Laser treatment of pregnancy stretch marks and striae

When the body changes shape quickly, the connective tissue under the skin cannot always develop sufficiently. The laser treatment works in 3 steps, starting in the deeper layers and moving up to the skin’s surface.

In the first step, the Nd:YAG laser stimulates the skin’s own collagen production without affecting the surface, and in fresh scars it seals the fine network of blood vessels responsible for scar growth. This firms the deeper layers.

The Er:YAG laser then further improves the skin’s texture and surface irregularities.

In the second step, the Er:YAG laser performs a deeper, fractional resurfacing.
In the third step, an even, full-field surface resurfacing reconstructs the skin’s surface to further improve its texture and irregularities.

The three-step treatment is optimised to make the skin significantly smoother, giving it a fresher, healthier appearance. It is a gentle way to treat stretch marks, with minimal recovery time and natural-looking results. Treatments can range from simple surface corrections to deep collagen restructuring.

The three-step treatment takes 10–40 minutes, depending on the size of the area treated. Results may be visible after just one session, although more pronounced stretch marks may need more sessions. Recovery time depends on the intensity of the treatment: redness, slight peeling and mild swelling may occur in the treated area for a few hours to a few days.

Before the treatment, please avoid exposing the area to the sun and using a solarium for four weeks. On the day of the treatment, do not apply any cream or ointment to the area. After the treatment, avoid sunbathing and solariums for four weeks.

Collagen fibres usually need 30–90 days to restructure and for new collagen to form.

Stretch marks

Stretch marks (striae) are lines that form when the skin is stretched, for example after rapid changes in body shape, growth, weight gain or loss, pregnancy or sport that leads to intensive muscle growth, when the connective tissue under the skin cannot develop sufficiently. They can also be caused by hormonal changes.

Sudden changes in body shape cause the connective tissue under the skin to tear in strips, resulting in almost parallel, scar-like, deep red marks of varying width. The top layer of the skin above them stretches and thins, and after a few months white, atrophic, soft marks develop. At present, stretch marks cannot be removed completely and permanently.

However, treatment can lead to significant improvement. Its effectiveness depends above all on how much time has passed since the stretch marks appeared: the fresher they are, the more effective the treatment can be. The expected result also depends on where the stretch marks are located. Young, superficial and thinner stretch marks respond better than older, deeper ones.

The current treatment can make stretch marks fade and become thinner, while strengthening and increasing the collagen network beneath them. The light of the Nd:YAG laser seals dilated capillaries in the stretch marks and stimulates and then boosts the growth of the collagen network.