Unwanted stretch marks are something millions of people have, and not one person wants them. The Palomar Icon is the first FDA-cleared-machine proven to effectively reduce the appearance of stretch marks, to give you back the natural-looking skin you’ve been dreaming of.
Reduce the appearance of stretch marks for more beautiful, touchable skin.
WHAT ARE STRETCH MARKS?
Stretch marks (also called striae distensae, SD, striae, striae atrophicans, striae gravidarum) are considered to be dermal scars or disfiguring lesions, characterized by flattening and atrophy (wasting or degeneration) of the epidermis (the outermost layer of the skin).
Stretch marks are distinguished by linear, smooth bands on the skin that, depending on skin color, can appear as red or purple that fade over time to leave silvery pale marks.3,10,34
Stretch marks are long, narrow streaks that are visible on the skin’s surface and are the result of a sudden stretching of the skin.
Occurring in 40-90% of women, stretch marks appear following rapid repeated over-stretching of the skin over weak connective tissue.
The most common areas affected are the:
- Abdomen
- Breasts
- Hips
- Flank
- Buttocks
- Thighs
Skin changes are a frequent feature in pregnancy with stretch marks occurring in over 70% of pregnant women, most commonly after 25 weeks of gestation.
While not medically dangerous, aesthetically, the marks can be a great cause of concern and anxiety for many women, impacting on their quality of life. They can be disfiguring, causing emotional and psychological distress during the latter stages of pregnancy when they are most prominent, and in the postnatal period where they appear pale.
This therapeutically-challenging form of dermal scarring tends to occur during:
- Pregnancy
- Puberty
- Obesity
- Rapid weight gain
- Weightlifting
- Numerous medical conditions
- And following therapeutic interventions
Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing works to repair the tears and scar tissue of stretch marks, as well as to fade their color. There is no perfect treatment for stretch marks that will completely remove all marks. With Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing for stretch marks, you can expect to see a 50-75% improvement over 3-5 sessions spaced every 2 months, with full results 3-4 months after the last treatment.
THE LASER SKIN RESURFACING DIFFERENCE
The damaged skin of stretch marks lacks the underlying structure that provides strength and support for the rest of your skin. There are many ways to work towards rebuilding that structure, most of which involve replacing collagen, a bouncy protein that helps serve as a scaffolding for other proteins in your skin’s structure. Many treatments work by stimulating your body to increase collagen production, including skin care products, dermal fillers, and many types of lasers. Skin care products are the least effective of these treatments, and most patients do not find adequate results from using these products alone. Dermal fillers are not a good solution for stretch marks as they create volume, which stretch marks rarely need replaced. Chemical peels and other exfoliation techniques work to remove layers of skin, which is the opposite result you want for stretch marks. Laser is the only treatment which will help to rebuild the missing underlying structure in any substantial way.
How does Palomar Icon 1540 XD/XF for Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing treatment of Stretch Marks work?
Fractional Skin Resurfacing works by creating precisely controlled micro-damage to the tissue, which causes your body to replace that tissue with new skin tissue and new collagen. The Palomar Icon 1540 XD/XF provides a more controlled form of micro-damage than other lasers on the market, causing less damage to the surrounding tissues, and therefore less redness, and shorter healing times than other lasers. The control that the individual user has with the Palomar Icon 1540 XD/XF allows us to provide treatment for a wider range of skin types and concerns.
If you have any questions about our services, please contact us today at (727) 518-1000.