Don't Even Think About Removing Stretch Marks With Laser Until You Read This Article

By Tiallana Hirano

You probably have tried several over-the-counter remedies such as topical lotions and creams, chemical peels or microdermabrasion to remove your stretch marks. You have used them for several months. But you notice no changes in them even after you have followed the instruction to the dot. You feel like you have duped by false advertising.

Feeling disappointed, you may be thinking about laser treatments. But are they the ideal choice for you? Hopefully you will find the answer after reading laser stretch mark removal reviews.

What Are The Different Types Of Stretch Mark Laser Removal

Laser therapy is widely used today by dermatologists to get rid of excess hair, cellulite, and skin problems such as acne, scars, hyperpigmentation, varicose veins, and stretch marks. There are 3 types of laser being used in stretch mark removal.

• Fraxel (Fractional Laser Resurfacing)
• Excimer
• Vbeam (Pulsed Dye Laser)

Each of them works differently in making your ugly streaks less noticeable.

What Are The Benefits Of Using Cosmetic Laser Stretch Mark Removal

Doctors usually recommend laser treatments for their clients because they can leave the clinic and go home after the procedure is completed. The recovery period is short. And if you are opting for this method to remove your stretch marks, you should see results after several sessions. The reason why most people choose this method is because it is less risky and less expensive compared to more invasive surgical procedures like tummy tuck.

Which Type Of Stretch Mark Removal With Laser Is The Best

If you ask any skin care doctor, you will hear different answers. Some will say that Fraxel is the best laser for stretch mark removal. Others believe that Vbeam works better than Fraxel.

Every stretch mark laser surgery has its own advantages and disadvantages. By knowing how each of them work, the cost involved, the expected results, and the type of stretch marks you have, you can decide which one is best for you.

Does Laser Stretch Mark Removal Work

With various opinions on lasers, obviously you want to know if it is possible to remove stretch marks entirely. To tell you the truth, no laser can remove stretch marks. Your best hope is your stretch marks should appear less noticeable.

It gets harder when your red or purplish wavy lines turn white over the time. Most dermatologists agree that white stretch marks are the most difficult to treat. In fact, some dermatologists refused to treat them at all.

How Does Laser For Stretch Mark Removal Work

With 3 different types of laser, it is better to have some knowledge on how each of them work in treating stretch marks

Fraxel does not treat the entire area. It only concentrates on a small area, leaving the rest intact. Using short pulses of light, it will create tiny wounds on the target area. Your body will respond to these wounds by producing collagen and elastin. This will increase the elasticity of the skin, improve the texture, and make your scars look better.

Just like Fraxel, Vbeam also promotes the production of collagen and elastin. However, it focuses on the whole area especially the blood vessels with non-ablative laser light pulses.

Because the blood vessels are being targeted, redness is inevitable. That is why in Pulse Dye Laser treatment, it comes with Dynamic Cooling Device (DCD). DCD is a cooling method used during the procedure. Before the laser pulses reach the skin, it will release cryogen, a cool mist, on the skin. This serves as a solution to the reduction in pain which exists in any laser stretch mark surgery. It also offers protection to your skin from the heat of the laser, reducing any thermal damage.

In Excimer laser, it does not stimulate the skin to produce collagen and elastin. What it does is to change the color of your stretch marks.

It emits short UV pulses on the skin to boost the production of melanin. Melanin is responsible for the color of your skin. The more melanin your skin produces, the darker your stretch marks will be.

The whole idea of the treatment is to ensure that the color of the stretch marks will eventually match your skin. Thus, you can see your ugly streaks will be less noticeable.

Which Stretch Mark Laser Treatment Is Effective For New Or Old Stretch Marks

Since new or red striae are easier to treat, you can use any of them to reduce its appearance.

Some patients see some improvement with their old stretch marks after being treated with Frazel, Vbeam and Excimer. However, don't get your hopes up too high. You probably have heard that the Food and Drug Administration has approved Palomar 1540 Fractional for stretch mark removal. But there is no guarantee that it will work on old stretch marks.

When Is The Best Time To Use Laser Surgery For Stretch Mark Removal

This question is relevant if you are thinking about having more children. Judging from the cost that can run into thousands of dollars, it is best to have laser treatment when you decide not to have anymore babies. During pregnancy, you will certainly gain weight. This will develop new stretch marks.

What Laser Stretch Mark Removal Results Do You Expect

The results that you hope for very much depend on the age of the stretch marks. Older stretch marks are harder to get rid off compared to new ones.

Although there is no downtime in laser therapy, but prickling sensation, skin peeling and redness is common with Fractional Laser Resurfacing. Your skin is likely to be bruised for a few days after the procedure of Pulsed Dye Laser.

Generally, you should see improvements in 2 or 3 months. You may need additional sessions for maintenance as the results are not permanent.

Depending of which laser stretch mark treatment you opt for, you may need up to 10 treatments or even more to see the desired results. Again, you should not have high expectations. Any form of laser treatment for stretch mark only helps to make these unattractive skin imperfections look less obvious.

Who Are The Likely Candidates For Stretch Mark Laser Therapy

Laser stretch mark removal is not only for pregnant women. It is also suitable if you have these unwanted threads on your body as a result of bodybuilding, rapid weight gain or loss, and growth spurt during your puberty.

The question is are you willing to fork out thousand of dollars for the therapy?

Why It Is Important To Engage A Board Certified Dermatologist To Perform Stretch Mark Laser Treatments

Although the side effects are minimal in stretch mark laser surgery, but in the hand of unqualified physicians, you may run into problems such as excess skin burning, treating the wrong area and scarring. For safety reasons, it is important to consult one that has the experience, certification, and training. Not only will you get the best consultation for treating your stretch marks, as a patient, you can be assured of receiving the highest level of care.

If any dermatologist promises that your stretch marks can be removed with just one session, you better stay away or ask for a second opinion. Regardless of the type of stretch mark removal laser treatment being used, it is unlikely you can see expected results with just one treatment.

It would be great if the dermatologists can show you their past work. Stretch marks are not easy to treat. So ask for stretch mark laser removal before and after pictures. By reviewing the photos, you will have better judgment in narrowing down the list to your most desirable surgeon.

How Much Does Stretch Mark Removal By Laser Cost

The laser stretch mark removal cost depends on the size of the area to be treated, the experience of the surgeon, and the location of the clinic.

The cost will be higher if the size of the treated are is large, you engage a top board certified dermatologist, and the clinic is located in a major city.

Be willing to pay anywhere from few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. For Excimer, the price for one session is between $250 and $750. For Pulsed Dye Laser, the cost for each session can be in the range of $150 and $500. The minimum cost for Fraxel is $900. All the expenses for any stretch mark removal treatment will also depend on the number of sessions you need.

You also need to consider that this expense is not covered by any insurance company. Most likely, it will come from your own pocket. Alternatively, you can check with the dermatologists if they offer any financial package for any laser stretch mark surgery.

Conclusion

If you are planning to treat your stretch marks with laser therapies, your success rate would be higher when your stretch marks are still red or new. Always have low expectations because you don't want to be disappointed as the laser therapies are not meant to remove stretch marks. Make sure your dermatologists are qualified to prevent any unwanted tragedy when using high tech medical devices like laser.

The high price of stretch mark laser removal can be a stumbling block for you. It can be time consuming because you don't really know how many trips you need to make until you're thrilled with the results. Let's not forget to mention that after spending so much money, there is no guarantee you'll be happy with the results.

There is an alternative option which costs less than a fraction of the price of laser surgeries. And it comes with a money back guarantee if you are not satisfied with the results. Find out how Trilastin-SR can fade your stretch marks without any discomfort or high price tag.