Regular homemade remedies and even over-the counter medications do not work for everyone with the same level of effectiveness. If you find that the remedies listed in the previous chapters have shown minimal effects on your stretch marks after weeks of trying, I do believe that it may be time for you to have a long and serious discussion with your dermatologist and talk about your remaining options.
Why Serious Medical Treatments Should Be Tried Last
I always advise that people who have stretch marks should first try gentler homemade remedies, oils and creams rather than jump to stronger medications right away. Some of the reasons for this include:
•Medical treatments tend to be very expensive. One prescription shot may cost more than a hundred dollars, and you will need at least three or more sessions before you will even notice the slightest improvement. Cosmetic surgery costs can go as high as ten thousand dollars. Unfortunately, because these treatments are for cosmetic reasons, it is almost impossible to get your insurance to cover these expenses.
• Prescription medicines can have serious side effects, which is why you need a doctor’s prescription in the first place. Cosmetic laser surgery has its dangers as well, especially with inexperienced doctors.
If you are already well aware of the risks and still want to push through with medical treatments for stretch marks, here are my recommendations:
Retinoids and Glycolic Acid
These treatments can be effective, especially when you use them during the fairly early stages of your stretch marks. I have found studies, which confirm that they are most effective while your stretch marks are still only 6 weeks old at the most.
Prescription retinoids such as Retin-A, Tazorac, and Differin can be fairly expensive, while higher doses of glycolic acid cost at least a hundred dollars per session. Often, a doctor may recommend using both at the same time for better results. These medicines boost collagen production (which is good for your skin) and retinoids make your skin more elastic. However, I definitely do not think you should be using retinoids while you are still pregnant, or while you are breastfeeding.
Laser Cosmetic Surgery
Many dermatologists are now using lasers to get rid of stretch marks (or at least make them less obvious), and I recommend that you pick the more experienced doctors to minimize human error. A disruption in the collagen production process may have helped result in the appearance of your stretch marks, and lasers can help repair and boost collage production.
In the early stages of stretch marks wherein they still look purple or red, vascular laser may be used to focus on inflamed and swollen blood vessels. Such usage will help boost the production of collagen and skin cells. Each vascular treatment session may cost at least $500, and you may need anywhere from three to six sessions for significant improvements.
Lasers may also help with older and more entrenched stretch marks. One such laser is the fractionated laser, which targets fractions of the skin. The appearance of the stretch marks (especially the outlines) may become blurred and smudged, which will make them less obvious in appearance. These treatments cost at least a thousand dollars per session, and you will need at least three sessions to notice some results.
