Is there anything I can do about these stretch marks? (Photo)

Question

I’m 26 and I’m really struggling with these stretch marks, I’ve had a tummy tuck which got rid of a few but I’m left with a lot of them, I’ve used many topical treatments over the years with little to no difference. The stretch marks are very deep and really long, they look like tears under the skin. I’ve read a lot about different laser therapies such as carboxy therapy, fractional lasers etc but I don’t know which to look in to the most. Thanks

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Stretch marks are caused by hyperemia after dermal injury; resulting in the characteristic redness and loss of skin integrity. It may take months to years for stretch marks to mature if they are merely left alone. In practice, we begin with stimulatory Exfolase cream + Replenish Retinoid cream to stimulate collagen production; followed by fractional laser to pixelate the scar and induce collagen production and skin tightening. Additionally, Luminase cream is used to prevent any PIH with the fractional laser. 
Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Jamé Heskett, MD · Answer

Hi,
I have been treating stretchmarks for over 15 years with carboxytherapy. I have a bunch of lasers, peels, and other therapies as well, but nothing works like carboxytherapy. The reason is that it restarts the healing process which has stopped, and at the same time restores the circulation to the scarred tissue to give it the best chance at healing. In your case, I would prescribe a series of weekly carboxy treatments followed by microneedling with PRP. Once the circulation is restored from the carboxytherapy, microneedling with your own stem cells can boost the repair process. I would expect you to be treating these for a year, seeing progress from week 4 onward until it reaches a plateau. Some of the SM will disappear, and some will reduce in size. They will never completely go away but you can expect at least 50% improvement and about 20% more with the microneedling and PRP. Whatever results you get, they are permanent. 
One last point, when you have a tummy tuck, the circulation gets compromised to the skin in that area, and most people experience an accelerated aging because of it. Carboxy will help to restore that as well, so I think it is the best choice for you. 
Many of my clients have come to me after trying expensive laser treatments frustrated at the results and cost wishing they had done the carboxytherapy first. 
Good luck
Dr. J

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Is there anything I can do about these stretch marks? (Photo)

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