medical team can stimulate collagen to fill in the gaps below the surface.

Surgical Options

When stretch marks coincide with excess skin, your surgeon may be able to treat both conditions with one efficient procedure. If, for example, stretch marks appear along the belly, your Plastic Surgery Specialists doctor can excise the loose skin where the imperfections manifest. A tummy tuck gently removes sagging skin and tightens your midsection. Then the surgeon will redrape your skin, trimming away stretch marks at the same time. 

Benefits of Stretch Mark Revision

Cosmetic appearance shapes our psychology, and vice versa. How you look factors into how you feel, which determines how you project yourself to the world. If you are insecure about your stretch marks, it can inhibit your everyday life. By correcting your stretch marks, you may enjoy a boost in confidence along with the obvious aesthetic benefits of stretch mark revision.

Best Candidates

Healthy individuals in the Bay Area with concerns stemming from weight gain, pregnancy, or other life changes  may be eligible for a stretch mark revision treatment. Even if your stretch marks date back to adolescence, there are cosmetic treatments that can alleviate the situation.

Preparation for Treatment

During your individualized consultation, our trained medical staff will provide you with preparation instructions tailored to your case. In general, you should quit smoking at least four weeks prior to your treatment. Tobacco products are detrimental to skin health and circulation, both of which contribute to an optimal complexion. 

The Procedure

To address stretch marks, Dr. Poulos or Dr. Hvistendahl may take one of several approaches. They will convey their findings during your initial consultation and explain their thinking at every step moving forward. If your condition can be improved using laser resurfacing, then our providers will walk you through the process to let you know what to expect. Non-ablative lasers (those that do not destroy skin cells but rather work below the surface) take about 30 minutes to treat stretch marks. Ablative lasers require more time – approximately 90 minutes – and they may necessitate anesthesia and/or downtime to recover.

If surgery is the better solution for your stretch marks, one of our board-certified anesthesiologists will administer the proper anesthesia to begin the process. The doctor will then address the stretch marks by tightening, trimming, and removing any excess skin that disrupts your natural beauty. Once he is done, he will close any incisions with sutures, hiding them from view. The entire process may take up to two hours, but the effects are long-lasting.

Recovery

If you undergo a surgical procedure, you may be fitted for a compression garment to wear over your bandages. Please schedule a follow-up appointment according to the doctor’s recommendations. We are happy to monitor your progress and celebrate your results.

FAQ

References 

1. McDaniel, D. H. (2002). Laser therapy of stretch marks. Dermatologic Clinics. 20(1)67–76. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0733-8635(03)00046-9
2. McAvoy, B. R. (2013). No evidence for topical preparations in preventing stretch marks in pregnancy. The British journal of general practice: the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners, 63(609), 212. https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp13X665431n 
3. Kang S, Kim KJ, Griffiths CEM, et al. (1996). Topical Tretinoin (Retinoic Acid) Improves Early Stretch Marks. Archives of Dermatology. 132(5):519–526. DOI: 10.1001/archderm.1996.03890290053007