What's Covered on This Page
- Realistic Expectations for Stretch Mark Treatment
- Stretch Mark Treatment Procedures Used in Murrells Inlet
- The Right Time to Begin Stretch Mark Treatments in Our Coastal Climate
- What to Expect Before, During, and After Each Session
- Frequency of Treatments and Expected Timeline for Results
- Do stretch mark treatments actually work, or will I just waste my money?
- What is the best time of year to start stretch mark treatments in Murrells Inlet?
- How many sessions will I need before I see results?
- Which stretch mark treatment is right for me — microneedling, chemical peels, or something else?
- Can I still get treatments during summer if I live near the water in Murrells Inlet?
- How long does each stretch mark treatment session take?
Need stretch mark treatments?
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Realistic Expectations for Stretch Mark Treatment
Let's be honest with one another, nothing is going to get rid of them completely. Nobody who claims you will never have stretch marks again ever will is lying to you.
The good news is, stretch marks can be diminished and we have had patients in Murrells Inlet achieve excellent results over the course of many treatments. In many cases, we are able to smooth them out enough so that they don't stand out and become a distraction when you look in the mirror.
The way we work on reducing the appearance of stretch marks is to induce a healing process in your skin. When we use lasers and radiofrequency devices in our skin resurfacing treatments, we actually damage the skin in a controlled manner. Your skin responds by healing and replacing the damaged tissue, resulting in new collagen forming. This results in improved skin texture, and also a change in pigmentation for red and purple stretch marks.
The color of stretch marks also plays a role in how they respond to our treatments in Murrells Inlet. While red or purple stretch marks usually respond very quickly to treatments, older white or silver stretch marks typically need additional sessions, but can still be improved.
Here's what our results actually involve:
- The color of stretch marks fades 40 to 80% with a complete course of treatment
- The texture of the skin is improved, and the stretch mark becomes less of a depression
- The tone of the skin becomes more even around the treated area
- You feel less self-conscious when you have stretch marks, and you're willing to wear clothes or take part in activities you were afraid to before because of them
It's interesting that we have patients who are new in Murrells Inlet, some with stretch marks they've had for years after having a baby or losing weight or gaining weight, come to us to get the stretch marks treated. After using all kinds of creams, or having had stretch marks for many years, they often tell us they are very hopeful that these treatments might help improve their stretch marks. We often see that the first two to three treatments don't improve the stretch marks a lot, but after four or five treatments, there are significant improvements. And then some patients continue their treatment for a few more times, which usually yields further improvements.
It's also important to keep in mind that your skin continues to remodel for months after your last treatment, so the improvements continue to develop during this time.
So no, stretch mark treatment doesn't completely remove stretch marks. But we can help improve their appearance so that they don't bother you anymore. That is our goal for our stretch mark treatment.
Stretch mark treatments are part of the health spa services at Jolie Visage in Murrells Inlet.
Stretch Mark Treatment Procedures Used in Murrells Inlet
Different types of stretch marks respond to different stretch mark treatment methods. We tell our patients here in Murrells Inlet this all the time.
Whether your stretch marks are red, purple, or white and silver, as well as how deep they sit in your skin is an important factor in how they will respond to the stretch mark treatment we'll use for you. We'll look at your stretch marks, and determine the best course of treatment for you. Most of the time a combination works best, as opposed to just one treatment. Here's what we utilize in our office:
- Microneedling: Small punctures are created to promote your natural collagen production. It can be helpful for newer and older marks.
- Chemical peels: Removing the damaged top layer of skin to reveal healthier skin below. Peels can vary in strength and are customized for skin type and condition severity.
- PRP facial therapy: Uses platelets from your own blood to facilitate healing and increase collagen production in areas of concern.
- Microdermabrasion: Removal of top skin cells that smooth skin, assist in the healing process and prepare your skin for other treatments.
What's best for YOU can only be determined during the consultation and after examining your skin.
For example, a client that has several marks from pregnancies on her lower stomach will more than likely have wide, large, deeper marks. That patient would be an excellent candidate for microneedling with a PRP facial therapy. That would help to increase collagen faster while the micro-punctures were still healing.
A younger client, maybe in their 20's or early 30's with fewer stretch marks that are more concentrated on her hips would likely need fewer sessions. She would be an excellent candidate for an initial set of chemical peels to see how the marks respond. If that wasn't enough, we would discuss a more aggressive treatment like laser therapy or other more advanced modalities.
Clinical studies support that earlier stretch mark treatments have better results. So don't wait to start! Each of our clients is different, and so each stretch mark is different too. We will work to find the best method to fade each mark as quickly as possible after we discuss your history and evaluate your skin.
The Right Time to Begin Stretch Mark Treatments in Our Coastal Climate
Living on the coast changes the way we should approach our skin care. Murrells Inlet enjoys lots of sun exposure throughout the year, and this can change the success of your treatments.
Almost all of our clients will receive this same response when I ask about the best time to start treatments:
Fall and Winter!
The majority of stretch mark treatment methods will involve damaging your skin to create new collagen growth and new skin formation. Damaged skin is more prone to sun damage, and this can cause dark spots or hyperpigmentation while healing. In Murrells Inlet, we have a high incidence of sun exposure. Even just walking down the road near the MarshWalk will provide sun exposure.
By choosing cooler seasons, the likelihood that the area will have even skin color post treatment is greater.
This is not to say that we can't treat stretch marks throughout the year, however. We just alter the treatment plan. If you were starting treatments in the middle of June, we would talk about increased sun protection between appointments and possibly adjust the treatment spacing to a bit of a different frequency. That is not necessarily a bad thing, just something to keep in mind that will require more attention on your part.
When you're trying to decide your start date, consider the following:
- If your stretch marks are newer and the color is still red or purple, they will respond faster, so if yours are recent, there's no point in waiting.
- Typical treatments will require anywhere from 3 to 6 sessions with several weeks between each session.
- If you start your treatment schedule this fall (i.e. September or October), you'll probably be able to see improvements by spring.
- This means you'll be all the way through your treatment schedule and will feel a whole lot better when summer and beach/pool season comes around.
Our clients get the best results when they plan ahead. They've started treatments in the fall, they've been consistent with their winter treatments, and they've been feeling a whole lot more comfortable in the summer.
Don't let this discourage you from booking a consultation. If your stretch marks are really bothering you now, we'd much sooner see you and make a smart plan right away than have you put this off for another few months. We're happy to work with what you've got.
Need help with stretch mark treatments?
Book An Appointment. Jolie Visage Rejuvenation Centre is ready to help.
What to Expect Before, During, and After Each Session
You come to our office, we speak with you for a few minutes, and then we get to work. That's it.
A typical stretch mark treatment at our Murrells Inlet office takes 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the area you want us to focus on. Your stomach may take a little longer to treat than your thighs. We first clean the area to be treated, and we may apply a topical numbing cream if necessary. Some procedures don't need it.
Once you're comfortable, we get to work treating the area. You will feel some sensation, perhaps it's like warm prickling or light pressure, but nothing that causes people to get out of the chair.
So here's what a typical session involves step-by-step:
- First, we clean the treatment area and get the skin ready to be treated.
- Then, we may apply a numbing cream, if the treatment requires one. It takes 15-20 minutes to take effect.
- Next, we perform the treatment, customizing the settings depending on your type of skin and the depth and severity of your stretch marks.
- We immediately apply a soothing serum or barrier cream, if needed.
- We provide you with aftercare instructions and then send you on your way.
Almost everyone who receives our stretch mark treatments tells us that it was less painful than they expected it to be.
Some redness will remain immediately after your treatment, which will be comparable to mild sunburn. This is not uncommon and usually resolves in one to two days. Some clients come in on their lunch break and immediately return to work the rest of the day. We just ask that you stay out of the sun and out of your heavy weight routines for the next few days.
Your body is going through repair processes on a microscopic level, so you need to let your skin have time to rest.
Between the Treatments
Results accumulate gradually. While you may not notice a dramatic difference after just one session, you'll start to see the texture change by the second or third visit. The darker pigmentation in older stretch marks begins to fade, while newer marks tend to show improvement even more quickly. We typically schedule appointments four to six weeks apart to allow your skin sufficient time to synthesize collagen between treatments.
At each visit, we'll evaluate your progress and fine-tune the approach as necessary.
Beyond the marks themselves, one of the most pleasant surprises for clients is noticing the overall quality of the skin improve in the surrounding area.
Frequency of Treatments and Expected Timeline for Results
This is the most common question we receive regarding stretch mark therapy.
Here is the reality: most people complete between three to six sessions before achieving significant results with stretch mark treatments. While some clients report visible improvements after just two visits, others with deeper, older scarring require around six treatments. Individual results depend on factors like your natural skin type, the age of the scars, and your body's healing capability. We often work with clients who have stretch marks from decades ago and still achieve remarkable results, though that may require additional rounds.
Factors Influencing Session Count
Several variables influence how many treatments you might require:
- Stretch Mark Color: Stretch marks in the red or purple stage respond more rapidly than those in the white or silver stage.
- Texture, Depth, and Width: Superficial, narrow marks fade more easily than deep, wide grooves.
- Location: Healing patterns can vary depending on whether the marks are on the abdomen, thighs, arms, or hips.
- Collagen Synthesis: Your body's natural ability to produce collagen varies from person to person.
We schedule sessions approximately four to six weeks apart, which is critical. This timeframe allows your body the necessary time to rebuild collagen before the next treatment. Pushing for treatments too closely together is counterproductive; the healing interval is an essential part of the therapy.
So, when can you expect to see improvements? Clients from the Murrells Inlet area typically begin noticing textural improvements following their second session. Your skin often feels smoother before you start observing visible changes. Visual results typically begin to match the texture improvements by the third or fourth session as marks appear narrower, shallower, and blend better with your natural skin tone.
The most visible changes usually become apparent between eight and twelve weeks after starting therapy. That is the period when collagen remodeling truly accelerates. Your skin often continues improving for several months following your final session. This is why it is important to wait until you are done with all treatments to make an assessment.
Give yourself three months following your last treatment to determine your outcome. The skin you will have in week twelve will differ from what you can observe at the four-week mark.
Progress will be documented at each visit via photos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about stretch mark treatments services in Murrells Inlet
Do stretch mark treatments actually work, or will I just waste my money?
Stretch mark treatments do work, but they fade and smooth marks rather than erase them completely. Most clients see a 40 to 80 percent improvement in color and texture over a full treatment course. Red or purple marks respond fastest. Older white or silver ones take more sessions but still improve. After three or four visits, most people are surprised by how different their skin looks and feels.
What is the best time of year to start stretch mark treatments in Murrells Inlet?
Fall and winter are the best time to start treatments here in Murrells Inlet. The coastal sun is strong most of the year, and freshly treated skin is more sensitive to UV rays. Starting in September or October gives your skin the best chance to heal evenly. You could finish your full treatment course by spring and feel confident heading into beach season near the MarshWalk.
How many sessions will I need before I see results?
Most people need between 3 and 6 sessions spaced several weeks apart. You may start noticing changes after the second or third visit. Results also keep building after your last session because collagen remodeling continues for months. We look at your marks in person before giving you a realistic number. Every case is different based on the age, color, and depth of your stretch marks.
Which stretch mark treatment is right for me — microneedling, chemical peels, or something else?
The right treatment depends on what your marks actually look like. We look at the color, depth, and age of your stretch marks before choosing a method. Newer red or purple marks often respond well to microneedling paired with PRP. Older marks may need a different combination. We never guess — we look at your skin, ask about your history, and build a plan based on what we see.
Can I still get treatments during summer if I live near the water in Murrells Inlet?
Yes, we treat stretch marks year-round in Murrells Inlet. Summer just requires more care on your part. Freshly treated skin is sensitive to sun, so strict sun protection between sessions is a must. We may also space your sessions a little differently during warmer months. It is not a dealbreaker, but we want you to be ready to protect your skin consistently between visits.
How long does each stretch mark treatment session take?
Most sessions at our Murrells Inlet office take between 30 and 60 minutes. The exact time depends on the size of the area we are treating. We talk through your skin and your goals before we start. There is no need to clear your whole day. Many clients come in during a lunch break or between errands and are back to their normal routine shortly after.