SkinPen Procedure and Stretchmarks
So first off let me start by saying, this is SUPER uncomfortable for me to talk about. I started noticing stretchmarks on my upper outer thighs when I was 18. Honestly, I didn't think much of them when they started to show because I didn't realize that a few years later they would be so much more noticeable. Over time my stretchmarks went from tiny to HUGE and white! They looked like scars.
A ton of people think stretchmarks only happen when you gain a bunch of weight. THAT IS NOT THE CASE. I was never a large person, I had a growth spurt in middle school but that really had nothing to do with my stretchmarks. Genetics play a huge role in whether or not you are susceptible to getting them. My mother had them and anyone who knows her, knows how tiny she is!
Anyway, fast forward 10 years later and here I am, a beautiful person with a HUGE insecurity about my stretchmarks. Last August I got engaged and started to evaluate my "bridal makeover". I realized that the ONE THING I really wanted to fix was my skin. I called a few places and landed on The Aesthetic Center for Plastic Surgery.
Natalie Cribley is a nurse who works in the Spa and I met with her to talk about my options. She said I could try the Fraxel Laser or the SkinPen. The SkinPen seemed more in my price range so I opted for that treatment.
Many of you may have heard about a thing called a "Vampire Facial". This is basically what I had done to my entire butt and hips on both sides. I went in not really knowing what to expect. I can't say that it wasn't painful (my tolerance is VERY LOW) but the results so far have been something that I definitely want to share.
Natalie started me out on a lower level of treatment. Basically, the SkinPen penetrates the skin using tiny micro needles that puncture and wound your stretchmarks. Over time, it scabs over and peels away layers of skin to show newer looking skin. It is a little more intense than getting a tattoo. She had me lay down and use numbing cream before treatment. I also opted to ice beforehand so I was extra numb.
Okay so here is the honest truth: it hurts. But is it worth the thirty minutes of pain to come away a few weeks later noticing how different your stretchmarks look? ABSOLUTELY! Natalie was seriously amazing throughout the entire process and she was there day and night if I had questions.
Each treatment is around 30 minutes of numbing and 30 minutes of treatment. Once you are treated you are sent home with creams to use. USE THEM! They allow your skin to heal faster.
After my second treatment I started using a stem cell serum which really helped to promote healing. I would suggest purchasing one to use alongside the other creams. The treatment takes around 2 to 3 weeks to heal and depending on how deep your stretchmarks are, you may need several treatments. I am going to be going in for my third treatment soon but I wanted to show you some before and after photos so you can see the difference I am seeing already.
I am so insecure about this part so it is a big deal for me to be showing you these. I really just hope to help get the word out there that you don't have to live with stretchmarks and there is a solution! I hope this helps someone who is deciding whether or not to take action!
As women we are expected to "love our bodies" and "be confident in what God gave us"! I am one hundred percent happy for this life and this body I was given. But why would I stand around feeling insecure about something when there is a solution to fix it? I am not saying that plastic surgery is the answer for everyone especially when it is over indulgent, I am just saying that if you want to slightly improve what you already have, go for it!
Here are some photos of the treatment:
So you can see in the first photo how white and long the stretchmarks are. In the second photo, I was still healing after my second treatment but you could already see the difference. The color is smoother and the texture of the skin is smoother. Here is a photo of me in my swimsuit in the light:
So clearly, you can see a difference! I am already feeling like a million bucks after my two treatments! I have plans to get two more so we will see how those go! I will probably do another write up once my treatments are complete.
If you live in Houston and want to reach out to Natalie PLEASE DO! She is absolutely amazing and positive and wants to help women like me out there! Her email is natalie@mybeautifulbody.com and if you have any questions please feel free to email me at allisonpiccirillo@gmail.com!
I REALLY hope this was helpful for women out there suffering from the same thing. You are all beautiful inside and out and I can't tell you how much you all mean to me! :)