Stretch Marks
Stretch marks form when skin stretches or shrinks faster than its collagen and elastin can keep up, causing those fibers to rupture beneath the surface. They vary in appearance depending on how long you've had them, what caused them, and where they are on your body.
Book a Free ConsultationA relaxed, no-pressure skin assessment — there's no obligation to book treatment that day.
Understanding the cause
Rapid Stretching
Quick changes in size — from growth, pregnancy, or weight change — stretch the skin faster than collagen and elastin can adapt.
Fibers Rupture Beneath the Surface
That rapid stretch causes the supportive fibers under the skin to tear, which is what creates the visible line.
Newer Marks Respond Differently Than Older Ones
Fresh, reddish-purple stretch marks are generally more responsive to treatment than older, silvery-white ones.
Facts about Stretch Marks
They're Not Just From Weight Gain
Growth spurts, pregnancy, and rapid muscle gain can all cause stretch marks independent of body weight.
Newer Marks Respond Better
Fresh, still-pigmented stretch marks generally show more improvement than long-established, faded ones.
Creams Alone Have Limited Effect
Topical products can support skin quality, but they don't rebuild the ruptured fibers beneath the surface the way in-clinic treatment can.
Improvement Is Realistic, Not Full Removal
Confirm with clinicians — treatment can meaningfully soften texture and color, but complete disappearance varies by mark age and depth.
Both rebuild collagen beneath the surface — one through controlled micro-injury, the other through radiofrequency heating.
Thermage®
Radiofrequency heating that supports skin's structural rebound around treated areas.
Virtue RF Microneedling
Combines microneedling with radiofrequency to rebuild collagen in the ruptured fibers beneath stretch marks.
Top questions about stretch marks
Can old, silvery stretch marks still be treated?
Confirm with clinicians — older marks generally respond more slowly, but can still see meaningful improvement in texture.
How many sessions will I need?
Confirm typical course with clinicians — depends on the number, age, and depth of your stretch marks.
Does this work on the body or just certain areas?
Confirm with clinicians — treatment is generally suited to common areas like the abdomen, thighs, and hips.
Is there downtime?
Confirm with your practitioner — RF microneedling generally involves some short-term redness; Thermage typically has none.
Let's talk about your stretch marks.
Book a free consultation to find the right approach for your skin.
A relaxed, no-pressure skin assessment — there's no obligation to book treatment that day.
Book a Free ConsultationStretch mark treatment in Vancouver focuses on rebuilding the collagen and elastin fibers that ruptured beneath the skin during rapid stretching — not just fading the surface color. At Kerrisdale Skin Medical, Virtue RF Microneedling combines controlled micro-injury with radiofrequency to remodel that structure, while Thermage supports overall skin firmness around treated areas. Because newer marks generally respond better than older ones, timing matters, and the goal is realistic textural improvement rather than complete removal.
