Can a Laser Really Get Rid of My Stretch Marks?

For so many women, stretch marks are an unavoidable and unpleasant side effect of pregnancy. They can also affect bodybuilders and anyone else who has gained or lost a significant amount of weight in a short period. Some people are even unlucky enough to acquire them during the growth spurts of puberty.

Although maintaining a stable weight and taking good care of one’s skin are certainly steps in the right direction, the unfortunate truth is that heredity and hormonal changes play a considerable role in the formation of stretch marks.

There are many oils, creams, and lotions that are purported to improve or even prevent stretch marks. While Retin-A has been shown to be marginally effective at reducing the apparent depth of stretch marks, and there are those who swear by treatments with other lotions, most medical experts agree that the claims are mostly hype.

With the advent of the use of lasers for cosmetic purposes, though, hope for the treatment of this cosmetic problem seems to have been renewed.

Can Lasers Remove Stretch Marks?

So, can lasers really erase stretch marks?

The answer is no. Since stretch marks represent a permanent change in the dermis (the deeper layer of skin beneath the surface layer known as the epidermis), there is no amount of resurfacing that can erase them.

However, studies have shown that laser treatments can lessen the depth of stretch marks in some patients, with an improvement rate between 20% and 60%. The improvement is believed to be largely due to the laser’s stimulation of increased production of collagen and elastin in the dermal (deeper) layer of the skin, where stretch marks are formed.

How Lasers Can Help

Lasers are most effective on immature stretch marks. Immature stretch marks are red. Many doctors say that they are nearly useless on more mature (or white) stretch marks.

Furthermore, laser treatment for darker skin types is generally considered inadvisable, largely due to the risks of causing hyperpigmentation changes in the skin.

Summary

In short, there is no “cure” for stretch marks. Worse yet, preventing stretch marks is not entirely in your power, especially during great hormonal fluctuations, such as pregnancy and puberty. If your mother has stretch marks, there’s a good chance that you will have them, too.

A Word From Verywell

Only you can decide whether a 20% to 60% improvement in the appearance of stretch marks is worth making several trips to the plastic surgeon’s office (not to mention shelling out a few thousand dollars).