Postpartum stretch marks. Or how I take care of my stomach skin.

Stretch marks are tears in skin tissue

To understand why cream for stretch marks does not help, you need to understand the causes of the defect.

Stretch marks are deep tears in the skin and subcutaneous tissues. The skin “cracks” under the influence of overextension or hormonal disorders in the body. Most often, the causes of stretch marks are genetic predisposition, sudden changes in body weight during pregnancy and weight loss, long-term hormonal treatment and severe endocrine disorders. At the same time, the elasticity of the skin sharply decreases and at the site of the skin rupture, rough scar tissue forms, which forms those very unpleasant white or purple stripes on the skin that we used to call stretch marks.

Stretch marks on the skin

Can a medical problem be cured by applying cream to the skin? More likely no than yes!

Is it possible to remove stretch marks with plastic surgery?

January 07, 2020

“Remove completely” – and “make less noticeable”

First of all, let's define the terminology. “Remove”, “remove” stretch marks, “get rid of them forever” and – “make them minimally noticeable”. Do you feel the difference? This is the distance between openly advertising texts and the real possibilities of modern medicine.

Stretch marks - scientifically called stretch marks - are scar tissue. It is a mistake to think that they appear solely due to mechanical stretching of the skin - say, after childbirth. The occurrence of stretch marks is the result of impaired skin regeneration and tissue elasticity. You can become their owner with a rapid increase in body weight, due to hormonal changes in the body (in adolescence).

Can plastic surgery treat stretch marks? Yes, but only in a radical way: in the area where stretch marks appear, excess skin is simply excised (a surgical procedure called abdominoplasty). And then, we are talking only about a very specific area of ​​the body - this is the lower abdomen.

It is clear that not everyone and not always resort to such an extreme measure. Meanwhile, stretch marks are a very common phenomenon. Here are the statistics: about 90% of pregnant women, 70% of teenage girls and 40% of boys (mostly athletes) have stretch marks.

How to deal with this?

First of all, you should consult with a competent cosmetologist: today there are many remedies available to combat this defect, including folk remedies, but this does not mean that all of them are good.

In order not to go as far as removing stretch marks with the help of plastic surgery, you need to know: the sooner you seriously deal with them, the greater the chance of making them minimally noticeable.

Experts advise starting to treat stretch marks as soon as you notice them. “Young” stretch marks have a reddish, pink, and sometimes purple tint. But the old ones already become flesh-colored or white. This is explained by the fact that pigment is not produced in the connective tissue, so when tanning, stretch marks on the stomach and buttocks become even more noticeable.

From washcloths to creams

Without completely rejecting the role of plastic surgery in the removal of stretch marks, it should still be remembered that cosmetic methods, when applied correctly and in a timely manner, bring quite noticeable results. And not only them.

Surprising as it may seem, in the list of measures against stretch marks, regular massage, the use of various scrubs and rubbing with a hard washcloth when taking a shower are almost in first place. This improves blood circulation in problem areas and activates the supply of beneficial substances in the blood to the skin. Due to this, skin regeneration is activated, replacing dead cells with new ones.

After consultation with a specialist, you can use various creams, serums, gels, oils, balms and masks - today cosmetic companies offer them in large quantities to the consumer. But, of course, you don’t need to use “everything in a row.” For example, creams containing tretinoin are contraindicated for nursing mothers.

About mesotherapy, peeling and laser

Remembering that removing stretch marks through plastic surgery is a last resort, you should know that you can also fight them using injection methods: using mesotherapy or ozone therapy.

Microdermabrasion, during which the skin is polished with small abrasive particles, can help make stretch marks less noticeable. Vacuum massage, chemical peeling, and laser are used for this. The latest laser technologies stimulate the body's production of collagen, which helps restore skin elasticity.

But any of these methods should be used only after detailed consultation with a specialist.

And further. It is important to remember: a doctor who respects the patient and his profession will not speak of any of the listed remedies as a miraculous panacea that will once and for all get rid of stretch marks without a trace.

If we do not mean the removal of stretch marks using plastic surgery, modern medical practice does not know of any methods by which the skin, after the appearance of stretch marks, completely returns to its original appearance.

Author: Dudnik A.P.

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Myth #1 Anti-stretch mark cream can completely eliminate stretch marks

Unfortunately, despite all the advertising ploys and tricks, not a single stretch mark cream can completely eliminate stretch marks without leaving a trace. This is due to the fact that rough scar tissue cannot be destroyed by chemical compounds. The main components of all creams in this group are collagen, vitamins A and C, as well as active natural extracts and oils. As a result, the mechanism of action of such cosmetics is reduced to improving skin elasticity and partial destruction of fibrous tissue cells, but not completely eliminating stretch marks.

Nevertheless, let’s be fair, the result of long-term use of such creams is really noticeable and is manifested by the partial elimination of fine stretch marks and the lightening of the main part of the stretch marks, which makes them less noticeable. Therefore, cream for stretch marks should be used in complex treatment, as an addition.

Cosmetic procedures and products ↑

Chemical peels

Superficial peels are ineffective against stretch marks, so cosmetologists use medium and deep peels in such cases. The principle of operation here is almost the same as with laser resurfacing (controlled tissue trauma to stimulate skin renewal), with the only difference being that the effect is carried out using chemical compounds.

After the procedure, the skin becomes red and swollen; after a few days, the process of intensive exfoliation begins, which usually lasts about a week.
After healing, stretch marks become less noticeable. Remember that the treatment area should not be tanned for two months after the procedure (this can lead to severe pigmentation). Pros
:

Minuses:

Scrubbing

The scrub is an affordable and easy-to-use product that can be used at home. It can not only cleanse the skin, but also stimulate cell renewal. With regular scrubbing (1-2 times a week), stretch marks gradually become less noticeable.

The effectiveness largely depends on the composition of the scrub. It is important that it contains sufficiently hard exfoliating particles (soft ones against stretch marks are simply ineffective): crushed nut shells or fruit seeds, salt, granulated sugar. Ideally, in addition to scrubbing components, the product contains ingredients for toning, lifting, and nourishing the skin.

Pros:

Minuses:

Self-massage with a dry brush

The second name of this method is “drybrushing”. This is another option for mechanical exfoliation. A huge plus is the lack of consumables and the ability to perform a massage anywhere and anytime - even in your own bedroom, while watching your favorite TV series.

With regular use of the brush, the skin is cleansed of keratinized particles, renews itself faster, becomes smooth, cellulite and stretch marks become less pronounced. The main rule of dry massage is that movements should be in the direction of the lymph: from the feet to the heart.

For a massage to be effective, it is important not only to do it correctly, but also to choose a quality brush. Dry massage brushes ARAVIA

made of beech wood and natural bristles. Natural materials will make the procedure tactilely pleasant, and the long handle will allow you to work on hard-to-reach areas.

>> How to do drybrushing correctly, we tell you in the article “Massage with a dry brush: technique, tips and contraindications”

Pros:

Minuses:

Myth No. 2 Creams for stretch marks are completely useless

In fact, in addition to the mechanism of action of masking stretch marks already described above, stretch mark creams are very effective means of preventing their appearance. This is especially true for pregnant women and people undergoing long-term hormone therapy.

The preventive effect of such products is that the cream contains a large amount of collagen and substances that promote its absorption. It is the lack of collagen in skin cells that leads to loss of elasticity and the appearance of breaks in the form of stretch marks. By saturating the skin with this important protein agent, you can significantly reduce the risk of stretch marks, which has been confirmed by the experience of many patients.

Hardware techniques ↑

Laser resurfacing

Laser resurfacing is considered the “gold standard” among hardware methods for combating stretch marks. All thanks to its high efficiency - both for fresh and old stretch marks.

The cosmetologist determines the depth of impact and the number of procedures strictly individually - depending on the severity and age of stretch marks.
If there are few stretch marks, they appeared recently and are not too deep, the procedure will not be painful, and the rehabilitation period will also take less time. Older and more pronounced stretch marks will require more powerful laser treatment. In this case, the procedure will be more difficult to tolerate, and the rehabilitation period will be longer. Pros:

Minuses:

Diamond microdermabrasion

Diamond microdermabrasion (from “derma” - “skin”, “abrasion” - “removal”, “grinding”) is a high-tech hardware peeling procedure.
It is carried out using a nozzle with a diamond surface, which powerfully exfoliates the skin. This effect stimulates the formation of new collagen and elastin, evens out the relief, increases elasticity and fights pigmentation. Pros:

Minuses:

RF lifting (radio lifting, radio wave lifting, thermolifting)

During an RF lifting session, the skin is heated to a temperature of 55-60°C, which accelerates the formation of collagen fibers.
In this case, the uniform distribution of energy is controlled by a specialist. That is why the patient does not experience discomfort. The skin is tightened, its relief is evened out, cell renewal processes are started, stretch marks fade and decrease. Pros:

Minuses:

Benefits of stretch mark removal in our clinic

• Safety. Our doctor precisely affects areas of the skin, clearly regulates the intensity of the beam and the depth of laser exposure. The ability to carry out the procedure on any area: face, neck, décolleté, back, arms, body.
• Quality. The high level of knowledge and extensive practice of doctors allow us to carry out procedures with minimal trauma, no complications and a short recovery period. Can be used on skin of any color.
• Comfort. The most painless analogue among other laser procedures. We use anesthesia to ensure comfort during the procedure.
• Result guarantee. A powerful effect, our doctors use their own methods of combined procedures to achieve 100% results.
• Escort. We take care of you throughout the entire period of rehabilitation, monitor and answer all questions.
• Rehabilitation. Fast recovery period, our clients undergo rehabilitation procedures with a discount of up to 50%.
• Effect. The result is noticeable after 3-4 sessions. Due to the correctly selected method of influence, a sustainable effect is achieved.

Call the Telos Beauty Prof clinic by phone or
You can find out in detail about the various methods of treating stretch marks on the hips from the cosmetologists of our clinic.