Stretch Mark Treatment in Scottsdale: What Helps After Pregnancy
When to start after your baby, which treatment fits your skin, and what to expect, with a free consultation first.
Looking for stretch mark treatment in Scottsdale after having a baby? Here’s the honest answer: no treatment erases stretch marks, but the right one can make them less noticeable, and they usually respond best when you start early. I’m Nurse Bea, an Aesthetic Registered Nurse and Licensed Aesthetician, and this is how I decide what to recommend.
Treatments are performed by me or by a certified aesthetic registered nurse who is also a Certified Laser Technician on my team, following my protocol. Our Medical Director, Abbey Jensen, MSN, FNP-C, provides medical oversight.
Schedule your free consultation — new clients hold their spot with a $50 deposit, credited to treatment or products, or refunded on request. Call (480) 405-0100 · 7054 E Cochise Road B100, Scottsdale, AZ 85253.
What are stretch marks, and why do they show up after pregnancy?
Stretch marks are a type of scar that forms when skin stretches or shrinks quickly. Pregnancy is one of the most common causes: about 8 in 10 pregnant women get them.
New marks can look red, pink, purple, reddish-brown or dark brown, depending on your skin color. Growth spurts, rapid weight changes and fast muscle growth cause them too.
Do stretch marks go away after pregnancy?
Not completely. They often fade over time, with or without treatment, but may never disappear completely, and over time red marks usually fade to white.
Stretch marks are scars, so no treatment removes them completely, but treatment may make them less noticeable. That’s the honest goal of every treatment on this page.
Does the color of my stretch marks matter?
Mostly for how much they can improve: new red, pink or purple marks usually respond better than older white ones. My advice: once it’s safe to start, don’t wait.
Both colors can still get better. In a small study, RF (radiofrequency) microneedling worked about as well as a CO2 laser on both red and white marks, with fewer dark spots afterward. (A CO2 laser is a stronger laser with more downtime; we don’t use it.) In another study, microneedling improved both, red marks a little more.
When can I start stretch mark treatment after having a baby?
As soon as it’s safe, and I prefer that to be after you’ve finished breastfeeding. Breastfeeding can keep estrogen low, and estrogen helps your skin make collagen, which this treatment depends on.
We don’t treat during pregnancy. If you’re not breastfeeding, we’ll find the earliest safe time together at your consultation.
What is the best treatment for stretch marks after pregnancy?
It depends on your skin. When the stretch marks are the main problem, I recommend our TotalSkin Solution (Genius RF microneedling and the Ultra laser in one visit); when loose skin is the main problem, Genius RF microneedling on its own.
If there’s a lot of loose skin or a bulge from separated muscles, you need a surgeon or your doctor, not us.
| What you see | What I recommend |
|---|---|
| New red, pink or purple stretch marks | TotalSkin, as soon as it’s safe to start |
| Older white or silver stretch marks | TotalSkin (they can improve, usually less than new ones) |
| Mostly loose, crepey stomach skin | Genius RF microneedling alone |
| Lots of loose, hanging skin | A plastic surgeon; a tummy tuck removes extra skin |
| A belly bulge from separated ab muscles | Your doctor or a physical therapist |
We treat stretch marks on the stomach, hips, thighs, breasts, arms, back and buttocks.
Laser or microneedling for stretch marks? Why I combine them
Both can help: a 2024 review found microneedling and lasers worked about equally well on stretch marks, and microneedling caused fewer dark spots. Our TotalSkin Solution uses both in one visit: Genius RF microneedling reaches the deeper layers of the skin, and the Lutronic Ultra laser treats the upper layer.
Is the pairing proven better for stretch marks? Not yet. A 2026 review found that in most studies, combinations worked better than single treatments, but we found no published study of TotalSkin’s exact pairing on stretch marks. See what’s included in a TotalSkin visit.
Can loose skin after pregnancy be tightened without surgery?
It may, if the looseness is mild to moderate: in a small study, RF microneedling improved mild to moderate loose belly skin after pregnancy. But if you have lots of sagging skin, skin tightening may not help, and I’ll refer you to a plastic surgeon.
Loose stomach skin is the main thing I use Genius RF microneedling alone for. A tummy tuck corrects extra skin and weakened ab muscles, but it only removes the stretch marks on the skin it cuts away, usually below the belly button.
Separated ab muscles, called diastasis recti, affect 6 in 10 women after childbirth and can cause a belly bulge; see your doctor or a physical therapist for that.
Does tretinoin or a cream help stretch marks?
Prescription tretinoin (a vitamin A cream) can improve new stretch marks, but creams seem to have little effect on mature ones. Tretinoin shouldn’t be used during pregnancy, and a Cochrane review of the creams and oils tested in pregnancy found no high-quality evidence that any of them prevent stretch marks.
If tretinoin is right for you, our Medical Director can prescribe it. If you’re breastfeeding, talk with your provider first.
How many sessions will I need, and when will I see results?
We decide the number of sessions at your consultation, and body sessions are usually 6 to 8 weeks apart so your skin can fully heal in between. In my experience, the body heals more slowly than the face, so stretch mark results can take longer to show than facial results.
Collagen rebuilds slowly, so it usually takes several months to see full results.
Does stretch mark treatment hurt, and what’s the downtime?
We numb the area first, and Pro-Nox (laughing gas) is included to keep you comfortable. Aftercare is the same as for the face, just longer: expect redness and swelling for up to about a week, and the tiny grid marks can take longer to fade.
For the treated area:
- No exercise or heavy sweating for 3 to 7 days.
- No saunas, hot tubs, steam or long hot baths or showers for 5 to 7 days, and no swimming for 7 days or until your skin has healed.
- Shower with lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser, then pat dry.
- No exfoliating products or scrubs, including waxing, for at least 2 weeks. Use a plain moisturizer, with no scented lotions or retinoids for 1 to 2 weeks.
- Wear loose, soft clothing, and don’t let anything tight rub the area while it heals.
- No tanning or self-tanner during your series. Once you’ve healed, cover the area or use SPF 30+.
- Call us if you notice pus, spreading redness or warmth, fever, blisters, raw skin, or pain or itching that gets worse.
Who shouldn’t get stretch mark treatment?
I always refuse treatment to anyone who won’t protect the treated skin from the sun. You may also not be a candidate if you have any of these (including but not limited to):
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Isotretinoin (Accutane) within the past 6 months
- Active skin infections, eczema, psoriasis or dermatitis
- A history of keloid scarring or poor wound healing
- Aesthetic treatments or injections within the past 2 weeks
- Blood-thinning medications or supplements, unless your doctor gives permission
- Sunburn or a lot of recent sun
- Medical conditions that affect healing or immunity
- Implanted medical devices in the treatment area
If you have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, this treatment may not work for you, and a cosmetic surgeon is a better fit.
How much does stretch mark treatment cost in Scottsdale?
It’s priced by the size of the area, so I quote it at your free consultation, along with how many sessions you’re likely to need. Nobody here works on commission.
New clients hold their spot with a $50 deposit that goes toward treatment or products, or is refunded on request; it’s kept only for a no-show.
Looking for stretch mark treatment near you in Scottsdale?
We’re at 7054 E Cochise Road B100, Scottsdale, AZ 85253, on the Paradise Valley side of Scottsdale. We see clients from Phoenix, Arcadia, North Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, Cave Creek and Tempe. Hours are Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm and weekends 11am to 5pm, by appointment.
Shedding hair since the baby too? See my guide to postpartum hair loss treatment in Scottsdale.
Schedule your free consultation or call (480) 405-0100. Not sure where to start? See how a consultation works.
More questions I get about stretch marks
It’s your choice, and we’ll talk it through at your consultation. Pregnancy can bring new stretch marks, so I teach my clients to keep their skin moisturized with hyaluronic acid several times a day. The American Academy of Dermatology says hyaluronic acid products may help prevent stretch marks, though no cream is proven to. Read my guide to preventing stretch marks during pregnancy.
It can be, with the right approach. Mayo Clinic calls microneedling the preferred first approach for darker skin because it has less risk of color changes than laser. On darker skin we keep Genius needles deeper than 1.5 mm, use brightening ingredients before and after, and may use gentler laser settings.
Stop retinoids and exfoliating products on the area 5 to 7 days before, and avoid sun, sunburn and other laser treatments for 2 weeks. Skip waxing and hair-removal creams on the area for 5 to 7 days, and shave the day before rather than the day of. Skip ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and alcohol for 3 days before. If you take a blood thinner, we need your doctor’s OK first.
In October 2025 the FDA said it is aware of reports of serious complications with certain uses of RF microneedling, including burns, scarring, fat loss, disfigurement and nerve damage. It advised choosing a licensed provider trained on the device. Here, it’s done by me or by a certified aesthetic registered nurse who is also a Certified Laser Technician, under our Medical Director’s oversight.
We treat stretch marks on a case-by-case basis. A consultation is recommended.
Yes. Acne scars and stretch marks are the two things I think TotalSkin is best for; see my acne scar treatment guide.
Written by Beatrice Moorefield, RN, LE, LSO — aesthetic registered nurse, licensed aesthetician, skin health educator, and founder of Skin With Bea Esthetics, Scottsdale.
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