What should you know about lifting stretch marks?

Stretch marks, also called striae, form when skin stretches or changes rapidly and deeper supporting fibres remodel. Newer marks may look pink, red, purple, or darker than nearby skin; older marks often become lighter and slightly indented. Their stage, colour, body area, skin tone, pregnancy or growth history, medicines, and degree of laxity all affect the treatment discussion. A procedure cannot restore the skin to an untouched state, but it may make contrast or texture less noticeable.

A dermatologist can confirm the diagnosis and match treatment to the mark’s stage and your skin’s healing pattern. Microneedling creates controlled tiny injuries to encourage remodelling; RF Microneedling adds heat beneath the surface; Fractional Laser Treatment targets columns of skin to prompt repair; Carboxytherapy uses injected carbon dioxide as a separate approach. These procedures can cause redness, swelling, crusting, pigment changes, or temporary sensitivity. Use sun protection and follow aftercare closely, especially if you develop dark marks easily. Several appointments may be discussed, but the plan depends on response.

Arrange a medical review if marks appear suddenly without an obvious growth, pregnancy, or weight change, spread quickly, become unusually wide, or occur with easy bruising, muscle weakness, or other body changes. After treatment, contact the clinic for worsening pain, pus, spreading warmth, fever, blistering, or pigment change that is progressing rather than settling.

Ask whether the marks are early or mature, which feature the proposed treatment targets, how your skin tone affects pigment risk, what downtime and aftercare are expected, and how improvement will be judged.