Stretch Mark Treatment

Improving the Texture of Stretch Marks

Stretch marks, medically known as striae distensae, develop when the skin undergoes changes that disrupt the normal arrangement of collagen and elastin within the dermis. They commonly appear during periods of rapid growth or body change and can occur following pregnancy, puberty, significant weight change or changes in muscle mass. Hormonal factors and certain medical conditions or medications can also influence their development.

Although stretch marks are extremely common and harmless, some patients would like to reduce how noticeable they appear. Fractional CO₂ Laser may be considered for selected stretch marks where the objective is to improve texture and encourage remodelling within the affected skin.

How Does CO₂ Laser Treat Stretch Marks?

Fractional CO₂ Laser creates controlled microscopic treatment zones within the skin while leaving surrounding areas intact. The resulting healing response encourages collagen production and tissue remodelling over the weeks and months following treatment.

Stretch marks change naturally over time. Newer marks can appear pink, red or purple before gradually becoming lighter and more established. Older stretch marks are commonly paler and may have a slightly depressed or wrinkled texture. Their age, colour, width, depth and location all influence how treatment should be approached.

Laser treatment cannot restore stretched skin completely to its original condition, but it may help selected marks become less conspicuous by improving aspects of their surface texture and overall appearance.

What Does Treatment Involve?

The treatment area is assessed before fractional CO₂ energy is delivered across the stretch marks using settings appropriate to the skin and treatment objective. Larger areas require careful planning because the amount of skin treated influences both procedure time and recovery.

Redness, warmth, swelling and tenderness can occur afterwards, followed by dryness, roughness, crusting or peeling as the skin heals. Patients will receive specific aftercare instructions and should protect the treated area carefully from sunlight during recovery.

A course of treatments may be recommended depending on the extent and characteristics of the stretch marks. Adequate recovery time is allowed between sessions so that the skin response can be assessed before further treatment takes place.

What Results Can I Expect?

Research supports fractional CO₂ Laser as one of several procedures capable of improving stretch marks, but complete removal should not be expected. Response varies considerably between individuals, and established stretch marks can remain visible even after successful treatment.

Improvement develops gradually as collagen remodelling takes place. Depending on the skin, alternatives such as Medical Microneedling or another regenerative approach may also be considered. Combination treatment is recommended only where there is a clear reason for using more than one modality.

Pigmentation changes are an important potential complication of fractional laser treatment, particularly in patients with skin that is more prone to post-inflammatory pigmentation. The balance between expected benefit and treatment risk will therefore be considered during consultation.