Stretchmarks are scars that form when the skin stretches or shrinks quickly, causing the supportive skin structures (collagen and elastin) to rupture. The skin attempts to heal and leaves behind narrow bands of raised, discolored tissue. Dr. Arie Benchetrit offers laser treatments to improve stretch marks.
Not everyone gets a stretch mark when they gain or lose weight, and some people may have a higher risk of stretch marks if they have a family history of these unsightly lines. These skin bands are more common during growth spurts and fluctuating hormones, including puberty and pregnancy. People who are weight training may develop stretch marks after rapid muscle growth, and long-term corticosteroid use may cause stretch marks.
Stretch marks may appear red, purple, brown or pink depending on your skin tone and are often raised and itchy at first. As these lines mature, their color fades, and the scar tissue sinks beneath the surrounding skin.
While stretch marks fade eventually, they are challenging to get rid of, and many treatments do not provide the results they promise, such as home remedies and over-the-counter creams, gels or lotions. If they lead to results, it’s after weeks of daily application and skin care. Dr. Benchetrit offers Fraxel stretch mark treatment, an effective laser technology that reduces unsightly skin changes.
Improve Stretch Marks with Fraxel Laser
Fractional laser treatments target the cells in the tissues under the skin’s surface to repair stretch marks from the inside out. The Fraxel laser stimulates collagen production to strengthen the skin and provide a smoother texture. Lasers have proven the most effective device to treat stretch marks when other methods have failed for decades.
Fractionated lasers, such as Fraxel, minimize downtime and damage to surrounding skin by breaking the laser beam into thousands of mini-beams that penetrate the layers of skin. These technologies are less invasive, offering treatment in 15 to 45 minutes with just a one- to two-day recovery, and post-treatment swelling is typically gone within five days.
Dr. Benchetrit or one of his team members places the handpiece over the problem area which sends microscopic columns of energy into the skin to set off the body’s natural healing process. The precise laser pattern preserves nearby tissues and stimulates the body to create new skin cells and fibroblasts that form collagen and melanocytes for skin pigment. The result is skin that is more uniform in color and feel, with less noticeable stretch marks. You may need several treatments to reach your desired results.
Patients report feeling like they have a sunburn after Fraxel laser treatment and may experience pink, dry, flaky skin. New collagen and pigment promoted by the laser energy help to thicken and re-pigment depressed, discolored skin from stretch marks.
If you’re unhappy with stretch marks, contact Dr. Benchetrit in West Island, Montreal, for a free consultation. Call (514) 700-5189 to schedule your appointment or fill out our online contact form.
