Stretch Marks!!

[Guest]

As far as laser goes, the problem with just burning away the scar tissue, is it will be replaced with more scar tissue. From what I understand, your body is able to improve the stretch marks because when you poke small holes into the scar tissue you trigger your body to produce more collagen which will help "puff" up the skin so that it isn't quite as sunken. In reality, you aren't really getting rid of the scar tissue, you are just making it closer to normal skin.

hi kojiro,

isnt this exactly what needling does?

Basically yes. But there are differences also. Lasers are thermal energy of different wave lenghts. This activates skin processes differently from a needle, which is purely physical damage.

[Tracy212]

what did the deepfx cost?

I paid $2,200 for the Active FX for the abdomen. The price quoted to me for the Deep FX by the same doctor was $3,995 for the abdomen, which she said she would knock off $1,000 since I had already tried the Active FX. I think I'm going to wait at this point.

I do believe the ultimate cure lies somewhere in laser technology, most likely with a combination of lasers and not just one laser (sort of like the article from the doctor in Philadelphia). We're just not completely there yet. My advice would be save your pennies now so that when that technology is perfected, you'll have stashed away the funds in advance. I also believe the current laser technology will work for some folks. The Active FX did get rid of some of my very small stretch marks and made noticable improvement to the larger ones. After everything I've tried over the last many, many years (creams, lasers, peels, vitamins.....never tried carboxy or needling), lasers definitely did the most for me, with creams (Trilastin SR) being the second runner up.

I'm not a believer in peels, though from my own experience, I do think they help blend the marks better even if they don't remove them. This can still be a great way to make some difference for stretch marks until the laser technology is perfected to remove them (or whatever technology is ultimately found to cure them).

Tracy

[James Barnes]

what did the deepfx cost?

I paid $2,200 for the Active FX for the abdomen. The price quoted to me for the Deep FX by the same doctor was $3,995 for the abdomen, which she said she would knock off $1,000 since I had already tried the Active FX. I think I'm going to wait at this point.

I do believe the ultimate cure lies somewhere in laser technology, most likely with a combination of lasers and not just one laser (sort of like the article from the doctor in Philadelphia). We're just not completely there yet. My advice would be save your pennies now so that when that technology is perfected, you'll have stashed away the funds in advance. I also believe the current laser technology will work for some folks. The Active FX did get rid of some of my very small stretch marks and made noticable improvement to the larger ones. After everything I've tried over the last many, many years (creams, lasers, peels, vitamins.....never tried carboxy or needling), lasers definitely did the most for me, with creams (Trilastin SR) being the second runner up.

I'm not a believer in peels, though from my own experience, I do think they help blend the marks better even if they don't remove them. This can still be a great way to make some difference for stretch marks until the laser technology is perfected to remove them (or whatever technology is ultimately found to cure them).

Tracy

Well, I really don't think there is really any point in waiting for ''the cure'', because I think curing stretch marks right now is not possible, because even these lasers, they don't repair tissue, they are only capable in eliminating them. I personally think that stretch marks don't have to be cured, I think they are supposed to be removed. And I heavily believe that chemical peels might be the answer, because in theory and from people's experiences it is the best thing possible. What do you mean by ''the ultimate cure''? Do you mean a treatment that works for everybody? I don't think that is possible. I think I read somewhere before that you tried peels. What and how much peels did you try? When results did you achieve?

[James Barnes]

Though I've read about what stretch marks are and how they form, I don't really know how they look in the skin. I personally imagine 3 layers of skin with a V shape scarring in through the epidermis to the dermis. Is this an accurate image I imagine? I mean, stretch marks don't penetrate all the dermis? I imagine that at least some part of the dermis beneath the stretch marks is left untouched, because the skin breaks from the upper side not the lower. Right? I think if the stretch mark went through all the dermis it would not stop there.

[Guest]

Though I've read about what stretch marks are and how they form, I don't really know how they look in the skin. I personally imagine 3 layers of skin with a V shape scarring in through the epidermis to the dermis. Is this an accurate image I imagine? I mean, stretch marks don't penetrate all the dermis? I imagine that at least some part of the dermis beneath the stretch marks is left untouched, because the skin breaks from the upper side not the lower. Right? I think if the stretch mark went through all the dermis it would not stop there.

Dude get a clue! If you don't know how stretchmarks look in the skin then how do you know you have them? Do you have something going on with your skin and you are just guessing its stretchmarks?

[king_fedor]

no offense to anyone here...i think all of you have some great knowledge on stretch marks and reading some of the pages actually gives me hope...

but i can honestly say that i stand ALONE in the war on stretch marks...when it comes to them, i am in my own league....i posted back on page 427 and for those that didnt read it, well basically im a 5'11, 21 year old male with deep purple stretch marks covering 40-50% of my back....i have them in other places as well...i have never in my life seen a case of marks quite as bad as mine...so no offense to any of you but until youve seen my case (i have a pic) then you shoudnt be complaining that much

atleast you all have the luxury of saying "theres always someone out there who has it worse than you" but i dont have that luxury. i truly believe im 1 in a billion and that i have probably the worst case of stretch marks ever seen. which is strange for a person my size who has never been obese or even fat at any point in his life...

ive had countless v-beams and none have worked...they havent even improved them at all to be honest...and ive tried tons of creams and they havent worked either....i have never tried any peels or any of the more advanced (and expensive) lasers...do you think i will have success with any of those methods?

i dont make much money, but i will sell anything i have to in order to raise the money for a $4000 deep fx laser treatment...to me its worth it. how about tca peels and glycolic? what do you think?

[joe_s]

I can really understand you king_fedor.... I'm also a 21 yo male, covered with *extreme* stretch marks on my stomach, back and shoulders, some around the knees... oh! and both my arms are fully covered with them (actually I think my arms have a strange mix of cellulite and stretch marks). In a few words: I have them everywhere.

I remember I started having them since I was 13 or 14. I have to be always covered in clothes, even on hot sunny days. Every single **** day I have to wear something that covers my arms. It's embarrassing and just plain awful. I haven't really told anyone about this... but people always wonder why I use sweaters on a warm day.

I often feel I'm the only man (male) in the world that is covered with these silver/red bastards. It would be much better if at least my arms were free of them. As much as I hate to say it, they have caused a deep negative impact in my life.

The difference between you and me is that I had been overweight/obese since I was 5 years old, but at least I'm now in my ideal weight after losing 68lb/31kg/5stones.

I will thoroughly check this forum. All the money I have goes for college, but if it's necessary I'll work hard after classes to raise whatever amount of money is necessary to make my stretch marks less noticeable.

I know I didn't give any tip, sorry about that, just wanted to share my story.

[Kojiro]

no offense to anyone here...i think all of you have some great knowledge on stretch marks and reading some of the pages actually gives me hope...

but i can honestly say that i stand ALONE in the war on stretch marks...when it comes to them, i am in my own league....i posted back on page 427 and for those that didnt read it, well basically im a 5'11, 21 year old male with deep purple stretch marks covering 40-50% of my back....i have them in other places as well...i have never in my life seen a case of marks quite as bad as mine...so no offense to any of you but until youve seen my case (i have a pic) then you shoudnt be complaining that much

atleast you all have the luxury of saying "theres always someone out there who has it worse than you" but i dont have that luxury. i truly believe im 1 in a billion and that i have probably the worst case of stretch marks ever seen. which is strange for a person my size who has never been obese or even fat at any point in his life...

ive had countless v-beams and none have worked...they havent even improved them at all to be honest...and ive tried tons of creams and they havent worked either....i have never tried any peels or any of the more advanced (and expensive) lasers...do you think i will have success with any of those methods?

i dont make much money, but i will sell anything i have to in order to raise the money for a $4000 deep fx laser treatment...to me its worth it. how about tca peels and glycolic? what do you think?

I think its time that you get over yourself. There's nobody who has even had things worse than you? You really want to see how bad things can get? Type "severe burn victims" into google. Let me know if you want to change places with those guys? When I get a chance, I will look around for a link I posted a long time ago. It was a few people who had absurd stretch marks all over their bodies. Seriously, you don't even compare to these people. For some of them, each stretch mark is about the size of a butcher's knife (3-4 inches wide and 8-10 inches long and an ugly deep purple colour that won't ever go away) Some of these people look like they shouldn't even still be alive... Personally I don't think my case is any better than yours. I have stretch marks over about 60-70% of my body including biceps, shoulders, all of my back, chest, stomach, inner thighs, front and back of my knees and probably many other places that aren't coming to mind right now. If you keep this idea that you are the most underprivledged individual in the world, you are only going to make yourself more miserable.

[James Barnes]

Though I've read about what stretch marks are and how they form, I don't really know how they look in the skin. I personally imagine 3 layers of skin with a V shape scarring in through the epidermis to the dermis. Is this an accurate image I imagine? I mean, stretch marks don't penetrate all the dermis? I imagine that at least some part of the dermis beneath the stretch marks is left untouched, because the skin breaks from the upper side not the lower. Right? I think if the stretch mark went through all the dermis it would not stop there.

Dude get a clue! If you don't know how stretchmarks look in the skin then how do you know you have them? Do you have something going on with your skin and you are just guessing its stretchmarks?

I mean how they look IN the skin where the human eye can't see... How they look in the layers of the skin, not just how they look on the epidermis where you can see them.

[mogdor]

Kojiro, I would really like to see these pics you're talking about. I also have a pretty bad case myself, I had to be on prednisone and that's how I got them. Seem to be fading over time, but they're big, like inch wide ones on my stomach, sides, also covering my upper arms so I can relate about having to wear long sleeves. I try to be positive though, I'm a fairly decent looking guy so at least I look good covered! lol.....but yeah it sucks ,it'd be really nice to go swimming, or even wear T-shirts in the summer.

If anyone has any input about that Jean Wu method I really would like to hear.......I'm sure I'll find stuff on it if I look through the thread, but anybody use it recently?

I hope people don't get too frustrated with the negativity on here and leave, it's really great to see I'm not alone in this! Let's keep positive, stick together and beat this ****. Power in numbers!

[Guest]

i have been trying the dermaroller for about 3 weeks to try to get rid of stretch marks while i wait for my TCA to arrive in the mail. now i was just wondering if anyone else had tried it and if its supposed to hurt? i purchased the one with 1mm needles. i did it a few times but it hurts. it says in the instructions to do it until the skin turns red or you see pin like bleeding it also says that you are only supposed to feel a tickling sensation. but when i do it it hurts if i do it until it turns red. any input would be greatly appreciated.

[Guest]

no offense to anyone here...i think all of you have some great knowledge on stretch marks and reading some of the pages actually gives me hope...

but i can honestly say that i stand ALONE in the war on stretch marks...when it comes to them, i am in my own league....i posted back on page 427 and for those that didnt read it, well basically im a 5'11, 21 year old male with deep purple stretch marks covering 40-50% of my back....i have them in other places as well...i have never in my life seen a case of marks quite as bad as mine...so no offense to any of you but until youve seen my case (i have a pic) then you shoudnt be complaining that much

atleast you all have the luxury of saying "theres always someone out there who has it worse than you" but i dont have that luxury. i truly believe im 1 in a billion and that i have probably the worst case of stretch marks ever seen. which is strange for a person my size who has never been obese or even fat at any point in his life...

ive had countless v-beams and none have worked...they havent even improved them at all to be honest...and ive tried tons of creams and they havent worked either....i have never tried any peels or any of the more advanced (and expensive) lasers...do you think i will have success with any of those methods?

i dont make much money, but i will sell anything i have to in order to raise the money for a $4000 deep fx laser treatment...to me its worth it. how about tca peels and glycolic? what do you think?

I think its time that you get over yourself. There's nobody who has even had things worse than you? You really want to see how bad things can get? Type "severe burn victims" into google. Let me know if you want to change places with those guys? When I get a chance, I will look around for a link I posted a long time ago. It was a few people who had absurd stretch marks all over their bodies. Seriously, you don't even compare to these people. For some of them, each stretch mark is about the size of a butcher's knife (3-4 inches wide and 8-10 inches long and an ugly deep purple colour that won't ever go away) Some of these people look like they shouldn't even still be alive... Personally I don't think my case is any better than yours. I have stretch marks over about 60-70% of my body including biceps, shoulders, all of my back, chest, stomach, inner thighs, front and back of my knees and probably many other places that aren't coming to mind right now. If you keep this idea that you are the most underprivledged individual in the world, you are only going to make yourself more miserable.

kojiro, i understand what you are saying but let me clear some things up. it is a classic argument to bring up the less fortunate people in the world and compare them to yourself. the blind people, deaf, crippled, people with prosthetic limbs, mentally retarded people, burn victims, starving children across the world etc. ...what i would like to say first and foremost about those type of people is that they certainly do have it a lot worse than me or any of us for that matter.

In no way am i saying that my situation is worse than a person who is paralyzed from the waist down or something like that. so lets get that straight. now, with that said, i want to make it clear that when i say i have it worse than almost anyone in the world, i am NOT including those type of people because i consider them to be in a different category than us. by us i mean so called "normal" people. i have 10 toes, 10 fingers, 20/20 vision, fine hearing and im healthy as an ox. at first glance i am what you would call a so called "normal" person.

when i say i have it bad, im making a comparison to other "normal" people in the world. i am not including people who have unfortunate disablities and problems like the ones i listed above , whether they were born with them or were in a tragic accident at some point in their lives. like i said earlier, these people most certainly have it worse than us and i would not like to trade places with them and i feel HORRIBLE even thinking what it must be like to live in their shoes.

but my point is, i dont think you should make a comparison to those kind of people because thats a tired and unfair argument. i was simply stating that i have it worse than most people who appear to be (and usually are) "normal"...those people, as harsh as it sounds are NOT "normal" ...thats not an insult, its simply the truth. a person who is in a wheel chair is not considered to be part of the norm. so i dont think you can compare "normal" people like us to them. in terms of people who are considered normal, i certainly have it worse than a good percentage of the population.

[Guest]

has any one here used www.stretchmarkcure.com

[Mai]

re: needling

Needling is now thought to be a method that allows products to penetrate more deeply as opposed to a means to end in and of itself. Therefore if you are trying needling you should apply copper peptides, maybe retin-a afterwards-something like that. I would NOT recommend putting tca on directly after. I can't even begin to imagine the pain...
Needling supposedly works best long term.
As for it hurting, I was always told it was supposed to hurt... I had it done professionally with a large needle and even with lidocaine injections it still hurt. When I bought my own derma-roller, it hurt (not as badly) but I can't imagine that poking holes in your skin on a mass scale would not hurt. I believe RK also said needling hurt. I was under the impression that it was supposed to - at least a little. Has anyone here experienced painless needling?

[Guest]

I actually wouldn't say being blind or deaf is a must in being less fortunate than having stretch marks? I think the most unfortunate thing, is not having the confidence to handle flaws. No matter how severe the problem is, it's really up to that person to turn their situation into a depressive handicap. There's burn victims existing that are twice as happy as some of us on this board ever will be.

Now, on a whole other note, if someone has any pictures of someone with a tattoo covering stretch marks on their calf it would be awesome for you to give a link because I've been thinkin' a lot about tattoos lately haha.