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Skin concern · Texture & Scarring
Stretch Marks
Stretch marks are red, purple or silvery streaks that appear where skin has stretched quickly, often on the tummy, hips, thighs or arms. Energy and microneedling-based treatments may help soften their texture and colour; the right plan depends on a free in-person assessment at Skinholic in Surrey or Aldergrove.
Stretch marks are the red, purple or silvery streaks that can appear across the tummy, hips, thighs, breasts or upper arms after skin has stretched quickly during a growth spurt, pregnancy or a change in weight. Plenty of people live happily with them; others find themselves turning away from the mirror or holding a towel a little higher than they used to, and simply want the lines to be less obvious.
This page treats stretch marks as a cosmetic appearance concern rather than a medical one. Skinholic Aesthetics & Laser assesses them in person at a free consultation at either its Surrey clinic or its Aldergrove clinic in Langley Township before recommending anything, so any plan you receive is built around your skin, the areas that bother you and what a realistic improvement looks like for you.
Why do stretch marks feel so hard to fade on your own?
Maybe they arrived during a teenage growth spurt, maybe with a pregnancy, maybe after your weight moved faster than your skin could follow. However they got there, you've likely watched them change: streaks that began red or purple have settled into paler lines with a faintly sunken feel, and they still catch your eye every time you pull on a pair of shorts. You might have rubbed in bottle after bottle of oil that promised fading and delivered a pleasant scent and not much else, or quietly chosen the one-piece over the two-piece for a Fraser Valley lake day.
It helps to know why home care struggles here. Stretch marks sit deeper than most surface products reach, in skin that stretched faster than it could keep up. That is also why every set of marks behaves a little differently: your skin tone, how long the marks have been there and the way your skin naturally rebuilds all shape what is realistic. What faded nicely for a friend or a sister may not be the right fit for you.
At Skinholic, nobody suggests a plan from a photo or a phone call. A practitioner looks at the marks in person, asks about your history, your goals and your timing, and only then recommends a personalized approach. Cosmetic treatments aim to make stretch marks less noticeable over a series of sessions and steady care, not to make them vanish overnight, and we would rather say that up front.
What do stretch marks typically look like?
Stretch marks show up a little differently on everyone. The descriptions below are common cosmetic appearances that clients describe to us, not a checklist for self-diagnosis; a practitioner confirms what you are seeing at your free consultation.
- Newer marks that often appear red, pink or purple and may feel slightly different in texture from the surrounding skin at first
- Older marks that have faded to silvery, white or pale lines with a faint indented or crinkled texture
- Streaks that run in parallel bands across the tummy, hips, thighs, lower back, breasts or upper arms
- A slightly glossy sheen on long-settled marks where the skin has thinned
- A texture you can feel with a fingertip even once the colour has faded
- Marks that widen or lengthen while the skin over the area is still stretching, then stop changing once it settles
- On deeper skin tones, marks that may appear darker than the surrounding skin rather than lighter
See a physician first. If you notice a mole or spot that is changing, bleeding or new; persistent inflammation, pain or swelling around the marks; or anything that concerns you medically, see your family doctor or a dermatologist first. If anything looks atypical during your assessment, Skinholic will refer you rather than treat.
What might contribute to stretch marks?
Stretch marks tend to form when skin is asked to stretch faster than it can comfortably adapt. The mix of contributors is different for everyone, but these are the ones most often associated with them.
- Rapid growth during adolescence, when height and body shape can change over a short period
- Pregnancy, as the skin over the tummy, hips and breasts expands over several months
- Noticeable weight gain or loss, or quick muscle gain from training, which can stretch skin on the arms, thighs and shoulders
- Genetics and family tendency, which can influence how elastic your skin is and how readily it marks
- Hormonal shifts, which are often associated with changes in how the skin stretches and recovers
- Naturally drier or less elastic skin, which has less give when it is asked to stretch quickly
- Sun exposure on newer marks, which can darken them and strengthen the contrast with the surrounding skin
A Skinholic practitioner reviews these factors with you at the consultation because the combination is different for everyone, and it shapes which options make sense. Day to day, a broad-spectrum sunscreen on exposed areas is a simple habit that supports whatever plan you choose; see Why Mineral Sunscreen Belongs in Your Skincare Routine for a primer.
Treatments that may help
Which Skinholic treatments may help with stretch marks?
The treatments below are listed from the gentler, lower-downtime option to the more intensive ones. The order is a guide to intensity rather than a recommendation: depending on your marks and the skin around them, a practitioner may begin anywhere on the list or pair two approaches over time. A free in-person assessment decides which of these is right for you.
Non-Invasive Structural Skin TighteningEnergy-based tightening on radiofrequency platforms designed for mild-to-moderate skin laxity on the face, neck and body. Stretch marks often sit on skin that has also loosened after pregnancy or weight change, and firming the surrounding area may help the whole region look smoother so the marks read as less prominent. A practitioner may suggest it when laxity is part of what bothers you, not for the marks alone.Recommended starting point
Microneedling w/ ExosomesCollagen-induction microneedling, including a radiofrequency option, paired with exosome serums that support the skin between sessions. Because the indented feel of a stretch mark comes from lost support beneath it, encouraging your skin to rebuild that support may help the marks look shallower and blend more evenly. A practitioner may suggest it where texture is the main concern, or alongside Stretch Mark Reduction over a series.Stretch Mark ReductionStretch Mark Reduction uses energy-based and microneedling-based approaches designed to improve the texture and colour of stretch marks on the body. It is the most direct match for this concern, built to address both the indented feel and the red, purple or silvery tone of the marks. A practitioner may suggest it when the marks themselves, rather than the skin around them, are what you most want to change.Not sure which option fits?
A free in-person assessment is where every plan starts.
Some clients combine approaches over time, and your practitioner decides the order and spacing based on how your skin responds rather than on a set package. For the full treatment menu, see the treatment menu.
Free consultation • Surrey & Aldergrove
What can you expect when you come in for stretch marks?
Everything starts with a free consultation at our Surrey clinic on 120 Street or our Aldergrove clinic on Aldergrove Town Centre Drive in Langley Township. A practitioner looks at your stretch marks in person, noting their colour, how long they have been there, the areas involved and your skin tone, and asks about your history and what you are hoping to change. Because change on the body is gradual and easy to miss day to day, baseline photos may be taken with your consent so you can compare properly later on.
Your plan is personalized. Depending on your skin, the areas and your goals, the practitioner may recommend one treatment, a sequence or a longer-term maintenance rhythm. Most cosmetic treatments work over a series of sessions with time between them for the skin to respond, and results tend to build gradually rather than appear after a single visit. Prep and aftercare are explained for whatever is chosen.
Where appropriate, a patch test or a gentler first step may be suggested, particularly for energy-based options or sensitive skin. Downtime varies: some options involve little to none, others may bring temporary redness, warmth or light flaking for a few days, and all of this is discussed before you decide. First visit? See first-visit guide for how to prepare, and browse results gallery for examples of what clients have seen, keeping in mind that individual results vary.
Is a consultation the right next step for you?
The free consultation is the decision tool, and it is offered in person at both the Surrey and Aldergrove clinics. A practitioner assesses your stretch marks, talks through your history, goals, lifestyle and timing, and walks you through the treatments that may suit you and how they might be sequenced. You can ask anything, and there is no obligation to go ahead on the day.
A brief medical note: changing moles, unexplained lesions, persistent inflammation or pain, or any medical question should go to your family doctor or a dermatologist first, and if anything looks atypical when we see you, we point you to a physician rather than go ahead.
Costs depend on the treatment, the treatment area, the number of sessions, customization, practitioner assessment and your individual goals, and they are confirmed at your free consultation rather than quoted online; see financing options for payment options. When you are ready, use the Start Your Skinholic Journey link to book at book a free consultation, or reach us through contact us if you would rather ask a question first.
What to bring or think about before your visit
- Creams, oils or body products you currently use on the area
- Any previous treatments on the marks and how your skin responded
- Which marks bother you most and where they are
- Medications or health conditions to mention so the practitioner can advise or refer
- Roughly when the marks appeared and how their colour has shifted since
Good to know
Frequently asked questions about stretch marks.
Stretch marks are a form of scarring, so the goal is to make them less noticeable, not remove them. Energy and microneedling-based treatments may help soften their texture and fade their colour over a series of sessions; newer red or purple marks often respond more readily than older silvery ones. Your in-person assessment sets realistic expectations; see our article “Scar relaxation or stretch mark reduction?” for how this differs from scar treatment.
The most direct option is Stretch Mark Reduction, which uses energy and microneedling-based approaches designed for the texture and colour of the marks. Microneedling w/ Exosomes may be suggested where texture is the main concern, and Non-Invasive Structural Skin Tightening may be added when the surrounding skin has loosened. The right combination depends on your assessment; see Stretch Mark Reduction for the treatment itself.
It may be, with the right approach. Settings and the choice between options are matched to your skin tone, and on deeper complexions the practitioner is especially careful with anything that could darken or lighten the treated area. That is why suitability is decided face to face at our Surrey or Aldergrove clinic, and plans often start conservatively.
There is no fixed number, and anyone who quotes one before seeing your skin is guessing. The count depends on the size of the area, the age of the marks, the treatment chosen and how your skin responds between visits. The practitioner maps out a realistic series at the free consultation and adjusts it as your marks respond.
It varies by treatment. Some options involve little to no downtime, while microneedling and energy-based sessions can leave the area flushed and a little tender, much like mild sunburn, for a short time. Loose clothing and simple aftercare usually cover it, and what to expect for your specific plan is discussed at the consultation before you decide.
Timing matters, and it is one of the first things we discuss. Treatment is generally not carried out during pregnancy, and after birth or while breastfeeding the practitioner talks through when it may be appropriate to begin, since the skin over the tummy is still settling. Any medical question about your recovery goes to your physician first; there is no rush to start.
Please see your family doctor or a dermatologist first. Stretch marks are a cosmetic concern and Skinholic does not diagnose skin conditions, so a mark that is changing shape or colour, bleeding, persistently inflamed or painful should be checked medically before cosmetic treatment is considered. Once a physician has given you the all-clear, a free consultation may still be a sensible next step.
We do not publish figures online because costs depend on the treatment, the treatment area, the number of sessions, customization, practitioner assessment and your individual goals, and they are confirmed at your free consultation. Your visit to our Surrey or Aldergrove clinic ends with a personalized estimate, and payment options are outlined at our financing page.
Ready when you are
Ready to talk through your stretch marks with a practitioner who will look before advising?
Free consultation, in person, personalized plan, no obligation, at either clinic.
Start Your Skinholic Journey
First visit? See what to expect on our new-client page.