Will I Really Have to Live with These Mommy Stripes (Stretch Marks) Forever? (photo)

I had my daughter four years ago and I gained a ton of weight, got to 215lbs and then lost 90lbs and got a mommy makeover. I am 6 weeks post-op. Now I have a flat tummy, perky breasts and long, ugly stretch marks! The marks are fairly white as you can see in the photos; my skin is very pale white too. I was told there is nothing I can do about them because they are a few years old and faded. Is this true? Do I just have to learn to love them? Or is there any hope to make them even a bit better?

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10 Doctor Answers | Asked by littlemommaduck in Aventura, FL

Doctor Answers (10)
Community Comments (1)

Remaining Stretch Marks after Mommy Makeover

The remaining stretchmarks can be improved very little if any by a lot of different modalities. None of these have been shown to be very effective. Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Stretch mark cure?

Unfortunately, stretch marks can not be eradicated. There have been a variety of treatments proposed over the years with mild improvement in their appearance. Some patients choose to get a tattoo, but this is an individual choice, to hide the stret h marks. You should be very happy with your result and happy knowing the stretch marks represent the beautiful life or lives you delivered.

Todd C. Case, MD

14 reviews

Tucson Plastic Surgeon

Stretch marks

Thank you for your question about your stretch marks after your weight loss and Mommy Makeover. Your idea is right - put things in perspective. you lost almost 100 pounds. Well done! You have healed beautifully from your mommy makeover. Excellent! You have pale stretch marks - more noticeable now your loose tummy skin is gone. They will become less noticeable. Lasers may help, a bit. When the hard work is done - we are still perfectionists. Enjoy your new... more

Stretch marks remain after tummy tuck--what to do.

First of all, congratulations on your weight loss and the great early results of your tummy tuck and breast surgery! Losing that much weight takes an almost superhuman effort accomplished by few. As your scars fade you will be even more happy with your breasts and abdomen--kudos to your surgeon! As for stretch marks, they are actual dermal structural defects and as such are permanent, and not removable by any technique presently in existence (except by excising some or all of the... more

Correction of stretch marks is very difficult

A stretch mark is due to loss of dermal tissue and elasticity. Unfortunately this is a permanent problem. It is possible that you may have some minor improvement with the use of fractionated CO2 laser treatment but in my opinion it may be a waste of time, money and effort.

Fractionated Erbium Laser treatments have been shone to improve stretch marks

It appears that you have had a nice weight loss, and a well preformed tummy tuck. Unfortunately your stretch marks are over your entire abdomen so there is no way to remove them with surgery. Recently it has been reported that Fractionated Erbium Laser Treatment of stretch marks will improve but not remove them. In our office we have had some but limited success.

Prominent stretchmarks

Hi You have a very nice overall outcome. NO outcome is perfect and you need to remember what you started with! Having said that, I see this often. The stretchmarks are not as healthy as normal skin. they will often look swollen, firm and sometimes bright pink. It typically takes 3 months for the marks to settle down and look more natural and less "stringy" As the skin is typically dry after surgery, i would also encourage you to keep some moisturizer on the... more

Most of the stretch marks will remain

Hello, Thank you for the question and photos. Unfortunately the only way to permanently treat stretch marks is to surgically removed them. It does not appear that you have enough abdominal skin laxity to include in a revision tummy tuck. If there is residual laxity the stretch marks may be pulled lower. All the best, Dr Remus Repta

Will I Really Have to Live with These Mommy Stripes (Stretch Marks) Forever

It looks like you will have to be content with the nice result you have had from the TT. There are no good treatments for stretch marks at this time. There have always been products marketed for this problem, but so far none have been useful. Stay in touch with your surgeon, and ask to be notified if something comes along. Thanks for sharing your question and the photos. All the best.

Cosmetic Surgery is an Art and a Science

Unfortunately, stretch marks cannot be changed as they are dermal scars. Always look at the improvement you received from your surgery. You did a great job with your weight loss. Enjoy your new look. Thomas Narsete, M.D. Austin, Tx

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Comments (1)

littlemommaduck 13 Feb 2013

Thank you all for the honest answers. I am not surprised and I am actually very pleased. I love my surgeon. He is amazing and he did an amazing job, as you can see. I am 100% satisfied with my results and the stretch marks are only a minor inconvenience which will not prevent me from enjoying the beautiful body my Dr has sculpted for me! Thanks to everyone! I will continue to be proud of my body and myself and wear these marks as a reminder of how far I have come! :)

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