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Stretch marks are colored lines or bands that usually appear on the abdomen, hips, buttocks, thighs, and breasts. It develops when your skin shrinks or stretches quickly, such as after a rapid weight loss or gain, pregnancy, or rapid muscle growth after weight training. They are essentially tears on the skin. However, they are not an indication of a health issue and do not require medical treatment. If you do not like the appearance of stretch marks on your skin, you can undergo some procedures to make it less noticeable.
There are several procedures available. These include:
Microdermabrasion
Micro-needling
Laser therapy
Cosmetic surgery.
Your doctor may recommend you undergo more than one procedure to get the best results.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is a minimally invasive procedure that is used to renew skin tone and texture. During the procedure, a special applicator is used to spray on tiny exfoliating crystals onto the affected area. These crystals are then gently removed using a wand-like device. While the crystals are removed, they take dead skin from the upper layer of the skin (epidermis) with them. This procedure is most effective for white stretch marks.
Micro-needling
Also known as collagen induction therapy, targets the middle layer of the skin (the dermis) where stretchmark form. This procedure triggers collagen production by poking tiny needles into your skin. Increased collagen production can make your skin tone and texture more even, reducing stretch marks. Your doctor will move the tiny needles evenly across your skin to ensure that the new skin will be even as well.
Laser therapy
With laser therapy, lasers are applied directly into your skin. They penetrate your skin and triggers regeneration, stimulating the tissues in your stretch marks to heal faster. Laser therapy also stimulates melanin production on the area of your stretch mark and activates pigment cells. As a result, your stretch marks will blend in with your normal skin tone.
Cosmetic surgery
Certain cosmetic surgeries, such as thigh lift, tummy tuck, and other similar procedures, remove excess skin and tighten the remaining skin. While these procedures are not actually designed to remove stretch marks, the removal of excess skin from the body can lead to the loss of the stretch marks. If the procedure does not involve removing excess skin, then cosmetic surgery may not be an option. So make sure to discuss it with your surgeon first.
After microdermabrasion, micro-needling, and laser therapy, you should expect to stay in Bulgaria for 2 to 3 days. In some cases, your doctor may even allow you to leave the country on the same day. For cosmetic surgery, it is advisable that you stay for about 7 days to let your body recover and to attend follow-up checkups.
The recovery time varies, depending on the type of procedure you undergo. Microdermabrasion requires little to no downtime and you can go back to your daily activities immediately. With micro-needling and laser therapy, it may take around 2 to 5 days until you can resume your normal routine. After cosmetic surgery, you generally need to wait for 2 to 3 weeks until you can go back to work, but strenuous activities should be avoided for around 6 to 8 weeks.
The aftercare will be different for each procedure. Your doctor will give you detailed instructions that you need to follow. It is important that you follow everything to avoid complications and to get the best results. Here are some general things you should do:
After microdermabrasion, keep your skin hydrated and protect your skin with sunscreen.
After micro-needling, make sure to avoid direct sunlight and wear sunscreen when you have to go outside and do not put ice on your face.
After laser therapy, you should clean the area regularly with water, use ice packs to reduce swelling, apply ointments (such as petroleum jelly), and avoid picking any scabs.
After cosmetic surgery, eat a healthy diet and stay away from alcohol. You may also need to do some light exercises to keep your blood flowing.
Your doctor may prescribe topical and/or oral medications following your stretch mark removal. Make sure to take/apply them as prescribed.
Stretch mark removal procedures are safe and effective. Micro-needling has been found to be very effective for darker skin. Microdermabrasion, micro-needling, and laser therapy, you may need more than one treatment session to get your desired results. Also, you need to remember that these treatments will only fade your stretch marks, not removing them completely.
There are some side effects and risks that these procedures carry, such as redness, swelling, bleeding, bruising, peeling, and infection.
If your stretch marks are less than a few months old, you may use retinoid cream as an alternative to the procedures mentioned above. Retinoid cream that you apply to your skin can help make your stretch marks look more like your normal skin.
Before stretch mark removal, you have stretch marks in your body that bother you or make you feel unconfident. After the procedure, these stretch marks should be less noticeable. This can be a huge confidence boost for a lot of people.
Whilst the information presented here has been accurately sourced and verified by a medical professional for its accuracy, it is still advised to consult with your doctor before pursuing a medical treatment at one of the listed medical providers
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Bulgaria has plenty to offer and tourists are going to be very impressed with the country’s mountainous landscapes, beautiful Black Sea beaches, fascinating history, friendly locals, lively nightlife, and affordability. Although the country’s holiday tourism is very much on the radar, it is also actually quite popular with medical tourists, due to its modern medical centers, highly trained medical professionals, state-of-the-art equipment, affordable healthcare, and mineral baths, thousands of medical tourists visit this country each year. Most of the medical tourists come for dental treatment, orthopedic surgery, elective surgery, neurosurgery, as well as health screening.
Bulgaria’s laid-back capital city, Sofia, is truly a must-visit. It is full of museums, Ottoman mosques, communist architecture, chic galleries, Eastern Orthodox churches, amazing restaurants, and upbeat clubs. One of the most popular landmarks in the country is the Aleksander Nevski Cathedral, which is an awe-inspiring church built between 1882 and 1912 to honor 200,000 Russian soldiers who died fighting for the independence of Bulgaria during the Russo-Turkish war. If you want to relax on beautiful beaches visit Varna, which is a major tourist destination during the summer. The second-largest, city in Bulgaria is Plovdiv and it is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe. Tourists are attracted by the Roman Amphitheatre, Archeological Museum, and Tsar Simeon Central Garden.
Most international tourists will arrive at Sofia Airport, which serves flights to most numerous major cities in Europe and the Middle East. There are several budget airlines that operate flights from this airport, including Ryanair and Wizz Air. Domestic flights are available, but they tend to be expensive. Therefore, to travel from one city to another, trains and buses are the best option. Buses and trains are punctual and affordable. However, if you are in a hurry, you should avoid trains as they can be a little slow. To travel around big cities, taxis are widely available and are really cheap. Just make sure you choose a licensed taxi to avoid being overcharged.
While Bulgaria is not yet a part of the Schengen Area, it has a visa policy that is based on the Schengen system. Therefore, holders of Schengen Visa are allowed to enter the country. Additionally, citizens of 62 countries, including the US, Australia, and the UAE, can stay in the country for up to 90 days without a visa.
From June to August, Bulgaria experiences summer. The weather can get a bit hot and humid, with an average temperature of 19°C to 21°C. July is the wettest month in the country. Winter, from December to February, is usually freezing. Autumn and Spring bring pleasant weather.