A New Innovation in Stretch Mark Treatment

Ocean Clinic is proud to present a brand new treatment for stretch marks, developed in-house by Dr Gabriela Casabona.  

The treatment is a combination of procedures that Dr Casabona has been trialling, and it has been getting great results for our patients. It combines Venus Viva with Dermapen 4, two non-invasive, pain-free treatments. 

Understanding stretch marks

Stretch marks develop when the body grows rapidly and the skin is stretched - this often happens during puberty and pregnancy (other causes include weight gain and bodybuilding).

Rapid stretching causes the connective tissues and fibres of the dermis (the middle layer of the skin) to become thin and overstretched. In some places, they may break, allowing deeper layers of skin to show through. This is why stretch marks can appear red or purple in colour. 

As we age, skin becomes less able to stretch and snap back into shape due to decreased collagen levels. Collagen is a protein that functions to hold or bind skin cells together and which serves to keep skin supple. When less collagen is available in the skin, it becomes more likely to develop stretch marks or wrinkles.

How does our new stretch mark treatment work?

Our new stretch mark treatment works by combining two procedures that boost the production of collagen. They do this by causing micro-injuries beneath the surface of the skin and triggering the body’s natural healing response. 

Venus Viva is a skin resurfacing treatment that uses nanofractional radiofrequency to heat the cells deep in the dermis. This stimulates collagen production and encourages the skin to repair itself. As the skin regains elasticity and tightens, stretch marks become smoothed out. 

Delivering up to 700 pulses of energy, the device is very powerful but still gentle enough to be used on even the most delicate areas of the face and body. It is often used to treat facial wrinkles but has also been shown to have a significant benefit on stretch marks (referred to medically as striae).

A published clinical study showed that four weeks after treatment with Venus Viva, total surface area, length, and width of stretch marks significantly decreased and patient satisfaction for overall improvement was 96.97%. 

The effect of Venus Viva is enhanced with Dermapen, the only microneedling device with a dedicated setting for stretch mark scars. The pen uses 12 tiny needles to create microscopic punctures to the inner and outer layers of skin. This results in a regeneration of the collagen and other elastic fibres.

The “channels” created by the derma pen also allow for the delivery of nutrient-rich serums deep into the skin. Topical creams can provide real benefit when they’re able to penetrate beneath the skin’s surface. We use a vitamin C serum, which is well known for boosting collagen production.

Who is a good candidate for this treatment?

Our new stretch mark treatment can be used on all skin types. It’s beneficial for all types of stretch marks but the best results are seen on more recent stretch marks. Stretch marks that are still red or purple and haven’t faded away to a silvery colour respond very well.

It means that the treatment is ideal for people who have seen recent changes to their bodies, such as women who have suffered stretch marks to their tummies following pregnancy. Stretch marks affect around 8 out of 10 pregnant women and can give the tummy a stripy, scarred appearance. 

The results you’ll see from the treatment will depend on the size and depth of your stretch marks. Stretch marks that are wider than 0.5 cms will not respond as well as smaller ones. 

Treatment of larger stretch marks

If your stretch marks are very extensive, an alternative treatment protocol can be used, which combines Ultherapy, Radiesse and Dermapen 4. Ultherapy is an ultrasound treatment used to stimulate collagen and elastin. It does this by heating the layers beneath the skin and creating thermal microtrauma - this leads to a reformation of elastic fibres

To fill the gap created by the stretch marks and give the skin a smoother surface, Radiesse, an injectable filler, is used. The filler is diluted (mixed with saline and lidocaine to thin it out) and injected superficially. As well as adding volume and helping to disguise the colour of stretch marks, it acts as a bio-stimulating agent, triggering the production of collagen and elastin. 

Dermapen 4 enhances the effectiveness of the other two treatments. After each session, the skin continues to regenerate leading to long term improvements in tone, texture and elasticity.

How many sessions are required?

The treatment requires three sessions of each procedure (six sessions in total). The procedures have to be alternated, so one week you’ll have Venus Viva and the next week you’ll have Dermapen 4. You’ll visit the clinic once a week until the treatment course is complete.

Each session will take around 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the size of the area being treated. There is no downtime needed so you can get straight back to your normal activities afterwards. 

Following each session, you’re likely to have some redness and roughness for 2-4 days, which you may want to keep in mind when you’re planning outfits. It’s also important to avoid any sun exposure to the treated area.

For more information about our new stretch mark treatment or to book your course, contact Ocean Clinic Marbella on (+34) 951 77 55 18.

Why We Love... Orthodontics & Porcelain Veneers

Ocean Clinic’s Cosmetic Dentist Dr Nina King tells us why she loves transforming patients’ smiles with orthodontics and porcelain veneers. 

What is your favourite procedure to perform?

Doing orthodontics combined with porcelain veneers.

Why do you like it?

Orthodontics involves moving the teeth into the correct position and then the ceramic veneers change the colour, shape and size so we can completely transform someone's smile. Often my adult patients have been ashamed and embarrassed by their smile for a very long time and the boost in self-confidence is amazing.

How many times have you done it?

We have done many, many cases using these treatment techniques combined.

How is it carried out?

I work with a specialist orthodontist who tends to use “invisible braces”; clear retainers like Invisalign or a system called Incognito, which goes behind the teeth. This is because many of my adult patients are conscious of wearing a traditional metal brace.

Communication is absolutely essential between the orthodontist and myself as I plan and design the final result, normally using digital smile design techniques. We use this as a road map to direct where we want the teeth to be.

In this way, I can then prepare the teeth as minimally as possible and take the impressions for the new ceramic veneers to be fitted making sure that they are customised to meet each individual patient's needs.

What’s the most technical part?

Preparation for the veneers is a delicate procedure because there must be a balance between preserving as much healthy tooth structure as possible versus removal of enough so that the veneers sit well.

We can then create beautiful looking ceramic work, which will blend in naturally. I try to remove no more than 0.5mm of the top layer enamel.

Have there been any changes in the technique or technology used in this procedure?

With the onset of digital design and scanners, if we are using the invisible brace system Invisalign, we can now anticipate the final smile and get it preapproved by the patient. We enter this information into the system and simulate the movements and design the correct retainers for each phase.

Thus after the orthodontic work, the teeth are already positioned exactly as we need them to be. For example if I am using ceramic veneers to close spaces between teeth, the orthodontist can ensure the spaces are evenly spread out so we can have symmetrical final veneers.

How might this procedure change in the future?

I am doing more and more ceramic veneers in-house. That means that instead of taking traditional moulds and sending them to the laboratory technician, we can do milling in the surgery and have them ready in a matter of hours instead of days.

This is, however, still not appropriate for all cases due to limitations of the equipment. For example, how thin some of the ceramics can be prepared. I am sure that there will be even more evolution in the technology making it possible to do every case in-house.

Do you have any memories that stand out in relation to this procedure or the patients you’ve carried it out on? 

Patients sometimes think it's too late for them… they are aware their teeth are very overlapped or crooked and they may have wanted the treatment in the past but for financial or time constraints simply not gone ahead.

When they realise what can be achieved and the effects that we can create, it truly is a wonderful feeling to be able to help someone's self-confidence grow.

Interested in redesigning your smile with orthodontics and porcelain veneers? Book an online or in-clinic consultation.