If one is conscience about keeping their skin healthy and smooth, they are very aware of the threat of stretch marks. These marks are pronounced with different lengths and depths. They come out at different parts of our skin but principally in the abdomen, buttocks, breasts, upper arms, and legs. The cause of these unwanted marks is mainly the result of rapid stretching of the skin resulting from rapid growth or weight gain usually caused by puberty, pregnancy, and weight gain. The middle layer of the skin is called the dermis, and when stretched to a point that its elasticity breaks down, out comes a stretch mark.

Okay, so how can they be removed?

Fortunately, there are options to choose from.

What Are the Stretch Mark Treatment Options Out There

If you are willing to spend lots of money to solve the problem, surgery is the route to take. Surgery for stretch marks in the stomach area is called abdominoplasy surgery, or the 'tummy tuck.' Tightening and contouring the stomach walls remove excess fat and skin improving the complexion of the original stretch marks. The negatives to this procedure are that it is expensive and painful with a long recovery time.

A second option for surgery would be what's called laser treatment. Energy shot through cosmetic lasers is absorbed into the dermal layer of the skin to stimulate the production of new collagen. The collagen then thickens which leads to the plumping of the skin that fills in the stretch mark from below. However laser treatment is really only effective for new, immature stretch marks as the improvement for more mature stretch marks doctors say is reportedly small.

The realistic expectation of using these surgical treatments should be thought of as a 20 to 50% improvement in the appearance of the stretch marks.

If you automatically want to cancel out surgery, a great and effective alternative is microdermabrasion. It is performed in beauty spas but as well has an at home solution in the form of a microdermabrasion cream. It works by eliminating the top layer of the skin by using abrading microcrytals to wear it down. The original stretch mark covered skin is replaced by a newer and healthier skin created by the triggering of collagen and elastin production.