How to remove stretch marks on the stomach after childbirth: folk, pharmacy and laser resurfacing. Photos and results
Most women after childbirth have stretch marks on their stomachs that do not look aesthetically pleasing. There are many ways to remove them, from advanced cosmetology technologies to folk recipes.
The use of quality products in the form of creams allows you to reduce or completely remove the appeared stretch marks. An effective product must necessarily include elastin and collagen – substances that increase skin elasticity, as well as vitamins and fatty acids – for its nutrition and hydration.
When choosing a cream, you need to pay attention to the following factors:
On the tube it should be indicated that the cream can be used during the period of feeding the baby;
Creams without dyes and fragrances are safe – chemical additives can trigger the development of an allergy in a child.
If the cream is sold as “hypoallergenic”, but its use causes discomfort to the mother or baby, immediately replace the cosmetic product.
It is forbidden to apply cream on the area of the scar remaining after cesarean section until the moment of complete healing.
Cream “Mama Comfort”
You can remove stretch marks after giving birth on the stomach with a cream created specifically for this purpose. Under the brand name “Mama Comfort”, hypoallergenic cosmetic products for pregnant women who have recently given birth and lactating women are produced.
The cream includes:
horse chestnut;
hyaluronic acid;
vegetable oils;
complex of active substances for skin restoration. (The manufacturer does not disclose the formula).
How does the cream work:
Prevents the appearance of stretch marks if you apply the cream during pregnancy.
Removes scars that have occurred on the skin after childbirth.
Stimulates the metabolism in the skin.
The cream should be applied to the skin twice a day. The movements should be soft, massaging. The course of use is 2-3 months. The cost of the product is from $ 2,72.
In the reviews about the cream, the following trend prevails: the tool helps those women who started using it immediately after childbirth and combined the cream with other methods of dealing with stretch marks.
Ineffective cream may be for women with a genetic predisposition to stretch marks, overweight.
Some pregnant women report that it is difficult to tolerate the smell of the product.
Cream “9 months”
The brand name emphasizes that it is advisable to apply the cream not only to eliminate defects that have already appeared, but to start using it during pregnancy to prevent the appearance of stretch marks. The cream is positioned as hypoallergenic and completely safe for use when breastfeeding.
The cream includes:
elastin;
dimethicone – an analogue of silicone;
soy hydrolyzate;
shea butter;
wheat germ oil;
echinacea;
grapefruit oil.
The action of the cream “9 months”:
Prevention of the formation of stretch marks.
Elimination of defects.
Increased skin firmness and strength.
Antioxidant effect.
Increased blood circulation in the skin.
The cream is applied to the skin with smooth massaging movements twice a day. The course of application is 2-3 months. The cost of a tube in pharmacies is $ 4 – $ 5.
Reviews of women about the cosmetic product note the excellent moisturizing properties of the cream.
Many people notice that this substance does not leave traces in case of accidental contact with clothing.
Reviews about the action of the cream against stretch marks are contradictory: some say that the tool helped to completely solve the problem, others say that they spent money in vain.
The cream does not help remove old stretch marks from past pregnancies – its use is advisable only during the expectation of the baby and recovery after childbirth.
Mustella Cream
One of the most expensive drugs in this niche. The cost of the tube starts from $ 14. The product is advertised as a double-action cream, which heals the resulting stretch marks and prevents the appearance of new scars.
The composition of Mustella cream includes:
Elastoregulator.
Lupeol extract.
Arabinogalactan.
Shea butter.
Japanese sophora.
Peptides avocados.
Seaweed.
The complex of trace elements.
Cream action:
Enhances the synthesis of elastin and collagen.
Stimulates the regeneration of the skin.
Saturates the skin with trace elements and vitamins.
Relieves irritation and eliminates itching.
Moisturizes and nourishes the epidermis.
The product must be applied to a clean body with massage movements 2 times a day. It is advisable to accompany the application of the cream with massage movements. The course of application should last at least 3 months. The manufacturer recommends applying the cream not only on stretch marks, but also on the entire abdomen to enhance the effect.
Reviews of women about the cream show that the tool does not justify its high cost. As in the case of budget creams, the effect of the application is individual: some women were able to avoid stretch marks, others still appeared, despite the use of an expensive remedy.
Cream “Pregnacare”
Another cream for stretch marks on the abdomen, designed specifically for pregnant and recently given birth women.
The composition of Pregnacare cream contains mainly herbal ingredients:
Dexanthenol.
Allantonin.
Glycine.
Primrose extract.
Marigold extract.
Aloe Vera Extract
Lemon Oil
Vitamins E and C.
Action cream “Pregnacare”:
Stimulates the synthesis of collagen and elastin.
Prevents the formation of stretch marks.
Eliminates skin defects.
Relieves irritation and itching.
Saturates the epidermis with vitamins.
The cream is applied with massage movements to clean skin. Use the product twice a day. The duration of the treatment course is 2-3 months. The cost of a tube in a pharmacy starts at $ 6,8.
According to the manufacturer, the cream has helped thousands of women get rid of stretch marks. Reviews of customers about the cosmetic product are mostly positive , but there are those to whom this cream did not help.
Many note too thick the consistency of the product, the cream is absorbed into the skin for a long time and is difficult to wash off clothes.
This cosmetic anti-stretch mark is popular in Europe. The cost of a tube in USA starts from $ 6,8.
The composition of the treatment cream “Avent”:
Seaweed.
Papaya Oil
Shea butter.
Almond oil.
Lemon essential oil.
Grapefruit essential oil.
The action of the cream “Avent”:
Prevention of the appearance of stretch marks.
Elimination of defects.
Strengthening the elasticity of the skin.
Removal of irritation and itching.
Apply the product within 2-3 months after birth. To get the best effect, repeat the procedure twice a day. The cream is applied only to a clean body.
About cream from stretch marks “Avent” there are more positive reviews than negative ones, but there are women whom he did not help. The manufacturer emphasizes the importance of regular use of the product – to see the effect, you need to apply the cream twice a day, not forgetting about this procedure.
Cream “Vichy”
The cosmetic product helps to remove existing stretch marks and prevents the appearance of new ones. The cream is universal, it can be applied not only to the stomach, but also to other parts of the body. The cost of the tube starts at $ 20.
The composition of the healing cream “Vichy”:
Thermal water.
Hydroxyproline.
Glycerol.
Bassia oil.
Vitamin E.
The action of the cream “Vichy”:
Prevents the formation of stretch marks.
Eliminates arising defects.
Accelerates skin regeneration processes.
Apply the cream only on a clean body. The cosmetic product should be distributed over the stomach, performing a massage of problem areas of the skin. Repeat the procedure 2 times a day. The course of application should last at least 2 months.
According to customer reviews, the cream does not justify its price.
Reviews of women about the cosmetic product are mostly positive, but the use of the cream was not effective for all customers. Women believe that products with a lower cost have the same effectiveness than a product from a well-known brand.
Exercise to remove stretch marks
How to remove stretch marks after childbirth on the stomach: dermatologists claim that physical exercise alone does not help remove stretch marks. But with regular exercise, blood circulation in the skin increases. Thanks to this process, the use of creams for stretch marks and folk remedies becomes more effective.
To exercise had an effect, you need to do at least 3 times a week. You can perform any exercises in which the muscles of the press are involved. For example, one of the possible complexes is presented.
It is designed to restore the female figure after childbirth, so the exercises involve not only the abdominal muscles, but also the muscles of the back and buttocks. However, the main goal of the training is to strengthen the abdominal muscles.
The complex is designed for women with average physical fitness.
If the exercises are difficult to perform, the number of sets and reps can be reduced. Conversely, if the complex seems simple, and muscle fatigue does not occur, the number of repetitions and approaches needs to be increased.
Letter “V”
Lie on the floor, stretch your arms behind your head. Before each approach, you need to stretch your arms and legs in different directions, to feel the tension in the muscles of the back.
Raise straight legs and straight arms so that the body resembles the letter “V”. With the body raised, the back should remain straight.
If the exercise is performed correctly, tension is felt in the abdominal muscles. You need to do 3 sets of 10 climbs.
“Swimmer”
Lie on the floor on your stomach. Before each approach, you need to stretch your arms and legs in different directions.
Then simultaneously raise the chest and hips from the floor, keep the position for 5 seconds and lie down on the stomach again.
Perform 2 sets of 10 climbs.
Leg raises
Starting position – lying on your back. Hands lie parallel to the body. The palms are directed down and touch the floor.
It is necessary to raise the legs so that the angle between the legs and the floor is 90 degrees.
The legs should be straight at the knees, if uncomfortable, you can raise slightly bent legs.
Hold for 5 seconds and lower your legs to the floor. Do 3 sets of 15 climbs.
Lunges with cargo
This exercise is performed while standing, with a load in each hand. As a load, you can use dumbbells weighing 4 -7 pounds or bottles of water with a volume of 0,4 gallon.
Step forward with one foot and lower the knee of the other foot to the floor.
The correct lunge technique: the tibia of the hind leg is parallel to the floor, the tibia of the anterior leg forms an angle of 90 degrees with the floor. The heel of the front leg does not come off the floor, the front knee is located strictly above the foot.
Do 3 times with 12 repetitions for each leg.
“Cyclist”
Starting position – lying on the floor. The palms should be under the head, and the elbows laid aside. The legs are raised at an angle, the knees come off the floor.
The head needs to be raised without taking its palms from the back of the head and without changing the position of the elbows.
It is necessary to bend the right knee at the same time and reach for it with the left elbow, and then repeat the same movement with the left knee and the right elbow. Two symmetrical movements count in one repetition.
Perform the exercise 3 times in 10 repetitions. Lowering the legs and chest to the floor is only possib
le during rest between sets.
The exercise must be performed on the floor or on the rug, if a person is lying on a soft sofa, it will not be effective.
Push ups
Hands must rest against any low surface – a bench, armchair or sofa.
The correct technique for performing the exercise provides for rigid support, but you can use the furniture that is in the house.
Hands should be straight, legs laid back, back straight. The body forms an acute angle with the floor surface.
Abdominal muscles should be tightened to enhance the effect of doing push-ups.
Hands should be bent and touched by the chest support. Repeat 3 sets of 12 push ups.
“Scissors”
Exercise is performed from a supine position. Hands should lie parallel to the body. Feet should be raised so that the knees are no lower than 11’8 inch above the floor.
It is necessary to cross the left and right tibia so that at first there is one leg on top, and then vice versa. Two symmetrical movements count in one repetition.
Lowering your knees to the floor is only possible between breaks. “Scissors” should be performed 3 times in 12 repetitions.
Folk recipes
How to remove stretch marks after giving birth on the stomach – women faced this problem back in Soviet times, when cosmetology technologies were not so perfect, and it was impossible to buy imported creams in pharmacies.
In those years, the main means of dealing with stretch marks were folk recipes:
Apply cream should be 2 times a day.
Home scrubs are applied after an evening shower 2-3 times a week.
Wraps should be carried out no more than 1 time in 3 days.
The duration of the treatment course should be at least 3 months.
Unlike factory-made products, home cosmetics are stored for 2-3 days, then its use becomes ineffective, since the substances lose their beneficial properties.
Reviews of women about folk recipes are as contradictory as about professional means. Some women are sure that folk remedies can completely replace pharmaceutical creams, others claim that they have not achieved any effect.
Butter cream
Prepare a healing cream in the following proportion: per 1 tablespoon almond oil 7 drops of rosemary essential oil. This cream is recommended to be rubbed only in the area of stretch marks, without affecting the remaining skin of the abdomen.
Oil wrap
The basis of the mixture is almond oil. For one procedure, approximately 1,35 fluid ounce is needed.
Before applying the mixture, usd the body with a massage brush.
Apply a mixture of oils to problem areas.
Wrap the belly with polyethylene for 25 minutes.
It is advisable to cover yourself with a warm blanket for the duration of the procedure and sit still.
After 25 minutes, remove the film and rinse the oils with warm water, and then switch the shower to cold water for 2 minutes.
Wipe the stomach and again massage the problem areas.
Apply any cream against stretch marks.
Mud wrap
According to women, sea mud is best for stretch marks.
For one wrapping procedure, approximately 350 g of substance is required.
Microwave the healing mud mixture.
Apply dirt to problem areas.
Fix the treatment mixture to the body with a cellophane film.
The duration of the procedure is 25 minutes.
To enhance the effect during wrapping, you should sit still, hiding in a blanket.
Remove film and dirt, take a warm shower.
While taking a shower, massage the problem areas.
Wipe the stomach and apply any cream from stretch marks. Both a pharmacy and a home-made cream are suitable.
Coffee scrubbing
Measure out 100 g of natural ground coffee, a cheap soluble analogue for preparing a scrub will not work.
Pour coffee with boiling water, cool to room temperature.
Add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and mix.
Drain the water, leaving only coffee grounds, which must be mixed with sour cream in equal proportions. The scrub is ready to use.
The fat and brand of sour cream does not play a big role, but you should not take the cheapest non-natural product.
Salt and sweet scrubbing
Mix in equal proportions salt and sugar;
Moisten the mixture with any base oil. The scrub is ready for application.
Cream with rice and avocado
Finely grind half the avocado.
Pour on top 1 tablespoon: rice flour, ground coffee, almond oil.
Mix all components thoroughly.
Properly prepared cream in consistency resembles sour cream.
Apply to skin for 25 minutes, then rinse.
Wipe the stomach and massage the problem areas for 10 minutes.
Cream with mummy
In this way, you can enrich any purchased cream for stretch marks or body cream.
Dissolve 2 tablets of mummy in 1 teaspoon of boiling water.
Add the mixture to the selected cream.
To stir thoroughly.
Regardless of the expiration date indicated by the manufacturer, a cream with mummy can be used no more than 6 months.
Stretch Mark Oils
How to remove stretch marks after childbirth on the stomach: the composition of many pharmacy creams and folk recipes includes vegetable and essential oils. Natural oils can be used to combat stretch marks both in pure form and in a mixture with each other. The application is the same as for creams: apply the product twice a day on clean skin for 2-3 months.
Oil “Weleda”
“Weleda” is one of the most popular products for the fight against stretch marks. Under this brand, there are also oils for pregnant women , and oil for women who have given birth, and other cosmetic products for body care.
Cosmetic products “Weleda” is a mixture of natural vegetable oils without the addition of artificially synthesized substances. Regular use of the oil mixture contributes to the disappearance of stretch marks.
The composition of the oil “Weleda”:
Base oils alm
onds and jojoba.
Oil from germinated wheat grains.
Essential oils of orange, lavender, sandalwood, frankincense, myrrh, roses.
Reviews of many women about Weleda cosmetics claim that shoppers were able to avoid stretch marks. The price of cosmetics is quite high – from $ 14 per bottle.
Many customers say that they used the same Weleda product both before and after the birth of the baby, and got the result without buying two different oils. Some women claim that the remedy did not fit them, as there was an allergy to one of the components.
Bio-Oil Oil
This cosmetic product is a natural oil mixture to combat skin defects. According to the manufacturer, the product is able to remove not only stretch marks on the stomach, but also old scars, acne, foci of dryness and peeling, as well as make age wrinkles less pronounced.
The composition of Bio-Oil cosmetics includes oils:
Calendula
Lavender
Daisies
Rosemary.
The oil mixture is enriched with a vitamin complex. The cost of a bottle in pharmacies starts at $ 4,08. Buyers claim that advertising the drug is not true, this remedy does not help against all skin defects.
A sufficiently large number of women who tried this oil could not solve the problem with stretch marks. However, many customers noted that the product is perfect for them as a moisturizing body oil.
Coconut oil
Natural coconut oil contains a complex of vitamins, phosphorus, calcium and other trace elements. You can mix it with any natural essential oils, for example, add 5 drops of rose and jasmine essential oils.
Regular use of coconut oil causes the following effect:
Stimulates the synthesis of elastin.
It makes the skin smooth and supple.
Slows down the aging process of cells.
To achieve the best result, you should buy solid coconut oil and melt it at home in a water bath. 3,38 fluid ounce of melted butter should be rubbed into problem areas of the skin with massage movements. The duration of the procedure should be at least 10-15 minutes.
Women’s reviews of coconut oil confirm its healing properties. For most customers, it helped get rid of stretch marks or prevent their appearance. The cost of natural coconut oil starts at $ 6,8.
Almond oil
The use of natural almond oil contributes to the rapid disappearance of stretch marks. This is confirmed by the reviews of many women who used pure almond oil or cream based on it after childbirth. Almond oil contains unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and trace elements. The cost of a bottle in a pharmacy starts from $ 2,72.
Almond oil action:
Stimulates collagen synthesis
Restores elasticity to the skin of the abdomen
Eliminates stretch marks and foci of inflammation
It activates the metabolism in the skin.
For one massage session, 3,38 fluid ounce of oil is needed. You can add 3 drops of essential oils of geranium and lemon to it. The duration of the self-massage session is at least 10 minutes.
Jojoba oil
The composition of jojoba oil largely coincides with the composition of subcutaneous fat, so when applied to the skin it is easily absorbed. It is necessary to apply the product on clean skin, one session per day is enough. You can continue the course until you get the result.
The cost of a bottle in a pharmacy starts from $ 2,72. Most customers are satisfied with this cosmetic product. Women note that jojoba oil helps not only get rid of stretch marks, but also reduce the severity of old scars, bruises under the eyes and other skin defects.
In addition to these, it moisturizes and smoothes the skin, and also contributes to the disappearance of stretch marks olive oil , which can be used in masks and body wraps.
How to remove stretch marks after childbirth on the stomach: only surgical intervention gives a guarantee of their complete disappearance. Laser resurfacing of the skin does not completely remove stretch marks, but reduces their area and gives them the color of healthy skin. Laser exposure destroys scar fibers and stimulates collagen synthesis in the skin.
Immediately after laser resurfacing, the stomach becomes red, and then gradually turns pale. When redness passes, stretch marks become invisible. In place of stretch marks, crusts appear, which then fall off on their own. It is strictly forbidden to exfoliate them, this disrupts the natural healing process of the epidermis.
Many women after the procedure claim that there are no stretch marks left, although in fact the scars simply became invisible. The cost of laser resurfacing depends on the area of the affected skin. Processing the entire abdomen will cost about $ 163. If the lesion area is large, processing can take place in several sessions.
After the procedure, you can not swim and sunbathe for 3 weeks. Only a warm shower lasting no more than 5 minutes is allowed. Within 3 weeks, it is necessary to apply a caring body cream on the skin, which one, the beautician will tell. It is better to carry out laser resurfacing in the fall or winter, so that by the warm season, the belly is fully restored, and the woman can wear open clothes.
Mesotherapy
The essence of the cosmetology procedure: is the direct introduction of regenerative preparations under the skin. The composition for mesotherapy varies depending on the clinic, many beauty salons keep the full composition of the injections secret.
The following varieties of mesotherapy, depending on the method of administration of a drug under the skin:
Injection – with a thin needle.
Fractional – with small acupuncture needles.
Non-injection – by ultrasound, electric current or compressed oxygen;
Micromesotherapy – a roller with thin short needles.
For the procedure to be effective, the composition of the solution should include collagen, elastin, natural vegetable oils, vitamins and minerals. Mesotherapy is more effective than cream, since the active substances are delivered directly to the thickness of the epidermis.
With the help of mesotherapy, you can not only remove stretch marks on the abdomen after childbirth, but also tighten the contour of the face, get rid of wrinkles and skin defects
To achieve the effect, it is necessary to perform from 7 to 15 sessions of mesotherapy. The break between sessions is from a week to 10 days. The cost of one procedure starts from $ 34. Reviews of women about the procedure are positive, mesotherapy removes stretch marks, which cream and folk remedies could not cope with.
Ozone therapy
How to remove stretch marks: every year there are new procedures that can help women after childbirth. Problem skin on the stomach can be saturated with ozone, this substance enhances the production of collagen. Ozone is injected under the skin through injections with small cosmetic needles; this method resembles mesoteropia.
The cost of the procedure starts from $ 14 per session lasting 15-20 minutes. To restore the skin usually requires at least 5 sessions.
Reviews of women say that ozone therapy helps to reduce the appearance and area of stretch marks, but not to get rid of them completely.
Some women recommend combining ozone therapy with skin creams, claiming that they got rid of stretch marks in this way. For many women who experienced ozone therapy on themselves, the procedure was painful.
Biorevitalization
According to some cosmetologists, biorevitalization is essentially the same as mesotherapy. There are certainly similarities between the procedures. Biorevitalization of the skin on the abdomen also implies the introduction of medications by injection.
Therapeutic compositions for biorevitalization necessarily contain:
Hyaluronic acid.
Peptide complex.
Coenzymes
Amino acids.
Vitamin and mineral complex.
To achieve the effect, it is necessary to conduct at least 6 biorevitalization procedures, 3 sessions per month, and then 2-3 sessions during the year to consolidate the result. The cost of one session starts from $ 54. With a one-time payment for the course, many beauty salons make a discount on services.
Women who have tried this procedure for themselves, confirm its effectiveness. But many of those who left feedback on the procedure did not like the high cost of the procedure and the pain of the session.
Plastic Stretch Mark Removal
The operation to remove stretch marks in the abdomen is called abdominoplasty. During the procedure, not only stretch marks are removed, but the skin on the abdomen is tightened, subcutaneous fat is removed.
Abdominoplasty allows not only to get rid of stretch marks, but also to make a figure better than it was before pregnancy.
Contraindications to abdominoplasty:
Lactation.
Planned pregnancy.
Pathological obesity.
Diabetes.
The operation is performed only under general anesthesia. The duration of surgery is from 2 to 4 hours. The surgeon makes incisions in the abdomen through which he removes excess subcutaneous fat. Then the doctor makes a skin tightening on the abdomen, removing the area of stretch marks in the process. After surgery, the patient is in the clinic for up to 3 days.
The recovery period after surgery lasts 8 months.
During this time, a woman must follow the doctor’s recommendations:
Wear compression underwear for a month after surgery.
For a month, any physical activity is prohibited.
Press exercises are banned for 4 months.
Until complete healing of the suture, it is forbidden to bathe, even in the bathroom.
For a month after the operation, the patient is forbidden to sunbathe in a solarium or in the sun.
According to women, abdominoplasty is the most effective method to eliminate stretch marks. Women aged claim that the operation helps to get rid of even the scars obtained after childbirth 20 years ago. All women who went through plastic surgery are satisfied with their new body.
Conclusion
If stretch marks appear on the stomach after childbirth, there are many ways to remove them. The most affordable way is to use creams and oils from stretch marks. But if folk and pharmacy products were ineffective, only cosmetic operations will help restore the appearance of the skin.
Author: Abramova Anna
Video: how to get rid of stretch marks after childbirth
Elena Malysha will tell you how to get rid of stretch marks:
The most effective way to get rid of stretch marks after childbirth:
