LASER REDUCTION OF STRETCH STRETCHES

Stretch marks (striae distensae) are parallel, spindle-shaped bands of thinned, wrinkled skin, initially raised and swollen, then disappearing. Their appearance is usually asymptomatic, but may be accompanied by a slight feeling of itching, less often burning and pain. Stretch marks form at the level of the dermis, and their development is associated with the impairment of fibroblasts, i.e. cells responsible for the production of two types of proteins: collagen and elastin. These proteins have a filamentous form, creating an ordered network and giving the skin elasticity, firmness, elasticity and appropriate tension. Properly constructed collagen fibers have high tensile strength, impaired ones lose this elasticity. The most important cause of stretch marks is sudden weight gain and the resulting stretching of the skin. Stretch marks lie perpendicular to the direction of skin stretching. Stretch marks take on the appearance of red (in the initial, inflammatory phase) or whitish-silver streaks (in the atrophic phase), located mainly on the thighs, buttocks, abdomen, breasts and arms.

Stretch marks can be effectively removed in our center using the Er:Yag laser from Fotona Spectro SP with a light wavelength of 2940nm. Fotony erbium lasers use this wavelength for minimally ablative, quick treatments that remove microelements of damaged tissue, resulting in a profound thermal effect. Classic non-ablative fractional treatments leave thousands of trace elements in the skin, consisting of hot, dead remains of the treated tissue. Excess heat from this tissue is trapped in the skin, causing unnecessary pain and discomfort. Fotona's fractionating head instantly removes hot tissue debris from the skin, reducing pain and speeding recovery. Clean microchannels have the same thermal impact zone as microchannels after non-ablative fractional treatment, but do not cause irritation, swelling or pain. After treatment with the Fractional Photon head, the microchannels close and heal much faster than in the case of classic non-ablative fractional techniques. The Fotona Spectro SP Er:YAG laser achieves maximum effects with a minimum depth of laser beam penetration. Spectro SP for fast, cold ablation. In XLP (extended pulse) mode, it provides the deepest thermal effects. This laser can ablate the epidermis or skin micron by micron, ensuring unrivaled precision and treatment control, short recovery periods and higher patient comfort and satisfaction. At the same time, Fotona Spectro SP, thanks to the highest power and advanced safety systems, is the fastest and safest laser on the market.

Very good therapeutic effects can also be achieved with the REGENERIS treatment, i.e. platelet-rich plasma.

Evolutionary phases of stretch marks:

• in the I - inflammatory phase, the inflammatory, pseudohypertrophic component predominates, the stretch marks are red, wine red, or blue red, and are arranged in parallel. At this stage we still have the best chance of getting rid of them
• in phase II - atrophic, there is an apparent regeneration of stretch marks. Red bands become brighter and smaller. This results from attempts to regenerate the broken network of collagen fibers and thin elastin fibers. Since it is no longer possible to restore the condition of the dermis before the defect occurred, white stripes remain visible on the skin and can be felt when touched. Starting treatment of stretch marks at this stage may slightly improve the condition of the skin, but it will not eliminate them 100%.

Location of stretch marks:

Stretch marks are usually bilateral, i.e. they appear on both sides of the body, in every area except, among others, face, hands and feet. They may have a radial or fan-shaped appearance on the abdomen, transverse on the hips, radiating from the nipple on the chest, and horizontal in the lumbar-sacral area.

• This disease occurs twice as often in women as in men and can occur at any age, although most often during puberty and pregnancy. The most common places for stretch marks for girls are the hips, upper thighs and breasts.
• In men - the sacro-lumbar area, in training - the shoulder girdle

Causes of stretch marks:

• Increased levels of cortisol (adrenocortical hormone) in the blood cause impairment of the function of fibroblasts, which begin to produce altered collagen and elastin fibers: more brittle and less susceptible to stretching. During excessive stretching of the skin (e.g. during pregnancy, puberty, obesity, excessive sudden weight gain), the regular network of fibers is broken, resulting in stretch marks. Because the epidermal layer also thins at the same time, they become more visible.
• Increased estrogen levels (during pregnancy, when using hormonal contraception) contribute to some extent to the increased possibility of stretch marks.
• The use of drugs containing glucocorticosteroids (e.g. in the course of endocrine, allergic, autoimmune diseases) contributes, among others, to: to thinning of the epidermis, inhibition of collagen synthesis in the dermis and degradation of existing collagen fibers
• Improper diet, low in nutrients (vitamins, micro- and macroelements). In particular, an insufficient amount of zinc plays an important role here.
• Genetic tendency – there is a possibility that if the mother has stretch marks, they may also appear in her daughter

Predisposition to stretch marks:

• Obese people
• Teenagers going through puberty
• Women during pregnancy, menopause
• Bodybuilders
• People with frequent weight fluctuations (you can also get stretch marks during a sudden weight loss)
• People who are repeatedly on low-calorie diets
• People with genetic predispositions

What you should know about the prevention of stretch marks:

• Avoiding frequent weight fluctuations and "miracle" diets
• An appropriate diet, providing sufficient doses of vitamins (mainly A, E, PP, B5) and microelements (especially zinc and silicon), or supplementation of these ingredients in ready-made medicinal preparations
• Local use of creams, gels, oils and preparations based on plants, elastin, collagen, biostimolin, vitamins, placenta preparations, etc. The type of cream is not important, what is more important is skin hydration/lubrication and massage

What are the effects of laser treatment of stretch marks?

Laser treatment of stretch marks brings the best results. In most cases, only one treatment is enough to significantly improve the appearance of our skin. In other cases, when there are a lot of stretch marks, further treatments are necessary. There must be a six-month break between laser stretch mark removal treatments. The effect of treatments is not equal for every person. It depends on genetic factors and the degree of firmness and elasticity of the skin.

Contraindications to laser therapy:

• Pregnancy
• Diabetes
• Pacemaker
• Bloathing disorders
• Epilepsy
• Some skin diseases (rosacea, vitiligo, psoriasis, allergenic lesions) if skin lesions are exposed to direct action of laser rays
• Tan (too much accumulated melanin absorbs a large dose of energy, which may cause skin discoloration). You should not sunbathe (sun, solarium) for 4 weeks before and 4 weeks after the procedure
• Tendency to discoloration
• Active viral or bacterial lesions on the skin
• Use of certain medicines:
• Medicines that reduce blood clotting; anticoagulants, e.g. aspirin
• Steroids
• Photosensitizing drugs: some antibiotics, e.g. tetracycline, doxycycline, vitamin A derivatives, some cardiological drugs and others, e.g. furagine
• Use of some herbs: marigold, St. John's wort
• Using creams with retinol

Recommendations for the patient before laser removal of stretch marks:

• Do not sunbathe (sun, solarium) for 4 weeks before the procedure
• Do not use exfoliating treatments (peeling) for a week before the treatment
• If you use drugs: anticoagulants, steroids, photosensitizing drugs, they should be discontinued (if possible) 7 days before the procedure, and then they can be used again 14 days after the procedure
• Shave the skin with a razor 1 day before the procedure, do not depilate the hair with wax, chemicals or pluck it with tweezers
• Do not drink alcohol on the day of the procedure
• The treatment is performed on clean skin (cosmetics should be washed off before the treatment)

For a few days after the procedure:

• Do not use soap, spirit or alcohol-based tonics
• Do not perform peelings or other treatments
• Do not wipe the areas after treatment with a sponge or towel
• Do not irritate the skin in the treatment area

Recommendations for the patient after laser removal of stretch marks:

• It is not recommended to use a hot bath or sauna 14 days after the treatment
• It is not recommended to sunbathe (sun, solarium) for 4 weeks after the treatment
• It is not recommended to perform intense physical exercise for 7 days after the procedure
• For facial treatments, use creams with a filter of at least SPF 30 for 4 weeks after the treatment
• Cosmetics can be used only 24 hours after the treatment, alcohol-based preparations should be avoided and skin moisturizing preparations should be used
• When closing a large number of vessels on the legs, it is recommended to wear compression stockings for a few days after the procedure
• You should come for a follow-up visit after the procedure

Why do we remove stretch marks with Nd:YAG and Er:YAG lasers FOTONA SPECTRO SP?

Fotona neodymium-jag Nd:YAG and Er:YAG lasers are modern devices enabling a number of procedures in the field of surgery, dermatology and aesthetic medicine. The spectrum of applications is very wide, ranging from laser epilation, through acne treatment, photorejuvenation, to the treatment of skin cancer, removal of varicose veins and laser lipolysis procedures. The Spectro SP laser achieves maximum effects with a minimum depth of laser beam penetration. This laser is the ideal tool for fast, cold ablation. Photona's Variable Square Pulse (VSP) technology adjusts laser parameters to suit the treatment, ensuring ease of use. Square pulses can treat a variety of indications with unparalleled efficiency, without overheating adjacent tissues, thus ensuring patient comfort. Additionally, built-in pulse feedback control (EFC) technology ensures that the laser output energy is always consistent with the parameters set for the patient, thus ensuring the highest level of safety and reliability of the system.

The average power in quasi-continuous pulse mode is 30 WAT. The competition doesn't even come close to this result. Thanks to this, treatments are performed much faster and more effective. In the hands of a doctor, this laser is an almost perfect tool.

Effective removal of stretch marks for all skin types:

The Spectro SP laser is the most powerful combination of an Nd:YAG and Er:YAG laser. It provides the widest range of ablative and non-ablative treatments that a single laser system can offer. Nd:YAG Photons laser, which is part of this laser, with long pulses is characterized by homogeneous penetration and low absorption by tissue chromophores. These two advantages allow the Nd:YAG laser to reach deeper structures without damaging the epidermis, regardless of skin type.

Innovation of the Nd:YAG and Er:YAG Fotona Spectro SP lasers

This laser is equipped with a number of innovative solutions such as EFC (impulse feedback control) - a system that provides a previously unavailable level of control over the energy of the laser beam pulse. Thanks to each calibration of the device, the laser always provides a beam with precisely defined parameters, which increases the safety and effectiveness of the treatment. Another innovation in Fotona Spectro SP lasers is the VSP system (variable square pulse - a patented solution) that allows the generation of a pulse with given parameters with a negligible rise and fall time of the pulse energy. This increases the efficiency of the laser beam and simultaneously improves the effectiveness and speed of treatment compared to other devices.

Thanks to the highest power and advanced safety system, the Fotona Spectro SP laser is the fastest and safest laser on the market.

The security of the Fotona Spectro SP system is:

• EFC (impulse feedback control)

Thanks to this system, we avoid a decrease in laser power during the treatment, which could lead to weaker or incomplete results. We also do not have to worry about energy surges that may cause tissue damage.

• VSP (variable square pulse)

Unlike other systems, where there is a sudden jump in energy and then a slow decrease, in the Fotona Spectro SP system the pulse energy distribution is even. This protects us against overheating and tissue burns. At the same time, the effectiveness and safety of treatments are radically improved

The effectiveness of the Fotona Spectro SP system is:

The Fotona Spectro SP laser, thanks to the combination of two laser beam wavelengths: Nd:YAG - 1064nm and Er:YAG - 2940nm, offers the widest range of treatment services among all those available on the Polish market. The neodymium-Jag laser with a wavelength of 1064 nm is the deepest penetrating laser beam available on the market, thanks to which it can destroy large-diameter vessels hidden deep under the skin. At the same time, thanks to homogeneous penetration, it has a very wide range of applications and minimizes the risk of tissue damage. High power in quasi-continuous pulse mode is 30 Watts. The competition doesn't even come close to Siudo's result. Using the 2940nm wave, for minimally ablative quick treatments that remove microelements of damaged tissue, resulting in a deep thermal effect. Classic non-ablative fractional treatments leave thousands of trace elements in the skin, consisting of hot, dead remnants of the treated tissue. Excess heat from this tissue becomes trapped in the skin, causing unnecessary pain and discomfort. The Fotona head immediately removes hot tissue residues from the skin, reducing pain and accelerating recovery. Clean microchannels have the same thermal impact zone as microchannels after non-ablative fractional treatment, but do not cause irritation, swelling or pain. After treatment with the Fractional Photon head, the microchannels close and heal much faster than in the case of classic non-ablative fractional techniques. Thanks to this, treatments performed with the Fotona Spectro SP system are much faster and more effective. With this laser system, all patient needs can be met, achieving excellent clinical results and unprecedented gentleness.