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Stretch marks are scars that form in the dermis when skin stretches faster than its collagen and elastin fibres can follow. They appear on the stomach, thighs, hips, breasts and arms. Red or white, recent or old, they are not worked on the same way.
The consultation is where we assess the stage of your stretch marks and the area involved, then establish the approach that suits you.
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In medical terms, stretch marks are known as striae distensae. When skin undergoes rapid stretching, fibroblasts no longer produce enough collagen to keep up. The connective tissue tears, then heals in a disorganized way.
The epidermis becomes thinner there and the surface differs from the rest of the skin. That is why a stretch mark is as much felt as it is seen: the groove is real, not just a difference in colour.
Red stretch marks and white stretch marks are not two different problems, but two stages of the same mark. The distinction guides the approach.
The earlier a stretch mark is addressed in its evolution, the wider the margin to work with.
Pregnancy combines both triggers: rapid abdominal distension and a hormonal context that alters collagen production. Cortisol, whose levels rise during this period, reduces the dermis's ability to reorganize itself.
The marks appear mainly on the stomach, hips and breasts, often in the third trimester. They are pink or purplish at first, then fade after delivery. It is after pregnancy, once the postpartum period is under way, that treatments can address their appearance.
Pregnancy is not the only trigger, and a share of the clients who come in have never been pregnant. The marks also appear with:
Two people with the same triggers don't necessarily have the same marks. An in-person assessment, or our virtual skin analysis, specifies what concerns you.
Book a consultationLaser treatment isn't the only option, and it's not the one offered by Spa Infinima for treating stretch marks. Two non-ablative approaches are described in our section. medical-aesthetic services, These treatments work by stimulating collagen production in the dermis, where the scar has formed. Their suitability for your stretch marks will be assessed during a consultation.
RF microneedling pairs fine needles, which create micro-perforations that trigger a healing response, with thermal energy delivered deep into the skin.
This approach targets the scar tissue itself. The appearance of stretch marks and the texture of the skin may improve gradually as the dermis reorganizes, at a pace that varies from person to person.
Body radiofrequency works without breaking the skin: electromagnetic waves heat the dermis in a controlled way and stimulate the fibroblasts.
At Spa Infinima, it is built into the Wave 7 device, which combines toroidal radiofrequency, ultrasound, infrared LED and photopneumatic massage. It is one of our body care technologies, generally considered for large surfaces, the stomach and thighs in particular. A Wave 7 assessment determines whether this approach suits your marks. The session requires no downtime.
The stage of the marks and the area involved guide the choice. The consultation settles it, not the page.
Most of the establishments offering these technologies in Quebec City are clinics. Spa Infinima works differently: the aesthetic treatments sit in the same building as the Nordic baths and the massages, and it is estheticians who accompany you from one session to the next. Two locations, in Sainte-Foy and at Place Ste-Foy, save you crossing the city during a follow-up spread over several months.
The stomach is the area most often addressed postpartum. Stretch marks there frequently coexist with skin laxity, a separate concern that other approaches such as HIFU target on their own. Timing matters: treatments are planned once the postpartum period is well under way, and breastfeeding is reviewed at consultation. During pregnancy itself, these technologies are not indicated. It is prenatal massage that accompanies this period instead.
On the thighs, hips and buttocks, stretch marks are often longer, more numerous and older, because they frequently date back to adolescence. The relief there is sometimes more pronounced than the difference in colour.
These surfaces generally take more time than a localized area. The pace and the order of the areas are set at consultation.
RF microneedling and radiofrequency are not indicated during pregnancy. Breastfeeding, certain active skin conditions, taking photosensitizing medication and wearing an implanted electronic device should also be disclosed.
Your Fitzpatrick skin type and your healing history are assessed at the same time. Contraindications are reviewed systematically before any approach is proposed.
The evolution is gradual and unfolds over several months, because it depends on the pace of collagen production. Results vary from person to person.
A stretch mark is a scar. An aesthetic treatment can aim to soften its appearance and reduce the contrast with the surrounding skin. No technology makes a scar disappear, and any promise to that effect deserves to be questioned.
Daily hydration, the application of a rich oil or cream to at-risk areas, and a gradual increase in weight or muscle mass support skin elasticity. Our body exfoliations and wraps contribute to this maintenance. These treatments reduce stress on the fibers but do not guarantee the absence of marks, as genetics remains a determining factor.
Three variables move the total: the surface to cover, the pace chosen and the approach selected. Treating a few marks on the hips and treating the whole abdomen do not represent the same commitment. You leave the consultation with a plan and the matching cost.
Spa Infinima offers Medicard financing from $500, which allows a plan to be spread over several payments.
Red stretch marks are recent and still inflammatory, while white ones are old and healed. Recent tissue retains active microcirculation, which widens the margin to work with. White marks call for more sustained dermal remodelling.
The number of sessions and the interval between them are determined at consultation. They depend on the stage of the stretch marks, the extent of the area and how your skin responds. No reliable figure can be given before that assessment.
The analysis at consultation settles the question. You come in for a concern, not for a technology: the stage of the marks, red or white, the area involved and its extent guide the recommendation. The same person may fall under different approaches depending on the area.
Yes, once the postpartum period is under way. During pregnancy itself, RF microneedling and radiofrequency are not indicated. Breastfeeding, the time elapsed since delivery and the condition of the abdominal skin are reviewed at consultation before any recommendation.
The evolution is gradual and spreads over several months, the time it takes for collagen to rebuild. Results vary from person to person depending on the stage of the marks, the area and the skin type. No change is visible immediately after a first session.
Book a stretch mark consultation at one of our two locations in Quebec City and see which approach matches your marks.
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