Stretch marksare a common and possibly unwelcome result of changes in your body.

For some teens and pre-teens, they appear following a sudden growth spurt.

Maintaining a stable weight and taking care of your skin may help reduce or prevent significant stretch marks.

Woman with stretch marks on her abdomen

Michael Heim / EyeEm / Getty Images

However, some factors like heredity and hormonal changes are out of your control.

Can Lasers Remove Stretch Marks?

Unfortunately, no, lasers will notremoveyour stretch marks.

In fact, results show an improvement rate between 20% and 60%.

How Lasers Can Help

Laser treatments involve infrared and visible red light beams applied to your skin.

The laser energy breaks down the scar tissue that makes up the stretch mark.

Finally, the laser increases blood flow to the area, which makes the marks less noticeable.

The result is a lighter texture with skin that is softer and flatter.

Lasers are most effective on immature stretch marks, which are marks that are red in color.

Many healthcare providers say they are nearly useless on more mature (or white) stretch marks.

How Many Sessions Does It Take to Remove Stretch Marks?

The number of sessions needed to get your desired results can vary from two to two dozen.

In all cases, multiple sessions are spread out over several weeks for see the best results.

Once you achieve your desired results, you may want to plan for follow-up appointments.

Repeat treatments down the road are sometimes needed to maintain the look of your skin.

How Long Does Laser Stretch Mark Removal Take?

Are Laser Treatments Painful?

A qualified plastic surgeon is your best bet for quality results.

Because laser treatments for stretch marks are considered cosmetic, they are not covered by insurance.

Summary

In short, there is no cure for stretch marks.

If your mother has stretch marks, theres a good chance that you will have them, too.

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