Reduce Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are harmless, but they create an unappealing appearance. Some people choose to live with these permanent marks and lines, but for many others they are quite frustrating. What makes it even worse is their resistance to all possible treatments to remove these streaks. 

Dr. Q Medical Spa, led by board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Suzanne Quardt (Dr. Q), provides treatments for stretch mark reduction to patients in Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, and surrounding locations.

What are Stretch Marks?

The occurrence of stretch marks is a common skin issue that impacts most people around the globe, irrespective of ethnicity and gender. Stretch marks develop most commonly in:

• Pregnant women
• Obese individuals
• Anyone who has put on or lost weight rapidly

The skin is quite elastic and regains its position and shape as soon as it is released after being stretched. However, when the skin is stretched beyond its elastic limit, the dermal layers tear and heal. 

The internal damage creates noticeable scarring, which appears on the skin’s surface as shades of color tone. These unattractive marks develop mostly on the thighs and abdomen, but can develop anywhere on the body.

The four most popular stretch mark removal med spa treatments are as follows:

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels are the mildest treatment used to address new stretch marks. As the name suggests, the solution applied eliminates some skin layers that have been compromised by stretch marks. The bare layers are replaced by new smooth and clear skin, without marks. 

Micro-Puncture with and without Radiofrequency (RF)

Dermapen is the most sought-after microneedling treatment. In this procedure, small-sized needles are used to create microscopic injuries on the skin in a controlled manner. 

This initiates the healing process as well as increases the collagen levels in the treated sites. Consequently, the marks fade and the skin becomes more elastic as well. Microneedling can also be combined with RF to enhance the effectiveness of the procedure.

Laser Treatment for Stretch Marks

This procedure involves projecting a high intensity laser beam onto the grooves. The energy of the laser beams disintegrates the scar tissue in the inner skin layers, which is the reason for the appearance stretch marks. The healing process starts as the scar tissue breaks down. 

This promotes the production of new skin cells and new tissues in the inner skin layers. In addition, the laser treatment also promotes the generation of collagen, which leads to skin thickening and the removal of these unattractive streaks altogether. 

The patient may require multiple med spa treatment sessions to attain desirable outcomes. A majority of patients report significant softening in the appearance of these bands after the fourth treatment session.

Fractional CO2 Lasers

Fractionated CO2 lasers provide the best solution for the removal of stretch marks. A special kind of fractional laser is used to create microscopic injuries in the narrow channels of the skin. The use of innovative fractional laser technology allows small pinpoints of CO2 laser energy to be delivered to ablate the problematic areas of the skin, while leaving the healthy surrounding skin undisturbed. 

The laser promotes collagen and elastin generation in the dermis, and enables more rapid skin healing along with a resurfacing of the superficial skin layer. This brings about a reduction in the appearance of stretch marks and creates a smoother skin texture. 

Dr. Q Medical Spa receives patients from Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, and nearby areas for the treatments to reduce stretch marks.

For more information on Plastic Surgery and Non-Surgical Medical Spa Procedures and Treatments in the Rancho Mirage, Palm Springs, Palm Desert and surrounding areas please contact the offices of Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Suzanne Quardt (Dr. Q) by clicking here or calling 760-324-2660.