Does Laser Treatment For Stretch Marks Really Work?

Stretch marks can make their unsightly appearance on any woman, no matter her size or age.   Studies show that keeping your skin hydrated can help to keep stretch marks at bay, but once they are on your body, hydration will do little to make them disappear. A few companies advertise creams or ointments that claim to lighten stretch marks, but the only way to completely rid yourself of their ugly impact is laser treatment for stretch marks.

The Lowdown On Laser Treatment For Stretch Marks

Lasers have been used successfully to clean up scars for quite some time now. Stretch marks are in reality, small scars that form when elastin or collagen is stretched during growth spurts or pregnancy.  It makes sense that if lasers can treat scar tissue, laser treatment for stretch marks should easily take care of the problem.

The process for laser treatment for stretch marks is easy. It is an outpatient procedure that takes very little time. The doctor simply uses a very precise laser to slough off the top layer of skin. Once this top layer of skin is removed new, healthy, elastic skin grows back in its place. The entire process should take about a half an hour, but it may take three or four visits to see laser treatment for stretch marks yield complete results.

The process is quick and simple and thanks to a local anesthetic, pain free. However, there is the possibility of side effects. The area that is treated will usually exhibit a bit of redness and swelling for a few days following the procedure. This is completely normal and should be of no cause for concern. If the treated area stays red or swollen for more than three days, you need to call your doctor immediately. You might also experience some small amounts of soreness around the treated area, but this, like the swelling should last no longer than three days. You can take an over the counter pain killer such as Tylenol or Motrin to help control the pain.

The Cost Of Laser Treatment For Stretch Marks

The cost of laser treatment for stretch marks can vary from state to state or even from one practice to another. With laser procedures becoming more and more available, you should be able to receive laser treatment for stretch marks at a very reasonable price. On average you can expect to pay around $200 for the procedure, but when you consider the results of laser treatment for stretch marks, that doesn’t seem such a high price to pay.