Is there NO WAY to get rid of stretch marks?

[LaraMN]

I will never be able to wear a bikini since having kids, because of my belly-stripes. I hate them. I've heard Mederma works, but further research seems to indicate that it's rather unlikely that it really will.
Mine are faded at least, but I hate the texture of the marks.

[pitohui]

1. you can ask your cosmetic surgeon but last i heard the answer is still no

i think there are some surgical things that have been tried but i'm trying to think of anyone i know who successfully got rid of them and i honestly can't think of any

i wouldn't worry about it, wear what you like, everybody else who ever had kids or a growth spurt is in the same boat

[LaraMN]

2. That's what I thought.

While it's not exactly a horrendously pressing concern to me, I would LOVE to get rid of them, were there a way to do so!

[MissMillie]

3. the answer is no

I think you'd be more successful at removing your self-conscious attitude toward your stretch marks than you will at removing the stretch marks.

They are what you got for having kids. Wear them w/ pride.

[LaraMN]

7. I know, I know...

I'm just a bit of a control-freak about my body, and there's nuttin' I can do about my stripes!

[Pithlet]

4. Nothing works short of surgery, sad to say.

I tried the Mederma, too, and it did nothing. They seem to fade some with time, though. Mine aren't nearly as noticeable as they used to be.

[LaraMN]

8. Yeah, I'm not up for surgery.

I couldn't justify the expense in the first place, but they don't bother me QUITE that much, either.

[EFerrari]

24. They have Mommy packages and it isn't as much as you'd think.

I'd do it. You're going to be in that body for a long time.

My mom had a face lift in her fifties and she looked terrific and felt good about herself, too. I thought it was great that she took care of herself like that. She had a great doc. I wish he was still practicing.

[youthere]

5. It is the only visible badge of motherhood....wear them proudly!

Everytime I look at mine they are a reminder of three beautiful healthy children. My stretch marks are a blessing...at least that's what I'm going to keep telling myself.

[LaraMN]

9. The ONLY one?

Not in my case; they're just the most obvious one!

[youthere]

12. well I didn't want to bring up the whole....

dark circles under the eyes, grey hair, no hair, saggy breasts, widened hips, cracked nipples thing...I prefer to live in denial.

[LaraMN]

14. Lol!

You forgot: wider feet, gum recession, thinner hair, and widened rib cage!
I suppose not all apply to everyone, but I can check off plenty, between my list and yours!

[TommyO]

25. Not according to my mother.

Her gray hair, at least as far as she's concerned, is a direct result of her three sons!

[Roon]

6. awwww!! who cares?

Wear them with pride!! It's not like the other mothers at the beach haven't been mommies! Might I suggest a tan?

[LaraMN]

11. I tanned (via bottle), and they look even worse.

That's partly what prompted my question.
I won't do tanning beds/sun, and I think the stretch marks don't absorb the lotion the way the rest of my skin does.

[Roon]

20. Like I said...I don't think anyone would care

Bearing children is a badge of honor that I would carry proudly if I was in your shoes.

[Shakespeare]

10. This stuff actually does minimize them, but it's a-spensive...

Stri-Vectin SD, around $130 for the 6 oz. tube (but you can snag it for much less on eBay).

It's also outstanding for fine facial lines, too.

It won't make the stretch marks go completely away, but it sure does minimize them. My sister's using the stuff right now on a couple of really ugly surgical scars, and it's helping with those, too.

[LaraMN]

13. Well, perhaps when I'm independently wealthy I'll try it!

I had heard mention of Stri-Vectin, but it does appear to be quite spendy.

[SKKY]

32. Is it the same as Q-Vectin?? I can't find "Stri-Vectin SD" on eBay...

[Shakespeare]

33. 258 active auctions on eBay right now...

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?cgiurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2F&fkr=1&from=R8&satitle=strivectin&category0=&submitSearch=Search

And some more in eBay stores.

[SKKY]

35. Ahhhh. Strivectin, not Stri-Vectin...

[BarenakedLady]

15. Don't make me cry

Not only do I have a ton of stretch marks, I also have an ugly c-section scar. I gave up on the dream of bikinis over 10 years ago.

*sigh*

[LaraMN]

17. I hear ya.

It's a good thing kids are so damn cute, huh?
:P

[mopinko]

16. consider them rank insignia

mom, 1st class :patriot:
sigh.

[LaraMN]

18. After my first pregnancy, I asked my dr if I could just "reuse" the ones I already had.

She totally couldn't tell I was joking and launched into an explanation of why I couldn't.
:eyes:

[bicentennial_baby]

22. ...

:rofl:

[mopinko]

23. oy. don't get me started on

doctors!

[commander bunnypants]

19. what the frig do you need a bikini for

in the land of ice and snow?


CB

[Left Is Write]

38. It DOES get summery in Minnesota, you know.

But it's best not to wear a bikini on that day anyway, 'cause the mosquitoes will get you.

[Xithras]

21. $$$

My wife had hers done by laser. It ended up costing about $2500 total, but she was able to spread the treatments out over a few years to minimize the financial hit. I personally didn't mind the marks, but she's a big bikini person and after three kids was horrified by them. My youngest will be three in a few months, and my wife gets her last treatment at about the same time.

If you have the money to toss away, the treatments can be finished in about 8 weeks. We just didn't have the money to burn all at once (she actually dumps her pocket change into a container at the end of every day...the $2,500 is three years worth of pocket change).

The lasers don't actually eliminate the stretch marks (nothing short of plastic surgery will do that), but it makes them match the rest of the skin color-wise. The marks are still there, but you have to look very closely to see them. She's very happy with it, and I'm happy that I don't have to listen to her moan about stretch marks anymore ;)

[AlCzervik]

26. nope unless you have surgery. I'm still thanking about a tummy tuck.

[Arugula Latte]

27. My mother swears that belly dancing got rid of hers.

She still has the role of stretchy flab around the middle, though ... :D

[RetroLounge]

28. "never be able to wear a bikini "

You should really post a pic so we can decide that...

:9

RL

[supernova]

29. I've got stretch marks and scars

And I still wear revealing bathing suits. People are as uncomfortable about them as you are. If you aren't they aren't. And frankly, most men don't care.

[liontamer]

30. according to my dermatologist, no

the scar stuff can make them less noticeable, but not go away completely. However, since they are now a part of you, why don't you just accept them. Just because you hate them now, doesn't mean you have to. Heck, most other people won't even notice, much less care.

[Ilsa]

Baby # 2 gave me my stretch marks. Baby #1 gave me

the stretched out skin at the very bottom of the abdomen, over the CS scar. I've given up on having a lovely tummy because of the cost of getting the surgery. I can't justify spending that much money when there are other things, like retirement, kid's college fund, we need to plan for. But I'm not embarrassed by them. I guess it doesn't mean that much to me to wear a one-piece suit.

[Left Is Write]

39. I wear a tankini. That gives me the sizing flexibility of a bikini and the coverage

of a one-piece.

I have no stretch marks on my abdomen, but at my age, I just don't feel comfortable wearing a bikini and baring that much torso.

[skygazer]

31. Nah - the giver of mine just turned 25

I felt the same way you do for a long time but now I find that when I look at them, I think of my daughter as a baby and that's kind of nice.

And I'd wear a bikini with them if I didn't have gross belly fat as well. :P

[trof]

34. Not according to our daughter.

And it hurts me to see the stretch marks on her body.
She worked very hard to get back into shape after her first baby and did a great job.
Still works out 3 times a week at the Y while Jack plays with the other kids in the day care section.
Finally said "the hell with it" and wears her bikinis again.
Stretch marks = "Badge of honor"

[Oeditpus Rex]

36. A bikini with boots?

Hmmm... I dunno...

[Left Is Write]

37. No.

[joshcryer]

40. I'm a male, weighed 240 at one point...

...and still have the stretch marks to prove it.

These were deep dark purple stretch marks, btw.

I've found that massagaging them does work, and makes them fade to almost indescernablity. I think, though I *may* be wrong about this as the 'professionals' say it's not fixable, but I think that if I were to continue a massaging routine they would definitely go almost completely away, if not completely.

Try massaging them! :)