Yes, stretch marks can be treated. The realistic goal is to make them less visible, not to erase them completely.
If you noticed stretch marks after a growth spurt, a pregnancy, or a change in weight, you are looking at a scar in the skin. At Jade Clinics we had no way to treat these marks for years. RF microneedling with Secret RF changed that.
Why Stretch Marks Appear
Stretch marks form when the skin stretches or shrinks quickly and the collagen and elastin that support it tear under the strain. As the skin heals over that damage, a scar forms, and that scar is the stretch mark you see.
The same process drives stretch marks from growth spurts in the teenage years, stretch marks after pregnancy, and stretch marks from weight loss. We have seen tall, slim clients develop them from a growth spurt, with no weight change at all. Postpartum marks across the abdomen are one of the most common reasons people ask us about stretch mark treatment.
When Is the Right Time to Treat Stretch Marks?
The right time to treat a stretch mark is after it has settled, which usually means it is older than about six months, and no longer changing. A new mark often looks red, pink, or purple, then fades to a silvery or white tone over roughly six to twelve months as it matures. The two types of stretch marks, the newer coloured marks and the older pale ones, both respond to treatment once they have settled.
Waiting until the mark settles does not impact what treatment can do later.
What We See in the Clinic: Older stretch marks are often assumed to be untreatable. In our clinics, we have not seen a difference in results between a mark that has been present for one year and one that has been present for twenty years.
How RF Microneedling Treats Stretch Marks
RF microneedling for stretch marks works on the mark itself, which is a scar. The treatment sends energy and fresh blood flow through the scar, breaks up the hardened tissue, and helps the mark shrink and heal.
The RF microneedling we use is Secret RF by Cutera, and it stimulates collagen and elastin in the skin that was stretched. A numbing cream is applied first, and during treatment most people feel mild heat and pressure rather than pain.
Results develop over a series of treatments as collagen remodelling continues, and continue to improve after the sessions end.
Jennifer’s insight: Before we started using Secret RF, there was no option to treat stretch marks. It was really exciting to be able to tell clients that we can now treat them.
What Results Can You Expect From Treatment?
Treatment reduces how visible a stretch mark is, and it does not remove the mark completely. The appearance can improve considerably, though a mark can remain microscopically present, so the aim is a softer, less noticeable scar rather than skin that looks as though the mark was never there.
Stretch marks take a series of treatments, and how many sessions depends on the size of the area and how your skin responds. Left alone, a stretch mark fades slowly and may not disappear completely. Treatment reduces the scar underneath.
”I’ve done two sessions of Microneedling at Jade Clinics for my stretch marks on my legs so far and I’m already starting to notice improvement in the texture and overall appearance of my skin. I know it’s still early, so I’m excited to see the final results. The experience has been great so far and I’m really happy I decided to try it!
L.S.September 2026
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Next Step
The best way to know what is realistic for your stretch marks is to have them assessed in person during a free consultation. A Jade Clinics practitioner will build a treatment plan suitable for you.
A quote depends on the treatment area and the number of stretch marks, so the price is set once we have made an assessment. You can book at a Jade Clinics location near you.
Common Questions About Stretch Marks
Do Stretch Marks Go Away on Their Own?
On their own, stretch marks fade and lighten slowly, though they may not disappear completely. A new mark often settles from red or purple to a paler tone over roughly six to twelve months, while the scar underneath stays in the skin. Treatment works on that scar, which is what reduces the mark itself.
Does Treating Stretch Marks Hurt?
A numbing cream is applied before the treatment, and most people feel mild heat and pressure rather than pain during the session. Any redness afterward usually settles within a day.
Can Stretch Marks Be Removed Completely?
Treatment softens and reduces a stretch mark rather than removing it. A mark can remain microscopically present, so full or permanent stretch mark removal is not something we promise.
When Can I Treat Stretch Marks After Pregnancy?
Wait until the marks have settled, which usually means they are older than about six months and no longer changing colour. Postpartum stretch marks respond the same way as marks from other causes once they have matured.
Sources:
- American Academy of Dermatology: Stretch marks: why they appear – stretch marks are a scar that forms when quick stretching ruptures the collagen and elastin in the skin.
- Cleveland Clinic: Stretch Marks – new marks fade from red or purple to a silvery or white tone over roughly six to twelve months.
- NHS: Stretch marks – stretch marks usually fade over time though they may not disappear completely.
