Following pregnancy, significant fluctuations in weight or even since puberty, many women struggle with the appearance of stretch marks in areas like the stomach, hips and thighs. When considering abdominoplasty, one of the most common questions that people ask is, “Does a tummy tuck fix existing stretch marks?” In short, the answer is that it depends.
What Causes Stretch Marks?
While no cosmetic treatment can guarantee to get rid of stretch marks completely, laser therapy and chemical peels may reduce their appearance.
It is important to understand that stretch marks are in fact scars. They happen when your skin is abruptly stretched, causing the collagen and elastin fibers within your skin to tear. This often results in the long, narrow “stripes” of discolored skin that we refer to as stretch marks.
Like other types of scars, stretch marks tend to fade and become less noticeable over time. However, they will rarely disappear on their own or respond to topical skincare treatments once mature.
Location Is Key
As permanent scars, stretch marks are nearly impossible to get rid of without surgical excision. That said, if they happen to be located in the area of excess skin that will be removed during your tummy tuck, this procedure may be able to reduce the number of stretch marks on your body.
However, there is no guarantee that a tummy tuck will be able to remove your stretch marks completely — or even at all. If this is a priority for you, discuss this with your plastic surgeon prior to your body contouring procedure.
For more information or to schedule a consultation, please contact our Sacramento office online or call 916-983-9895.
