Skin Concerns
Stretch Mark Treatment in Brickell, Miami
Stretch marks are scars in the dermis that form when skin stretches faster than its collagen and elastin can adapt: puberty, pregnancy, rapid weight or muscle change. They cannot be erased, but a series of collagen-stimulating treatments can make them narrower, flatter and closer to your skin tone. We plan by color and age of the marks, and by skin tone.
- Session time: 30 minutes
- Downtime: Assessment has no downtime; selected treatment has separate aftercare.
- Sessions typically needed: 1 assessment; treatment count depends on method and response.
$50 deposit, applied to your treatment
- ★ Google 4.9 (218)
- Licensed medical providers
- Medical director oversight
- Consultation before every treatment
The Concern
Understanding stretch marks
What they are. Linear dermal scars (striae) where collagen fibers ruptured and healed in a thinner, aligned pattern. Common on the abdomen, hips, thighs, buttocks, breasts, lower back and upper arms.
Why they appear. Rapid stretching; hormonal influence (pregnancy, puberty, corticosteroid use); genetics; conditions such as Cushing's. Sudden weight change and rapid muscle gain are frequent Brickell triggers; so is pregnancy.
Red vs white.
- Striae rubra (red, pink, purple or reddish-brown depending on skin tone): newer, still vascular and more active; may be slightly raised or itchy; respond more readily, including to vascular-targeting light and to fractional lasers.
- Striae alba (white, silvery or paler than surrounding skin): mature, fibrotic and less vascular; need more sessions and usually combination therapy; improvement is in width, depth and texture more than color.
On deeper skin tones marks may appear dark brown rather than red; PIH risk with heat-based devices is higher, so RF microneedling, microneedling and Pico are favored.
Treatment Options
How we treat it
1. Morpheus8 (RF microneedling) — our most-used option for stretch marks, all tones
- What it does for this concern
- Needles deliver RF heat at depth into the thinned dermis to stimulate collagen and elastin and tighten lax, crepey skin around the marks; body settings allow deeper treatment. Surface pigment is not targeted, which supports use on medium and deeper tones.
- Sessions
- 3–4, spaced 4–6 weeks apart.
- Downtime
- 2–5 days of redness, swelling and grid marks; body areas may stay pink for a week.
- Who it suits
- White or red marks, especially with skin laxity (post-pregnancy abdomen, inner thighs, arms); most skin tones.
2. SpectraionX (1550-type non-ablative fractional) — for red and white marks without open skin
- What it does for this concern
- Dermal heat columns remodel collagen within the scar; studies of 1550-nm fractional lasers show meaningful reduction in stretch-mark severity over a series, including in darker skin with conservative settings. Non-ablative, so there is no peeling wound.
- Sessions
- 3–6, spaced 4 weeks apart.
- Downtime
- 2–5 days of redness and mild swelling.
- Who it suits
- Larger areas (abdomen, thighs), red or white marks, patients avoiding ablative downtime.
3. Microneedling (with or without PRP) — collagen induction, lowest PIH risk
- What it does for this concern
- Fine needles create controlled micro-injuries that stimulate new collagen; PRP may be added to support healing. Research reports at least 50% improvement in many patients over a short series.
- Sessions
- 3–6, every 4–6 weeks.
- Downtime
- 1–3 days of redness.
- Who it suits
- All tones; red or white marks; patients who want a lower-cost series or maintenance after Morpheus8.
4. CO2 fractional / CoolPeel (DEKA Tetra) — for white, textured marks in lighter skin
- What it does for this concern
- Ablative micro-columns resurface the scar and drive strong remodeling; CoolPeel is the lighter, lower-downtime version used for texture. Full fractional CO2 has the strongest evidence for red marks but a higher PIH risk in darker skin.
- Sessions
- CoolPeel 3 at 4–6 weeks; fractional CO2 3–5 at 6–8 weeks.
- Downtime
- CoolPeel 2–5 days; fractional CO2 5–7 days of peeling, pinkness for weeks.
- Who it suits
- Lighter to medium tones, mature white marks with surface texture; not for recent tans or PIH-prone skin.
5. Pico laser (fractional handpiece) — for darker skin tones and discoloration
- What it does for this concern
- Picosecond micro-beams stimulate remodeling with minimal heat; studies of 1064-nm picosecond laser with a fractional array improved white abdominal marks in Fitzpatrick IV–V skin over four sessions with transient side effects. Also helps brown discoloration in marks.
- Sessions
- 4–6, every 4 weeks.
- Downtime
- Minimal; redness for hours.
- Who it suits
- Deeper skin tones; marks with hyperpigmentation; patients needing no downtime.
Supporting care. A prescription retinoid (tretinoin) applied to early marks, when appropriate and prescribed by a licensed provider after consultation (not during pregnancy or breastfeeding), may modestly improve new red marks; hyaluronic acid or centella-based topicals may help early marks. Over-the-counter oils and butters have not shown benefit in studies.
Your Visit
What to expect
- Consultation: mark age and color, area, skin tone, pregnancy status and plans, keloid history, weight trajectory (plans may be timed after weight stabilizes or postpartum clearance).
- Preparation: no tan; skin-prep brighteners on deeper tones for 2–4 weeks; stop retinoids 3–5 days before.
- During: numbing cream for Morpheus8, microneedling and CO2; sessions 30–60 minutes depending on area.
- After: redness, swelling, grid or pinpoint marks for days.
Aftercare
Aftercare basics
Loose clothing over treated areas; gentle cleanser and bland moisturizer; SPF on exposed areas and no sun for 4 weeks; no gym, saunas, pools or beach for 48–72 hours; no exfoliants or retinoids for a week; report blistering or signs of infection.
Results
Results timeline
- First changes (softening, less redness) at 4–8 weeks.
- Most visible improvement 3–6 months after the series as collagen matures.
- Maintenance 1–2 sessions a year if desired.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Pricing: Pricing confirmed at consultation
No. Treatments are designed to make them less visible — narrower, smoother and closer to your skin tone. Many patients see meaningful improvement over a series.
Red (newer) marks generally respond faster. White marks improve too, but usually need more sessions and a combination approach.
Morpheus8 and SpectraionX are our main options for most patients; microneedling/PRP and Pico are favored for deeper skin tones; CO2 for textured white marks in lighter skin. Consultation decides.
Typically 3–6 depending on the device and mark maturity. Individual results vary.
Yes, once cleared by your physician and, for prescriptions, after breastfeeding; many patients start a few months postpartum.
Several options are commonly used (Morpheus8, microneedling, Pico, conservative SpectraionX); ablative CO2 is used cautiously or avoided because of dark-mark risk.
Treated marks do not "return," but new ones can form with future rapid stretching or weight change.
Numbing cream is used; most patients describe warmth and pressure. Body areas are often more comfortable than the face.
Keep Exploring
Related pages
- Skin rejuvenation guide
- Morpheus8
- Laser Skin Resurfacing
- Microneedling
- Cool Peel
- Deka CO2
- Medical Weight Loss
- Loose Skin
- Skin Concerns
- Rosacea
- Pigmentation
- Acne
- Acne Scars & Texture
- Fine Lines & Wrinkles
- Loose Skin
- Enlarged Pores & Oily Skin
- Dark Circles Under the Eyes
- Double Chin
- Dull & Dehydrated Skin
- All Skin Concerns
- Monday – Friday
- 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Saturday
- By appointment only
- Sunday
- Closed