Stretch marks

Scars of the dermis, stretch marks form when the collagen and elastin fibres break under the effect of a rapid stretching of the skin, whether it be a pregnancy, a growth spurt, a variation in weight or a gain in muscle mass, while a hormonal context or certain treatments may contribute to them. Their appearance changes over time, the recent stretch mark showing itself most often red or purplish, whereas the older stretch mark becomes white, pearly and sometimes depressed. Laser and fractional radiofrequency create micro-zones of stimulation within the dermis, the principle being to trigger a remodelling of the collagen and to modify gradually the texture and the colour of the area. My aim remains an improvement in appearance, variable according to the situation, and not the erasure of the stretch marks.

Every session is preceded by an examination of the skin and by an assessment of the phototype and, depending on the situation, a test on a small surface may be proposed beforehand. The area is cleansed, and the application of an anaesthetic cream may be envisaged depending on the case and on the technique retained. The handpiece is then passed over the stretch marks, area by area, and a sensation of heat or of tingling may be felt during this pass. What is felt varies according to the person, the technique and the area treated, and it is discussed in consultation. The duration of the session, the number of sessions and the interval that separates them depend on the technique, the extent and the age of the lesions, and are specified in consultation.

The areas concerned are most often the abdomen, the hips, the thighs, the buttocks, the chest, the arms and the lumbar region. Recent stretch marks, still coloured, and older stretch marks, having become white, do not respond in the same way, so that the indication and the technique are discussed case by case. Certain situations lead to postponing the procedure, or even to not proceeding with it: tanned skin or recent sun exposure, a phototype for which the risk of a pigmentary disorder is judged too great, pregnancy and breastfeeding, a history of hypertrophic or keloid scars, a skin lesion or infection on the area, certain photosensitising treatments, this list not being exhaustive.

After-effects may occur, redness, oedema, a sensation of heat, a transient grid-like appearance, fine crusts or peeling being possible in the days that follow, with an intensity that varies according to the technique and the area. Transient changes in pigmentation may also be observed, in particular in the event of sun exposure, and this is why sun avoidance and local care, explained in consultation, must be followed. The course is assessed gradually and varies from person to person, the timeframes for this assessment being specified in consultation. A prior consultation is mandatory: it allows the skin to be examined, contraindications to be looked for, the techniques that may be envisaged as well as their limits and their risks to be set out, and then written information to be provided; at the end of this discussion, the procedure may not be indicated.