When skin is damaged by stretching until elasticity is lost, the dermis, the middle layer of the skin, tears a tiny bit, resulting in a red line under the thin and almost transparent epidermis. These lines are stretch marks. Though most common in those that have undergone an increase in weight, those that lift a lot of weights, or women in the latest months of pregnancy, a surprising number of people have these marks. Because they tend to look very unpleasant, there is much effort to prevent them from ever appearing. More methods have been invented to remove stretch marks because prevention is not always possible.
Many people try creams and ointments to reduce the visibility of stretch marks or even try to get rid of them altogether. The various methods available do not work for everyone, and different factors play a part in how these marks will react to different creams and ointments. Age, age of the stretch marks, and even genetics are believed to have direct effects on how a person gains and loses stretch marks.
The absolute last resort that should be contemplated for stretch mark removal is some type of surgical removal. The good and the bad should be weighed out very carefully, because this is a very sober decision to make, and every type of surgical procedure should be thought through with precision. All surgeries have good sides and bad sides to recommend them or make them a very bad idea.
Surgery has some very positive points, such as nearly instant removal of unsightly stretch marks and virtually perfect healing of the area. Stretch marks should not become a real issue in the area again as long as the skin is not damaged again. Care should be used on a site that has been worked on, however, because it is not recommended to surgically try removal in the same area twice.
The not so positive side of surgery normally does not surface until the paperwork is being filled out, such as possible damage caused by the surgery, or even the possibility that a complication may become life-threatening during or after surgery. It is also possible that a surgeon may not be as up to date or even as knowledgeable as they should be to handle this type of surgery.
Always ask a surgeon for proof of their previous work and their qualifications, checking up on them to make sure they are not bogus, just to be on the safe side. Surgery is a big step, and you should talk over the option fully with a physician before seriously contemplating having it done. The best common sense to avoid any type of surgery whatsoever is to keep your skin as healthy as possible, and to prevent most of the causes for stretch marks, if reasonable.
Find out more about stretch mark cream reviews at this website about stretch mark creams.