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Stretch Mark Removal: Effective Treatment or Just a Hack

Stretch marks affect both women and men of all ethnicities, sizes, and ages where scars develop after the skin is subjected to abrupt changes through stretching or shrinking. Treatments are available for stretch mark removal in London and the best way to find your nearest clinic is to start with an Internet search for laser stretch mark removal near me.

What are Stretch Marks

Even though it can be fairly common, stretch marks can affect your confidence especially when they occur on exposed areas such as the arms and legs. Stretch marks can be permanent but there are many options to reduce their visibility if prevention steps weren’t taken beforehand. The average laser stretch mark removal cost in the UK is about £150 per session.

Depending on skin colour, stretch marks usually appear as red, purple, or dark brown lines where the skin’s collagen and elastin has ruptured through rapid expansion or contraction. Collagen is an important protein that helps give the skin a tight and smooth appearance but the production collagen can be taxed with skin changes as well as declining with age.

When they first appear, stretch marks can be inflamed and elevated from the skin and may be itchy. Over time, the visible colour fades as they become more submerged and turn into pale streaks. Sometimes it can also cause a depression in the skin due to the loss of pigmentation and atrophy of the collagen and elastin.

Dermatologic treatments performed by specialists will work on different skin types and stretch mark laser removal for dark skin and light skin are effective techniques although you typically need more than one laser session.

Causes

Stretch marks generally occur when there’s a change in the skin elasticity through rapid weight fluctuations, muscle growth through intensive training, pregnancy, or adolescence. This causes the skin’s collagen and elastin to rupture, which leaves visible scars. Stretch marks can also be a result of a hormone imbalance, genetics, stress, and medications that cause the skin’s elastic fibres to weaken.

effective stretch mark removal treatment

Effective Stretch Mark Removal

While stretch marks don’t pose any health risk, they can make you self-conscious. While laser stretch mark removal and skin tightening comes highly recommended for removing stretch marks, there are other options available such as surgery, which is more invasive and expensive or you can try a natural approach to try improve the aesthetics of permanent scarring.

There are many topical products that claim to get rid of stretch marks but for the most part, these are ineffectual and those that have a high retinol content must be used cautiously. Tanning to hide stretch marks is another myth and can actually make the skin scars appear more prominent.

Yoga and Sport

Swimming, walking, and yoga are things that can help in preventing and reducing stretch marks. Physical activity stimulates antioxidants action that helps increase the blood flow, which is essential for promoting new collagen.

Sudden and intensive exercising like bodybuilding can in fact cause stretch marks as the skin has to compensate for rapid muscle growth. The same is true when you abruptly stop exercising because of the loss of muscle tone that results in loose skin. Consistent, gentle exercising is a balanced approach in keeping the muscles evenly toned while maintaining a healthy body weight.

Laser Therapy

Laser treatments are effective in stretch mark removal for men and women. Laser therapies work by resurfacing the outer skin layers to restructure the dermis. Highly concentrated pulses of light stimulate skin growth thereby drastically decrease the stretch mark’s appearance.

Non-ablative and ablative treatments are available. Ablative destroys the skin’s upper layer to allow for the generation of new skin tissue whereas non-ablative works below the surface of the skin to promote collagen production. For complete stretch mark removal, you will need to undergo multiple sessions that are a couple of weeks apart.

Surgery

Cosmetic surgery is another effective stretch mark removal treatment but should be a last resort in severe cases because it comes with risks and will be more expensive than any other treatment. The affected area is surgically removed and typically done as part of a tummy tuck procedure.

Trying alternative treatments such as laser or micro-needling are effective without the use of chemicals or aggressive skin intrusion, and they are generally safe for most people. Both these technique can be effective as a non-surgical approach to skin regeneration and tightening. It’s worth considering those routes before making the serious decision to go for surgery.

Female belly with stretch marks

Preventing Stretch Marks

With scarred skin, the most harmless yet effective treatment will be laser stretch mark removal offered by most London clinics. However, if you are in the fortunate position where you haven’t experienced getting stretch marks, but you’re planning to fall pregnant, start a new exercise regime or weight loss program, there are several things you can do as a preventative measure.

For any pregnant or breastfeeding mother, always consult with your doctor before trying anything new to deal with skin conditions.

Hydration

Drinking sufficient amounts of water, herbal teas, and decaffeinated fluids help hydrate the skin and keep it soft and supply. The drier the skin, the higher the risk of getting stretch marks.

Diet and Supplements

Stick to a well-balanced diet that is rich in nutrients. Vitamins C, D, and E, zinc, and protein are important to promote skin health, supports collagen, and can minimize the visibility of stretch marks if they occur.

Weight Control

Regardless if you’re pregnant or not, it is possible to control your weight and stay nourished. Finding a safe exercise routine and diet plan are key to weight management that helps avoid extreme fluctuations in skin stretching or shrinking.

Topical Medication

Creams cannot get rid of stretch marks but depending on the product quality, they can help diminish dark coloured stretch marks. Using tissue oils constantly or during early pregnancy can make inevitable stretch marks look lighter and less severe before they form.

3 Steps To Choosing the Right Aesthetic Clinic

Choosing an aesthetic clinic in London for cosmetic procedures and skin care treatments is a decision that should not be taken lightly. While there is no shortage of clinics and salons that offer these services, the real task comes down to filtering through the many options to find a professional and reputable aesthetic clinic that you can trust.

Choosing an Aesthetic Clinic Online

There are a combination of factors that you need to look at when scrutinizing potential aesthetic clinics in London. The Internet has a wealth of online resources where you can carefully assess which places are upfront about pricing, and have the right training and experience for the procedures they offer.

Although clinic websites should help you identify in advance if a practitioner is well-established and professional, there is specific information that will determine the reliability of a facial aesthetic clinic in London.

Key Website Information

While it’s comforting to read positive testimonials and customer reviews on a clinic’s website, this is not sufficient on which to base your decision because marketing tactics can come into play.

Look out for the following information that are good indicators you will be dealing with a transparent and trusted health and aesthetic clinic in London.

  • A complete price list on every procedure should be available.
  • Clinics that offer complimentary consultations without obligation gives you opportunity to visit the clinic, get a feel for the staff, meet the practitioner performing the treatment, see what their skin looks like, and it lets you gauge their level of knowledge.
  •  Websites that include social media channels via Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter allow users to engage and leave unmoderated reviews. Additionally, external sites in London for aesthetic clinic reviews will show how (and if) they respond to concerns and criticism.
  •  Websites that showcase their portfolio of work through “Before” and “After” photographs gives you a better sense of what to expect.
  • Comprehensive information on the types of procedures offered, what to expect, and how to prepare for treatment helps readers enrich your understanding.

While looking for all the good signs, be cautious of far-fetched claims on the website and cheap deals that are too good to be true. Another red flag is when a clinic is too vague on pricing, procedure detail, side-effects, and possible complications that leaves you with more questions than answers.

health and aesthetic clinic london

Practitioner Skills and Experience

When choosing to undergo aesthetics in London, the clinic will offer different levels of skin care procedures. Light-based beauty treatments include facials and peels, and more invasive procedures will require injectables and laser treatments.

Adequate training in providing these services ensures the practitioner will be able to prescribe antibiotics or medicated creams if needed. While it’s important that the practitioner is properly qualified to apply the best treatment for your skin, they should also be medically adept in handling emergency situations and managing adverse side-effects and unforeseen complications.

Aestheticians, dermatologist, and doctors who have years of experience in the field and who have performed hundreds of procedures are far better equipped in providing safe treatments without the risk of disappointing results.

General Assessment of Practitioners

You should expect a qualified and experienced skin therapist to ask some of these questions when making your first enquiry, whether it’s over the phone, via email or during an initial consultation. They should explore the following to prepare a unique skin care plan for you:

  • Understand your skincare routine and the products you use.
  • Be informed of any previous procedures you had.
  • Assess your health status and ask what medications you use.
  • Know what procedures you’ll be comfortable and uncomfortable with.
  • Understand your motivations for an aesthetic procedure.
  • Recommended treatments within your budget.

Just as much as you’re doing the homework to find the right aesthetic clinic in East London or any other area, they also need to do their homework on you so they can provide the right information on the best treatment and its benefits while ensuring you fully understand the risks.

Deep hall of a hospital

Overall Evaluation

Once you’ve ascertained what to look for in a clinic’s website and their staff, you need to do a final assessment on the clinic as a business.

Certifications

If you’re looking for an aesthetic laser clinic in the East London area, find businesses that have listed awards and accreditations. Evidence of active participation in the aesthetic industry through training, conferences, and affiliations shows commitment in providing superior customer-centric services.

Because having a cosmetic intervention can be a life-changing decision, you will have peace of mind when deciding to go with a clinic that can prove regulatory compliance and uses up-to-date technologies operated by skilled and qualified practitioners.

Premises

Regardless of the type of procedure you want to have, the clinic’s premises is the biggest tell-tale sign of cleanliness and professionalism. A hygienic and peaceful environment that is supervised by quality personnel is a good sign whereas practitioners operating out of back rooms or temporary offices is reason enough to be excluded in your search.

skincare clinic

Pricing

Expensive does not mean you are guaranteed the best results, but going cheap is not a recommended gamble either. Look at clinics that offer comprehensive details on pricing without hidden costs.

Some treatments may need multiple sessions, which can add up and turn out to be costly. So, when speaking with your practitioner, it’s important they are mindful of your budget and suggest treatment within that range. Avoid clinics that push for business because profits are priority as it could send you down a road of unsuitable but expensive treatment.

Comfort and Ease

Aestheticians are not judgmental and should make you feel relaxed and completely at ease. Whether it’s having to discuss personal health issues or payment options, you should never feel embarrassed or uncomfortable.

Finding the right clinic takes a bit of time and effort to do independent research. But the overall result means you get the best cosmetic treatment that fits you financially, and you won’t have to worry about a botched procedure that can have an unpleasant impact on your life.