Stretch Marks
Stretch marks are long, narrow streaks or stripes that develop on the skin. They occur when the skin is suddenly stretched, and they are extremely common. Anyone can develop stretch marks, although they tend to affect more women than men. They can occur on a range of body parts, including the stomach, thighs, hips, breasts (especially after pregnancy), upper arms, and lower back. This type of scarring happens when the skin cannot resume normal form after a period of intense growth.
Stretch marks are scars or disfiguring lesions that form in the dermis and subcutaneous fat layer of the skin. They are also called striae, striae distensae (SD), striae atrophicans, and striae gravidarum. Common areas affected include:
abdomen
breasts
hips
flank
buttocks
thighs
Stretch marks are not dangerous, but for some people, they can be a significant cause of anxiety about their appearance.
Treatment Options
Deep wrinkles and stretch marks are difficult to treat with lasers or pulsed light that produce shorter wavelengths of energy. These treatments work best on superficial scars and non-set wrinkles. A CO2 laser has a longer wavelength, penetrating deep into the skin without damaging the epidermis. Fractionated lasers break up a beam of light into a multitude of thin shafts, each shaft treating a small channel of tissue.
When skin is "damaged" by the CO2 beams, the body sends nutrients to the affected area, and adjacent skin tissue begins to reproduce itself. After several weeks, the affected skin will be replaced by healthy tissue growth. The light energy that is used to shrink the affected area causes the existing collagen to shrink, which, in turn, stimulates collagen production.
Fractional CO2
When treated with Morpheus8 for stretch marks, it uses microneedling for stimulation and radiofrequency energy to heat the deepest layers of skin, remodeling collagen and tightening the skin. This smoothes lines and wrinkles while boosting collagen production and increasing elasticity in a way that other nonsurgical treatments cannot. The combination of adjustable needles and heat energy help create some dramatic results.
The Morpheus8 is different from other similar devices in that its needles can penetrate the skin to a depth of 8 mm. It can also be adjusted throughout the treatment so that the needles penetrate deeper or shallower depending on the targeted area of the skin.
Because this device uses both needling and radiofrequency energy to remodel your collagen, it can help you achieve tighter and younger-looking skin. The device helps you achieve drastic changes in your skin by targeting the treatment area and increasing collagen production. It also allows you to target areas all over your body, such as your face, neck, or hands, where you may be experiencing signs of aging.
Morpheus8
Mesotherapy injections contain numerous amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that are delivered into the scar tissue as well as below it. These ingredients are already present in the body and so further injection just stimulates their actions as opposed to introducing foreign chemicals. One of the most important ingredients used is Silica. This is a mineral that naturally works in the body to correct tissue problems, including scar tissue (yes! stretch marks are actually scar tissues).
In addition to vitamin B12, mesotherapy injections contain other ingredients that stimulate cells to produce elastin and collagen. They also contain a protein that increases the efficiency of cells in terms of metabolism.
Mesotherapy is an option for both men and women who want to improve the appearance of their stretch marks. However, you may be deemed an unsuitable candidate if you have a significant medical problem such as epilepsy and serious asthma; require a pacemaker; are pregnant or are breastfeeding.
Mesotherapy
The above-mentioned list is not definitive and may differ in the treatment of your specific skin condition. Furthermore, depending on your case, the procedures can be used alone or in combination. Your doctor will select the best treatment strategy according to your individual specifications.
Dr. Lola Ali is a professional skincare therapist with over 20 years of experience helping people achieve younger, brighter, and healthier skin. If you would like to know more about your specific aesthetical skin condition and available treatment approaches, please do not hesitate and book your first free skincare check-up and consultation with her.
