- ‘Icon’ laser therapy bores microscopic holes in the skin
- Has been approved by U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- First UK surgery to use the method say seeing ‘some good results’
- Scars notoriously hard to get rid of – but most people have at least one
16:19 EST, 12 April 2014
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16:19 EST, 12 April 2014
A new laser therapy that bores microscopic holes in the skin is being touted as a way to erase stretch marks on the stomach, thighs and breasts, with minimal pain and downtime.
The Icon system is the first treatment for the common form of scarring to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.
All scars are notoriously difficult to treat, yet exceedingly common; most people have at least one.
The laser treatment bores microscopic holes in the skin and being touted as a way to erase stretch marks on stomach, thighs and breasts
And stretch marks are estimated to affect up to 90 per cent of women during pregnancy.
Icon has a fractional laser that uses heat to create microscopic channels deep within the skin, while leaving the surface almost untouched.
These tiny injuries break down scar tissue and are said to trigger a natural healing response. An inbuilt scanner assesses skin type and automatically adjusts settings to avoid pigment changes.
Studies show that on average, Icon reduces stretch marks by between 51 and 75 per cent, including those that are many years old. It can also be used on acne, surgical and burn scars.
Kim Kardashian was recently filmed having laser treatment on pregnancy-related stretch marks on her breasts
Skin expert Dr Tapan Patel, medical director of the PHI Clinic in London, the first in the UK to offer the treatment, said: ‘No two scars are ever the same, so no one treatment will be suitable for all of them.
‘However, I am seeing some good results with the Icon. It does not harm the top layer of skin, which means it’s a more comfortable treatment than some other lasers.
‘Patients don’t need pain relief and have less downtime.’
In general, scars form if a wound takes longer than three or four weeks to be covered with new skin.
Stretch marks most often occur during puberty and pregnancy when the skin expands rapidly.
Reality television star Kim Kardashian was recently filmed having laser treatment on pregnancy-related stretch marks on her breasts.
However, conventional laser treatments have not always been effective.
They have a reputation for being very painful, and only helpful on new, red scars.
Another side effect is pigment changes such as a permanent darkening of the skin.
Dr Patel said: ‘I had previously treated a woman with a burn mark on her chest using a different laser that was effective but left her so red and sore that she had to take several days off work.
But when I treated her with the Icon, the redness went away within a few hours.’
Patients usually require two to six treatments costing £350 each, four to eight weeks apart.
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Mrs Wright,
Australia,
1 hour ago
Oh god get over it! Why do we always try and fight nature – i have heaps of stretch marks – i even have them on my shins! Get over it and stop being so vain!
Minnie,
Disneyland, United Kingdom,
2 hours ago
Wow 90% of women get stretch mark during pregnancy? Im a small size 8 and have had 2 children and no stretch marks. Im feeling very lucky. I cant imagine how upsetting it must be to get them, I am pleased to see there is help out there for it. Its not cheap but if you want it enough…
notfamous,
norwich, United Kingdom,
4 hours ago
If they need a tester let me know!! Thought I escaped stretch marks in my first pregnancy but woke up at 8 months pregnant looking like a tiger had clawed my stomach!
Millasan,
London,
8 minutes ago
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