Stretch Marks!!

[new Guy]

Hey guys and gals,

I've been following this board for a while now and finally decided to post... so quick back story if anyone cares... I initially got my stretchmarks about 10 years ago from lifting weights and although they have faded, they still bug the hell out of me, which is why I'm still looking for a cure... I've tried numerous creams, etc... over the years... anyway, long story short, I can totally relate, it sucks, b/c not to toot my own horn, I actually luv my body and eat good and workout pretty much everyday, but I can't really fully enjoy myself b/c of the damn marks, oh well!

So anyway, I'm posting b/c I came across something that seems like it'd have potential... check it out here, http://www.mtrxdsgn.com/wound_healing.php ... apparently this stuff is supposed to be great for wound healing and wrinkle reduction... it's got the basic ingredients you find in other creams to stimulate collagen, but the unique thing it has going for it (which may be more beneficial) is Elastatropin... it's supposed to mimic human Elastin... I've been trying to see if anyone's used this stuff for Stretchmarks and what kind of results they may have had... apparently, it's great for wrinkles... they even have a more potent version you can get that costs almost twice as much you can find here... http://www.dermalastylpro.com/ ....

Anyway, wanted to see if you guys heard of it, it's pricey, but perhaps I'll be the guinea pig for you guys and report back after a month of use lol

[new Guy]

Also, as far as the wound healing aspect of it goes... it kinda reminds me of what you guys want to do with Acell... I wonder if this stuff can work better if you cut/wound your stretchmark, and then apply it... seems dangerous though... I'd probably just try it over the unwounded skin first... I'm anxious to give it a go but don't really want to drop the money just yet.. perhaps in a couple of weeks while I burn through my other creams....

One in particular, Trilastin (non-SR version), has worked decently for me btw, but far from a cure.

[Mai]

hi all,
just an update, had my 6th carboxy therapy treatment a few days ago. There are STILL no results to report. I am fascinated that something which can hurt THAT badly (even after taking perscription pain meds before treatment) can produce no results.
it is all profoundly depressing.
that is all. I wish acell would hurry up. or something. anything.
Tracy - how are your stretch marks 6 months out? Could you tell me the name of your doctor in Maryland?

[Rez]

Mai, don't you get a topical anaesthetic before treatment? How many times do they inject each stretch marks?

[Rez]

By the way, I know from my experience with Fraxel that it takes several months to get a noticeable improvement in the striae. Perhaps it's the same with carboxy? I don't know.

[Kojiro]

Figured this would be a good place to ask... have any of you had success with removing calluses? I have some on my feet that I've been working at for a while. I've keep filing them down with a nail file (not a beauty nail file but one you'd use to file down stainless steel nails), this keeps them flattened but isn't removing them. I'm thinking of following something I read about soaking them in hot water then abrading them. Won't bother getting the stuff I need for a few days so I thought I'd collect some opinions here first.

[Tracy212]

Mai,

I am at exactly 6 months now and I have definitely seen improvement, but not the 80% I was told I could expect. I do believe there has been more improvement in just the last month, maybe a total of about 50%. I suspect when I see the "before" pictures at my doctor's office, it may really be more than 50%, but watching the gradual progress makes it hard to judge. I never took any of my own pictures.

The clinic is called The Aesthetic Surgery Institute. There is an office in Annapolis for consultations and an office in Prince Frederick where the actual laser resides.

I haven't made my follow-up appointment yet. I plan to do that in late June just to give it an extra month. At that point, we were going to discuss next steps. She initially told me she would do complimentary touch-ups on any areas I was not satisfied with, but that would be the whole abdomen, since only a few of the very, very small stretch marks went completely away. I'm not sure what she meant by "satisfied" since she told me best case would be 80% improvement. I guess I am satisfied to some degree, but honestly, if the stretch marks are still there at all, then I don't think I'll ever be completely satisfied.

We'll see how the next month goes and how my next conversation with the doctor goes. I will let you all know the outcome.

Tracy

[Tracy212]

Figured this would be a good place to ask... have any of you had success with removing calluses? I have some on my feet that I've been working at for a while. I've keep filing them down with a nail file (not a beauty nail file but one you'd use to file down stainless steel nails), this keeps them flattened but isn't removing them. I'm thinking of following something I read about soaking them in hot water then abrading them. Won't bother getting the stuff I need for a few days so I thought I'd collect some opinions here first.

I honestly don't know if this would work, but my daughter had a wart on the bottom of her foot. The doctor gave us a prescription for Occlusal wart remover and it dried it right up. I don't think one needs a prescription for it anymore. I think you can get it over the counter now.

I just did a Google search on Occlusal and it says it works on calluses.

Good Luck!
Tracy

[Kojiro]

Yea wart removes are generally just strong salicylic acid. I've got a couple calluses, the total area is a lot bigger than a wart so that would be fairly expensive to go that route.

[Guest]

Hi Tracy

Are you having carboxy treatments? Please tell us more... are there any optimum settings e.g temeperature, density of treatment?

Mai,

I am at exactly 6 months now and I have definitely seen improvement, but not the 80% I was told I could expect. I do believe there has been more improvement in just the last month, maybe a total of about 50%. I suspect when I see the "before" pictures at my doctor's office, it may really be more than 50%, but watching the gradual progress makes it hard to judge. I never took any of my own pictures.

The clinic is called The Aesthetic Surgery Institute. There is an office in Annapolis for consultations and an office in Prince Frederick where the actual laser resides.

I haven't made my follow-up appointment yet. I plan to do that in late June just to give it an extra month. At that point, we were going to discuss next steps. She initially told me she would do complimentary touch-ups on any areas I was not satisfied with, but that would be the whole abdomen, since only a few of the very, very small stretch marks went completely away. I'm not sure what she meant by "satisfied" since she told me best case would be 80% improvement. I guess I am satisfied to some degree, but honestly, if the stretch marks are still there at all, then I don't think I'll ever be completely satisfied.

We'll see how the next month goes and how my next conversation with the doctor goes. I will let you all know the outcome.

Tracy

[Guest]

For those of you using a dermaroller...here is a thread....

http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=22460&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=875

Most of the people are using this for their face but around page 10 and 33 (i think) some mention use on stretch marks.

[daisypopp]

Hey all, thanks for the reply to my last posts, sorry I haven't checked back in a while. I know this is a thread for stretch marks but I thought it may be a useful place to ask seeing as it's a relatively trustworthy source for this kind of advice but, I'm 18 and I've just noticed what appears to be my first piece of cellulite. I really, REALLY want to nip this in the bud to prevent it becoming another huge issue like my stretch marks. Does anyone know anything about it? Is it preventable? Sorry for going off topic

[Tracy212]

Someone asked, "Hi Tracy
Are you having carboxy treatments? Please tell us more... are there any optimum settings e.g temeperature, density of treatment?"



I had an Active FX treatment last November. I have no idea which settings were used.

Tracy

[Guest]

So Tracy212, would you recommend the active fx? you said that it has helped at least 50%. In what way? shrinkage and a lighter color? Would you say the texture of your skin is better? Did it tighten your skin at all?

Hope I'm not too big of a pest!
Thanks for your help

Shoo

[Mai]

hi again.
in answer to the questions. topical anesthetics generally do not work for carboxy because they are injecting under the skin and they dont penetrate that deeply. i have however in desperation tried emla along with taking pain killers and found it no help whatsoever.
according to guidelines each stretchmark needs only to be injected once, as long as you see it bubble its fine. however, again, just to make sure i have had them inject some marks as many as 3 times, this hasnt helped either.
as for it taking 6 months to work. I thought about that too. I actually asked about on this board - anyone who knew about skin. If laser takes 6 months then why shouldnt carboxy? the only problem is that all the literature i've read on it, (not that there is much) says that there are always visible results after two treatments. this is a lie, the doctor i am using says that she has never seen results after two treatments. (there is some medi-spa in new york whose doctor has 50% improviement after two treatments SUCH LIES). she says it takes a long time, however, at this point i am curious if she EVER sees any improvements using carboxy and is just telling me it takes a while to get me to continue to pay for treatment. i am young, the stretchmarks while very severe are less than 10 years old. i dont smoke. i eat well. i excercise. i take good care of my skin, if its going to work on anyone, it should work on me and it definitely has not been.
kojiro - i know you are a guy but what about pedicures? the ones where they use that kind of razor and just shave the callouses off? that has always worked for me, not that i have bad ones but they do peel a lot of skin off.
Tracy - thanks so much for the info. does the doctor you use now offer deep fx? I am curious if you get more treatments if it will continue to work. its also really dissapointing that you have not seen the promised results. i am so desperate for something that works. however, when i was last home i did speak to 3 doctors offering active fx and they all said it didnt work for stretch marks. i think the first person who posted about it was a complete scammer especially because she said they went away in two weeks. i am glad that it worked for you though, 50% is nice and i really hope that if it doesnt continue to work you can get another treatment that will double that 50.