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Stretch marks are well known to everyone concerned with keeping their skin clear and smooth. These marks are pronounced with different lengths and depths. They come out at different parts of our skin but principally in the abdomen, buttocks, breasts, upper arms, and legs. Stretch marks come from a stretching of the skin caused usually by rapid growth or weight gain. The middle layer of the skin is called the dermis, and when stretched to a point that its elasticity breaks down, out comes a stretch mark.

Question is, what can be done about them?

Fortunately, there are options to choose from.

Stretch Mark Treatment Options

The least economical route to take is surgery. The stomach is where stretch marks can be removed surgically in what's called abdominoplasy surgery, or the 'tummy tuck.' It improves the appearance of the stretch marks by tightening and contouring the stomach walls which removes excess fat and skin. However the surgery is invasive and expensive with a long and probable painful recovery time.

An additional surgical option is laser treatment. The objective of this treatment is to produce new collagen in the skin by shooting cosmetic lasers into the dermal layer. The stretch marks are filled in from below from the skin plumping itself due to the thickening of this new collagen. Laser treatment is not effective however for any stretch mark beyond the immature strange when they are still red in color.

A 20 to 50% improvement in the appearance of the stretch marks is a realistic expectation from using these surgical treatments.

Turning to non-surgical procedures, microdermabrasion is an attractive option due to its pain-free aftermath and cost efficient price tag. One can have it done at a beauty spa or use the at home method of a microdermabrasion cream. It works by eliminating the top layer of the skin by using abrading microcrytals to wear it down. It triggers collagen and elastin production to create a newer and healthier skin to replace to the original stretch mark laced one.