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Unsightly scars and stretch marks, or striae,
have presented problems for men and women
for centuries. Scars and stretch marks are
generally considered unsightly, disfiguring
and unacceptable by many people.
What causes scars & stretch marks?
Scars form as part of the skin's healing process
whenever multiple layers of skin are injured.
The injury may be the result of an accident,
surgery, a burn or even severe acne. While
the exact cause of stretch marks is unknown,
it is thought that striae are the result of
your skin's collagen and elastin breaking
down under stress. Pregnancy, body building
and weight loss are the leading causes of
stretch marks. Stretch marks occur most frequently
in areas of mechanical stress such as the
breasts, abdomen, thighs, groin or buttocks.
In the beginning, stretch marks are red. They
turn white as part of the healing process.
New Laser Technology
Today, several new laser techniques are available
to treat a wide variety of scars and stretch
marks. The laser's energy stimulates the skin
under the scar and causes the fibroblasts
in the skin to begin to divide again. It also
stimulates the production of collagen. This
thickens the skin under the scar until it
closely resembles the surrounding normal skin.
Do laser treatments work?
Current laser technology has been shown to
improve or eliminate red or raised scars.
Recent studies have demonstrated that laser
treatments stimulate the production of collagen
and improve or eliminate the appearance of
stretch marks. Additional studies show that
the appearance of stretch marks continues
to improve over a period of time ranging from
3 to 6 months after the laser treatment was
given. Even those treatments that showed little
if any initial improvement showed as much
as a 50% improvement at their 6 month checkup.
Who are the best candidates for laser scar
and stretch mark removal?
The patients that respond the best to laser
treatment for scars and stretch marks are
those with:
o Fair complexion and light pigmentation.
o Shallow scars or stretch marks.
Note: Patients with a history of Vitiligo,
pigmentation disorders, dark tans or dark
pigmentation may require an initial skin test
for evaluation prior to treatment.
Do laser scar and stretch mark treatments
hurt?
Most patients do not require anesthetic. Some
patients have indicated that they feel a slight
tingling when the laser pulses, or that the
laser pulse feels like the snap of a rubber
band against the skin.
What should you expect after treatment?
Results vary from patient to patient and may
not be immediate. Results from laser scar
and stretch mark treatment are generally progressive
and may require multiple treatments. If you
respond to the first treatment, your second
treatment will usually be as good as the first,
and the third treatment will be almost as
good. About 70% of patients receiving laser
treatments for their stretch marks notice
a marked improvement. Newer and shallower
stretch marks and scars respond better than
older and deeper scars and stretch marks.
To enhance the results of your laser treatments
your surgeon may recommend the use of tretinoin
cream or a glycolic acid cream prior to and
after your laser treatments.
This information is intended to supplement,
not replace, a consultation with a board certified
physician. To find out if you could be a candidate
for one of these procedures or to learn more
information about these procedures, we invite
you to contact one of our doctors for a private
consultation. |
During your office consultation you will be provided with a detailed plan
of the treatments that will benefit you most. Please contact
us with any questions you may have or schedule
an appointment online for a consultation. Click
here to send this page to a friend.
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Our cosmetic surgeons include
Dermatologist Daniel P. Taheri, M.D. and Dermatologist Alex Khadavi, M.D.
Our dermatologists offer advanced dermatology laser treatments for cosmetic
needs and medical skin conditions.
We offer locations throughout Southern California including Encino, Thousand
Oaks, Palmdale, Valencia, Ridgecrest, and Westwood / Los Angeles. Surrounding
cities include Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Calabasas, Glendale, Hollywood,
Long Beach, Oxnard, Pacific Palisades, Reseda, Santa Monica, Sherman Oaks,
and Woodland Hills.
We recently opened an office in Pahrump, Nevada (near Las Vegas)!
Our offices accept Medicare and most insurance policies.
Thank you for visiting LA Laser Center Dermatology!
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