Plastic Surgery for Stretch Mark - What You Need To Know

There are several treatment choices to select from and one option is plastic surgery for stretch marks. If you want to avoid experiencing a lot of pain or ending up with more scars than before you got your marks treated then choosing one out of the three minimally invasive surgeries can be your solution to a scars free skin.

Chemical Peels

Chemical Peeling - Chemical peeling is a method which involves the application of a chemical solution on the skin. The chemicals strip off the dead skin cells to make way for new and healthy skin. The new skin is usually smoother and more even in color. This makes chemical peels an effective yet minimally invasive plastic surgery for stretch marks.

There are different types of acids used in chemical peeling. The commonly used chemicals are glycolic, trichloracetic, lactic, and salicylic acids. Light or mild peels only penetrate into the surface of the skin. This kind of peel gives what they call a "freshening" effect and the patient will experience only a sunburn-like redness after every procedure. But more often than not, a series of procedures will be required and sometimes the strength of the acids is increased but this is dictated by the tolerance level of the skin. The redness that results from a mild peeling can be easily covered up with make-up.

The medium type of peels penetrate much deeper and has more effect on the skin. The patient will feel more of burning sensation after the procedure and the skin will need a week of healing and minimal sun exposure. With this type of procedure, there is a possibility of swelling and some blistering that may crust and turn brown but this will peel off after a week or so. The deep kind of peels penetrate even deeper into the dermis and can sometimes be a risky process. Some doctors would rather utilize laser technology than perform deep chemical peels.

Laser Surgery

Treatment Prices - The cost and pain that accompanies laser stretch mark removal has gone down in recent years. This method uses a controlled beam of light that focuses on the affected areas to break down scar tissues. The lasers also stimulate new collagen growth. The new collagen works to thicken and plump the skin so that new skin cells can fill up stretch marks from the bottom up.

Different Results - Not all stretch marks are the same and the effectiveness of laser surgery will depend on a number of things. These factors can include the age and severity of stretch marks. A person's genes and hormones can also affect the results of the treatment. There is proof that laser surgery is more effective when used on fresher scars. Some people combine other methods with laser therapy to get better results.

Dermabrasion

Another minimally invasive plastic surgery for stretch marks is dermabrasion. This quick procedure has some success in treating stretch marks. It only takes a few minutes per procedure but the patient will need more than one session to see results. The skin is frozen first then a specialized instrument is used to "sand" the skin. This abrasive action removes the area of the skin with visible stretch marks showing only the "new" skin which has no stretch marks on it. The now smooth skin is usually pink but gradually fades over a six to eight week period. However, the patient is advised to avoid any direct or indirect sun exposure for the next three to six months after the procedure. If the treated area is exposed to the sun, this will cause temporary or worse, permanent darkening of the skin.

By Maia Pells