SKIN CARE · STRETCH MARKS

Stretch Mark Treatment: Fading Red and White Marks — Istanbul

Stretch marks (striae distensae) are scars that form when skin stretches or shrinks quickly. Morpheus8, fractional CO2 laser, Dermapen and, for early marks, tretinoin cream can make them less visible, but not erase them. Veneta in Nişantaşı offers stretch mark treatment after an assessment by a physician.

Last updated: October 2026

At a Glance

Type

Scar treatment (striae distensae)

Methods

Morpheus8, fractional CO2 laser, Dermapen, PRP, tretinoin

Sessions

Usually 3–6, about 4 weeks apart

Results

Gradual, over 3–6 months; marks fade, not vanish

Downtime

A few days; around a week after CO2 laser

Timing

Early, while marks are still red

What Are Stretch Marks?

When skin stretches or shrinks quickly, collagen and elastic fibres in the dermis break and heal as a scar. Stretch marks are common and harmless and, like acne scars, are treated by remodelling collagen.

New marks (striae rubra) are red, purple or dark brown, depending on skin colour. They slowly fade into striae alba: white, thin, slightly sunken lines that respond less well to treatment. No method reliably removes either type.

Treatment Options at Veneta

Method	How it works	Evidence and usual course
Morpheus8 (RF microneedling)	Needles deliver radiofrequency heat into the skin to remodel collagen	For RF microneedling in general, a weak recommendation in a 2021 systematic review; usually 3–5 sessions, 4 weeks apart
Fractional CO2 laser	Vaporises tiny columns of skin, prompting new collagen	Improvement in most studies; usually 3–6 sessions, 4 weeks apart
Dermapen microneedling	Fine needles make micro-channels without heat	Similar results to lasers, with less hyperpigmentation but more pain, in a 2024 meta-analysis; 3–6 sessions
PRP (add-on)	Your own concentrated platelets, used with needling or laser	Limited, mixed evidence
Tretinoin cream	Prescription retinoid (vitamin A–derived) cream, applied daily, usually for 12 weeks or more	Early red marks: 8 of 10 users improved after 6 months in a 1996 trial, against 1 of 12 on placebo; can irritate; not in pregnancy

Causes of Stretch Marks

Pregnancy, mainly on the abdomen and breasts.
Puberty growth spurts, on the thighs, buttocks and breasts; these often fade without treatment.
Rapid weight change or fast muscle growth from weight training.
Steroids: long-term corticosteroid creams or tablets, or anabolic steroids. Never stop a prescribed steroid without your doctor.
Family history of stretch marks.
Medical conditions such as Cushing’s syndrome and Marfan syndrome.

Who It Suits — and Who Should Wait

Adults with red or white stretch marks who expect improvement, not removal.
Darker skin: microneedling carries less risk of dark patches than lasers, and Morpheus8 is used at lower settings; in a 2023 study of skin types III–IV, fractional CO2 caused temporary darkening in about three in four patients.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: procedures and retinoid creams are postponed.
Not with skin infection in the area, a keloid tendency, or sunburned or freshly tanned skin.
Morpheus8: not within 6 months of isotretinoin, or with a pacemaker or metal implants in the area.
New, wide purple marks without a clear cause, especially with weight gain around the tummy or a rounded face, need a doctor’s check for Cushing’s syndrome before any treatment.

How the Treatment Works at Veneta

Assessment

A physician examines the marks, your skin type, medicines and any pregnancy or breastfeeding, then plans the method and sessions.

Numbing

Numbing cream is applied for about 30–60 minutes.

Treatment session

The marks are treated with Morpheus8, Dermapen or fractional CO2 laser, sometimes with PRP. Sessions repeat about every 4 weeks.

Aftercare and follow-up

Redness settles within days after needling, or around a week after CO2 laser. Avoid sun and tanning, use SPF 30+ and pause retinoids for 2–4 weeks, as advised.

Energy-Based Skin Treatments: Average Prices in Istanbul

Average Istanbul market prices compiled in October 2026, for orientation. Your price is confirmed after your consultation.

Treatment	Unit	Average price	Typical range
Carbon laser peel	per session	2,500 TRY≈ €45	1,500–5,000 TRY≈ €25–€90
IPL (Lumecca) — face	per session	10,000 TRY≈ €180	5,000–15,000 TRY≈ €90–€270
Dermapen microneedling	per session, face	7,000 TRY≈ €125	5,000–10,000 TRY≈ €90–€180
Morpheus8 — face	per session	26,000 TRY≈ €465	20,000–35,000 TRY≈ €360–€625
HIFU — full face	per session	25,000 TRY≈ €450	15,000–35,000 TRY≈ €270–€625
Fractional CO2 laser — full face	per session	25,000 TRY≈ €450	5,000–60,000 TRY≈ €90–€1,075
Stretch mark treatment — one area	per session	15,000 TRY≈ €270	7,500–35,000 TRY≈ €135–€625

Average Istanbul prices compiled in October 2026, for orientation only. Your personal price depends on the product, the amount and the plan agreed at your consultation. Euro amounts are approximate, converted at 55.86 TRY = 1 EUR.

Results to Expect and How Methods Compare

Results build over 3–6 months as collagen remodels. The improvement is generally lasting, although long-term studies are lacking, and new marks can form if the skin stretches again.

A 2026 systematic review of 69 articles named fractional CO2 laser, RF microneedling and 0.1% tretinoin the three most clinically relevant options, but found too few comparative trials to name a first choice. A 2021 review found combining methods usually better than one alone.

More on each method: Morpheus8, fractional CO2 laser, Dermapen and PRP.

Related treatments

Frequently Asked Questions

Can stretch marks be removed completely?

No. Like any scar, stretch marks are permanent, the American Academy of Dermatology notes, but treatment may make them less noticeable. In a 2024 review of 151 studies, CO2 laser gave a complete response for white marks in only 4% of outcomes.

How many stretch mark treatment sessions are needed?

Stretch mark treatment with Morpheus8, fractional CO2 laser or Dermapen microneedling usually takes 3–6 sessions, about 4 weeks apart.

Which works better for stretch marks: laser, Morpheus8 or microneedling?

No stretch mark treatment, Morpheus8 included, has proved clearly superior, and comparative trials are few. A 2024 meta-analysis found microneedling and lasers similarly effective, with less hyperpigmentation after microneedling.

Can I have stretch mark treatment while pregnant or breastfeeding?

Stretch mark treatment usually waits until after pregnancy and breastfeeding. Morpheus8 is contraindicated during both, doctors may advise against fractional CO2 laser, and retinoid creams such as tretinoin may harm the baby.

Is stretch mark treatment safe for dark skin?

Stretch mark treatment can be done in darker skin, but pigment change is the main concern: dark patches are less likely with Dermapen or Morpheus8 at lower settings than with fractional CO2 laser, which can also leave light patches.

Do stretch mark creams work?

Most stretch mark creams have very little evidence behind them. Prescription tretinoin can improve early red marks but is not used in pregnancy; in studies, cocoa butter, olive oil, almond oil and vitamin E did not fade marks.

What affects the cost of stretch mark treatment?

The cost of stretch mark treatment depends on the method (Morpheus8, fractional CO2 laser or Dermapen), the size of the area, the number of sessions and whether PRP is added.

This page is general information and does not replace a medical consultation. Whether stretch mark treatment suits you is decided by our physicians after an assessment.

Free Consultation — Stretch Mark Treatment in Istanbul

Send us a WhatsApp message or book a video call; the consultation is free. You receive a written plan with the method, number of sessions and price before treatment.

Book a Consultation Contact via WhatsApp