Fraxel Laser For Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are an extremely common type of scar tissue that occurs when elastin and collagen production are disrupted as the skin rapidly stretches or shrinks, causing changes in skin elasticity. Characterized by depressions that stretch across the skin’s surface, stretch marks can affect both men and women of all ages. When stretch marks develop, they initially look red, pink, or purple, but over time, as the skin heals, the color fades, and the scar tissue becomes silvery or white. Many factors can lead to the development of stretch marks, including sudden weight gain or loss, rapid growth spurts, hormone fluctuations, pregnancy, steroid use, bodybuilding, or genetics. Stretch marks can occur in many areas of the body but appear most commonly on the thighs, stomach, buttocks, breasts, and arms. Though stretch marks are very common, some patients find their appearance distressing, causing them to look for treatment options. Luckily, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Michele Green is an expert in many forms of laser resurfacing treatments, including the Fraxel laser for stretch marks.

Fraxel is a fractional laser for skin resurfacing that is FDA-approved to treat many skin conditions and skin concerns, including acne scars, surgical scars, uneven skin texture, sun damage, hyperpigmentation, and stretch marks. Using pulses of light energy, the Fraxel laser creates micro-injuries in the dermal layer of skin, which triggers the natural wound-healing process and boosts collagen production in the area for smoother, more evenly textured skin, reducing the appearance of stretch marks in the treatment area. The Fraxel laser is non-ablative, meaning that the treatment is easier to access, providing optimal results with no downtime and a very low risk of developing side effects. To find out if the Fraxel laser is the right treatment option for you, schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Green today.

Dr. Michele Green in NYC is an internationally recognized expert in the field of cosmetic dermatology with over 25 years of experience providing her patients from around the globe with the best non-invasive cosmetic treatments, including laser stretch mark removal. Castle Connolly, Super Doctors, and New York Magazine consistently name Dr. Green as one of NYC’s best dermatologists for her expertise when it comes to Botox, dermal fillers, chemical peels, microneedling, acne and acne scar treatment, stretch mark removal, and more. When you consult with Dr. Green, she will work with you to customize your treatment approach to best suit your specific needs and aesthetic goals, providing optimal cosmetic results.

What is Fraxel laser treatment?

Fraxel laser therapy is a non-ablative skin resurfacing treatment option that is FDA-approved to treat a range of skin concerns, including acne scars, surgical scars, uneven skin texture, stretch marks, fine lines, and sun damage. Originally manufactured by Solta Medical, the Fraxel laser is a fractional laser, meaning that it uses precise beams of laser energy to target only a fraction of the skin at one time while leaving the surrounding tissue unaffected. Fraxel is a non-ablative laser resurfacing option, meaning that the treatment penetrates the dermis and boosts new collagen growth without vaporizing the outer layer of the skin. As a result, Fraxel laser therapy can provide improved skin tone and texture without the need for any downtime.

Does Fraxel work on stretch marks?

Patients often wonder, “Does Fraxel laser remove stretch marks?” The answer is yes: Fraxel laser treatment can greatly reduce the appearance of visible stretch marks on the skin’s surface. When it comes to non-invasive treatment for the appearance of stretch marks, laser resurfacing treatments have become the gold standard, and Fraxel laser therapy is one of the best. Stretch marks are characterized by depressions on the skin’s surface that appear as rapid stretching of the skin damages the collagen and elastin in the area. When stretch marks form initially, they are typically red, pink, or purple as increased blood flow to the blood vessels in the area occurs. These red stretch marks eventually fade into white stretch marks as the skin continues to heal over time. The Fraxel laser is particularly effective in reducing the appearance of white stretch marks, which are harder to treat with other types of lasers. Dr. Green will often turn to the Fraxel laser to improve new collagen and skin cell growth for smoother, tighter skin.

How does Fraxel work on stretch marks?

The Fraxel laser is a non-ablative fractional laser, meaning that it emits precise, targeted beams of laser energy to treat a fraction of the skin at a time while leaving the surrounding tissue unaffected. These pulses of light penetrate the dermal layer of skin, creating micro-injuries, triggering the body’s natural healing process, and increasing collagen production. As new collagen production and skin cell turnover occur, the skin texture becomes more even, reducing the appearance of depressions on the skin associated with stretch marks and scar tissue. Because the laser treatment targets only a fraction of the skin at a time while leaving the surrounding skin unharmed, Fraxel laser therapy is not associated with any downtime or significant risks of side effects when performed by an expert dermatologist, such as Dr. Green.

What is the procedure for laser stretch mark removal?

The first step in laser stretch mark removal is to consult with an expert board-certified dermatologist, such as Dr. Green, to determine the best type of laser to use – whether it be a pulsed-dye laser, such as the VBeam laser or a skin resurfacing laser, such as the Fraxel laser or the eMatrix laser. If Fraxel is the best option, Dr. Green recommends that in the two weeks leading up to the treatment session, patients practice strict sun avoidance to prevent any sun damage before the appointment. Approximately one hour before, Dr. Green will have patients apply a topical numbing cream to reduce the risk of any discomfort during treatment. The procedure itself typically lasts between fifteen and forty-five minutes, depending on the size and scope of the treatment area. Post-treatment, patients can immediately return to their regularly scheduled activities, as there is no downtime associated with the procedure. Multiple treatment sessions are typically needed to achieve optimal results.

How long until Fraxel laser results become visible?

Fraxel laser treatment uses fractional laser energy to create micro-injuries, triggering the body’s natural healing process for increased new collagen production. Because the treatment takes advantage of the body’s natural processes, the full effects of the treatment appear over time. Typically, Dr. Green recommends that patients schedule multiple treatment sessions spaced one month apart, so while some results will become visible within several weeks of the first treatment session, the full effect of the treatment will be visible within approximately six months of starting treatment. Fraxel for stretch marks provides long-lasting results. However, fluctuations in weight or significant body changes can result in the formation of new stretch marks.

How many sessions of Fraxel to remove stretch marks?

Fraxel laser therapy for stretch marks requires multiple treatment sessions to achieve optimal results. Dr. Green generally recommends that patients schedule four to six treatment sessions spaced roughly one month apart. When you have your initial consultation with Dr. Green, she will examine the treatment area and discuss your aesthetic goals, which will help to determine, more specifically, the number of treatment sessions required.

Which Fraxel laser is the best for stretch marks?

Several types of Fraxel lasers are available for skin resurfacing treatment, including the Fraxel Restore and Fraxel Repair. Still, the gold standard is the Fraxel Dual laser. While Fraxel Restore and Fraxel Repair each have one laser frequency setting, the Fraxel Dual laser has two settings—1550 nm and 1927 nm—which allow the laser to treat a wider range of skin concerns.

Fraxel Dual laser for stretch mark treatment

The Fraxel Dual laser is often considered the gold standard for laser skin resurfacing and is FDA-approved to treat acne scars, hyperpigmentation, sun spots, stretch marks, and leg veins. The Fraxel Dual laser is unique in that it has two distinct wavelengths in one laser device: 1550 nm and 1927 nm, allowing the laser to treat a wider range of skin conditions. The 1927 nm wavelength is a Thulium laser that is best used to address areas of discoloration, including sunspots and age spots, targeting the pigmented areas of skin to create a more even skin tone. The 1550 nm wavelength is best for treating stretch mark removal, as it is an Erbium laser that penetrates deeper into the dermis to improve fine lines, scarring, and skin texture.

What lasers remove stretch marks?

Dr. Green typically uses three main types of lasers to address stretch marks: the V-beam pulsed-dye laser, the eMatrix radiofrequency laser, and the Fraxel fractional laser. The V-beam laser works specifically to target and eliminate pigmentation in the skin, making it most effective for addressing red stretch marks. The laser emits a concentrated beam of light that is absorbed by the pigmentation, causing it to heat up and break apart while the surrounding skin is left unharmed. Similarly to the Fraxel laser, the V-beam laser requires 4-6 treatment sessions for optimal results. Dr. Green may also turn to the eMatrix laser for stretch marks, which is a radiofrequency laser that improves the appearance of skin texture, tone, acne scars, and stretch marks. The eMatrix laser is safe and effective for patients of all skin types, meaning there is no concern about post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation for patients with darker skin types.

Is Fraxel best for stretch marks?

Between the V-beam laser, eMatrix laser, and Fraxel Dual laser for stretch marks, no one laser treatment is inherently “better” than the others. Rather, it is about determining the treatment option that is going to be safest and most effective for your specific needs. Dr. Green will often employ the Fraxel laser for patients with white stretch marks, which are older stretch marks that have lost their pigmentation. Fraxel laser is highly effective at smoothing out depressions in the skin and does not require pigmentation to be used effectively. The first step in determining which treatment option is right for you is to schedule your initial consultation with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Michele Green.

Can Fraxel make stretch marks worse?

The Fraxel laser is a safe and effective treatment for improving the appearance of stretch marks on the body. When performed correctly, Fraxel laser therapy is not associated with any serious side effects and does not require any downtime. However, the Fraxel laser is not safe for patients with melasma or for patients with darker skin tones. It is, therefore, essential that patients consult with an expert dermatologist, such as Dr. Green, to decrease the risk of serious side effects and achieve optimal results.

Does Fraxel help with stretch marks?

Fraxel laser treatment is FDA-approved to help improve skin texture, scarring, and the appearance of stretch marks. Stretch marks form on the skin’s surface due to damage to collagen levels that occur when the skin is rapidly expanded due to sudden weight gain, growth spurts, hormone fluctuations, or pregnancy, leading to elongated depressions. Fraxel laser resurfacing helps to trigger new collagen growth and skin cell turnover to improve skin texture and tone. To find out if Fraxel laser treatment is the right choice for you, schedule your initial consultation with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Green.

How to get started with Fraxel laser treatment for stretch marks today

Stretch marks can affect men and women of any age and often cause feelings of self-consciousness or low self-esteem. It may seem as though it is impossible to successfully reduce the appearance of your stretch marks when relying on over-the-counter topical creams and lotions. However, there are many non-invasive cosmetic treatment options available that can help. Dr. Michele Green in New York City offers a host of these solutions at her private dermatology office in the Upper East Side neighborhood of Manhattan, including the Fraxel Dual laser for stretch marks. Whether your particular stretch marks are white or pigmented, smooth or textured, and affect one or multiple areas of the body, Dr. Green can help.

Dr. Michele Green is an internationally renowned board-certified dermatologist with over two and a half decades of experience providing her patients with the best non-invasive treatment options. Dr. Green takes a holistic approach and embraces a less-is-more philosophy, creating customized skincare routines and treatment plans that cater to the unique concerns and aesthetic goals of her patients. She is consistently identified as one of New York’s best dermatologists by Castle Connolly, New York Magazine, and Super Doctors for her dedication to her patients and expertise. To find out more about how Dr. Green can help reduce the appearance of stretch marks, visit the sitemap, call us at 212-535-3088, or email our New York City-based office today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Michele Green.