Medical Laser Blog - Fotona Straight Talk for the Physician

Erbium Laser Treatment for Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are actually deep wounds in the skin.  People have tried to treat them with creams and lotions - with little success.  They have been treated with superficial treatments like microdermabration - also with minimal results.  Some have tried more aggressive therapies, like CO2 lasers, but that will often scar in areas other than the face. So what is one to do?

We use a VSP Er:YAG laser.  With it we are able to address all of the issues inherent in stretch marks.  First, we can do a light-to-moderate resurfacing that will help with the pigment and contour issues.  Next, we use fractional SmoothMode - a heat only mode that simulates collagen growth and repair deep in the skin.  Rather than be aggressive, we consult the patient about the physiology and how the stretch marks did not appear overnight and they will not go away overnight.  We do a series of treatments.  We will typically do 3 to 8 treatments spaced at 4 to 8 weeks.  We have seen good results with this (better than we have seen elsewhere).  When at conferences I always walk around looking at the many before and after pictures displayed.  Have you noticed, like I have, that it is not always easy to tell the before from the after?  Our Fotona pictures are clear and remarkable. However, it is important to be very clear when consulting a person with stretch marks.

Stretch marks are a lot like acne scars in that they carry a lot of emotional energy.  If you make the stretch marks 75% better they are still 25% there.  This may not be what the patient was after.  They may have been dreaming of their former bikini days.  So, as with all of Aesthetic medicine, a great consult is imperative.  I often tell women that we can get their stretch marks to a place they can wear a short, untucked shirt for a little skin to show - but not to their prior flawless state.