Laser Stretch Mark Removal

Stretch marks are tears in the skin layers caused by rapid skin stretching – effectively creating a form of scar tissue. Medically referred to as Striae, they are very common in both men and women. When stretch marks first appear, they usually appear purple, blue or red. They also tend to be raised with a visible tear in the skin. Over time, their appearance becomes less prominent, turning into white visible lines on the surface of the skin.

Our recommended specialists offer laser stretch mark removal, primarily using the Acupulse CO2 Laser, a non-surgical, non-invasive cosmetic procedure, to effectively remove the skin layers where stretch marks appear. The heat from the laser simultaneously encourages the skin to produce new healthy skin cells, stimulating the formation of collagen and elastin and significantly improving or eliminating their appearance.

This cosmetic procedure is performed to treat stretch marks that are commonly caused by:

• Growth spurts during adolescence
• Rapid weight gain
• Rapid muscle gain in men
• Pregnancy

In addition, doctors also use the Morpheus8 or the Enerjet 2.0 devices to treat older, deeper stretch marks that require extensive remodelling. 

Morpheus8 and Enerjet 2.0 are also used for patients with darker skin tones (skin type III and upper on the Fitzpatrik skin typing scale) who cannot benefit from ablative laser procedures due to potential side-effects that include hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, and dermal scarring. 

The appropriate cosmetic treatment for your skin type will be determined in consultation with your chosen specialist.

Laser Stretch Mark Removal Before and After 

Laser Stretch Mark Removal Cost

The cost of laser stretch mark removal treatments will depend on the size of the treated area and the treatment The cost of laser stretch mark removal treatments will depend on the size of the treated area and the treatment modalities required. You will discuss your bespoke solution and price with your cosmetic specialist. However, prices for one session in the UK usually start from £700.

How Does Laser Stretch Mark Removal Work?

The skin’s outer surface layers (epidermis) contain collagen and elastin that keep it healthy and allow it to stretch and expand over time. However, the deeper layer of the skin, the dermis, produces collagen and elastin at a slower pace. The imbalance in protein production between the skin layers causes small tears in the skin that eventually become stretch marks.

The CO2 laser works to ablate the epidermis using very high temperatures. The destruction of the skin’s outer surface layer helps to camouflage the stretch mark, while the stimulation generated from the laser’s heat encourages the production of collagen and elastin in the dermis, where stretch marks are formed.

Morpheus8 is a fractional radiofrequency system which delivers a heating effect that deeply penetrates damaged tissue in order to repair and remodel the area by tissue contraction and new collagen stimulation. 

Morpheus8’s fractional effect addresses the texture of the stretch marks, while the Enerjet 2.0 addresses the cellular repair itself.

Results

While stretch marks cannot be entirely removed, ablative laser treatments have shown to significantly reduce the depth of stretch marks by stimulating the production of collagen and elastin in the deeper layers of the skin and are notably the sole method to effectively improve the appearance of stretch marks on the skin.

Recovery

Downtime following your laser stretch mark removal can be up to five days but is usually minimal. You can expect post-treatment side effects including redness or red marks, swelling, minor bruising, tenderness, and mild pain.

Your doctor will provide you with full aftercare advice, however, most side effects from laser stretch mark removal generally subside quickly, and you can return to your normal activities as soon as you feel comfortable doing so. We encourage our patients to welcome downtime when necessary to further promote longer-lasting results.

Is Laser Stretch Mark Removal Worth It?

Stretch marks are a visual expression of a permanent change to the dermis, the deeper layer of skin beneath the surface layer (the epidermis), thus they are notoriously hard to treat. 

However, laser stretch mark removal treatments have shown to significantly lessen the depth of stretch marks owing largely to the stimulation of increased production of collagen and elastin in the dermal layer where stretch marks are formed. Notably, ablative laser treatments are the only effective way to substantially improve the appearance of stretch marks on the skin.

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