Stretch Marks

Marissa T. Santos, M.D. -  - Board Certified Internal Medicine

Marissa T. Santos, M.D.

Board Certified Internal Medicine & Aesthetics Specialist located in Woodside, NY & Rego Park, Queens, NY

Nearly everyone gets stretch marks at some point in their lives, and absolutely nobody wants them. Stretch marks don’t respond to diet or exercise, but microneedling at Marissa T. Santos, M.D. in Woodside, New York may be the ideal way to finally banish the stretch marks for good. Book your consultation with Dr. Santos to discuss stretch mark removal now.

Stretch Marks Q & A

Why do stretch marks happen?

The main causes of stretch marks include:

Pregnancy

The weight gain and skin stretching that accompanies it are among the most common causes of stretch marks.

Non-pregnancy weight gain

If you gain a significant amount of weight, it stretches your skin, and the stretch marks are the result.

Adrenal gland disorders

Adrenal gland disorders like Marfan's syndrome raise the cortisone level in your body. This, in turn, prevents your skin from stretching properly.

Using corticosteroids

If you use corticosteroids in topical or oral form, your skin is less elastic, and stretch marks can result.

Stretch marks usually appear in the belly, thighs, and hips but they can also appear on the arms, breasts, and in any place where you have skin with significant fat padding below it. No matter where your stretch marks are, they're unsightly and frustrating — but fortunately, Dr. Marissa Santos has a solution that can help.

What is the treatment for stretch marks?

There are a few different remedies for stretch marks. Though there are a number of creams and lotions for stretch marks, topical treatments can't really yield long-term results. At most, you might get a brief skin smoothing, via plumping-up of the stretch marks, but it works much like lip plumpers: It fades within hours.

To get rid of your stretch marks for the long term, you need to actually stimulate the deeper layers of your skin so that you're producing new collagen to fill them. That's exactly what microneedling does for stretch marks.

How does microneedling work?

During microneedling, Dr. Santos uses a handheld micropen device to create tiny puncture wounds in and around the stretch marks. Because this agitates your skin, your body responds by making brand new collagen and skin cells. The collagen rises up to form a support network for your skin, and this smooths out the stretch mark indentations.

Most patients need a short series of microneedling sessions to fully treat stretch marks, but every case is different. Dr. Santos can recommend the microneedling treatment schedule that will be most effective for your stretch marks.

Sad when you look at your stretch marks? Schedule your appointment through the online appointment maker or by phone today.