Stretch marks: what can you realistically do about them?
Stretch marks are extremely common, especially after pregnancy or rapid changes in the body. Discover what stretch marks actually are, what connective tissue massage can and cannot do for them, and how to set realistic expectations.
Book a free consultationThe basics
What are stretch marks?
Stretch marks — medically known as striae — are small tears in the dermis, the deeper layer of the skin. They appear when the skin is stretched faster than the connective tissue underneath can keep up with, so the supporting collagen and elastin fibres give way and tear. Common triggers are pregnancy, growth spurts during puberty and rapid changes in weight or muscle mass. Because they sit in the deeper layer of the skin rather than on the surface, they are a genuine structural change in the tissue. This page offers general information and does not replace medical advice or a diagnosis.
- ✓
Small tears in the dermis caused by rapid stretching of the skin
- ✓
Often linked to pregnancy, growth or changes in weight
- ✓
First red or purple (striae rubrae), later paler (striae albae)
At BodyFix — specialised in connective tissue and fascia since 2008 — the skin and the connective tissue beneath it are exactly what every treatment focuses on. Curious how this practice approaches the tissue under your skin? Read more about what connective tissue massage is.
Red and white
From red to silvery white
Stretch marks change over time. In the early stage they are often red, pink or purple and may feel slightly raised; this is the phase known as striae rubrae, when there is still active circulation in the tissue. Over the following months and years they gradually fade to a paler, silvery white — striae albae — and become flatter and more settled. The stage your stretch marks are in matters, because earlier marks with active circulation sometimes respond better to supportive care than older, fully faded ones.
Early (red) stretch marks
Recently formed marks are red or purple with active circulation, and at this stage the skin tends to be more responsive to supportive care.
Maturing
Over months the colour fades and the marks flatten as the tissue settles — a natural transition that happens for almost everyone.
Old (white) stretch marks
Mature striae albae are silvery white and well settled, so changes in appearance from any approach tend to be more modest.
Honest answer
What massage can and cannot do
It is only fair to be clear about this: established stretch marks do not disappear with massage. They are tears in the deeper layer of the skin, and no manual treatment makes them vanish. What connective tissue massage can do is work on the skin and fascia around the marks. By stimulating circulation and the mobility of the underlying tissue, it can support skin quality, suppleness and the overall appearance of the area, so the surrounding skin often looks and feels better cared for. The honest goal is realistic improvement, not removal.
In practice, connective tissue work around stretch marks is associated with:
- ✓
More supple skin and connective tissue around the marks
- ✓
Better stimulated circulation in the area
- ✓
A skin surface that can look more even and cared for
- ✓
A realistic improvement in appearance — not a promise of removal
Results are gradual and vary from person to person, and combining treatment with good skincare and hydration tends to help most. Want to understand the broader picture of skin and tissue? Read about skin firming and skin quality.
After pregnancy
Stretch marks after birth
Pregnancy is one of the most common moments for stretch marks to appear, as the skin stretches quickly across the belly, hips and breasts. Many women want to do something about them once they are recovering. The timing of treatment matters: for general postpartum recovery after a natural delivery, work can usually begin from around six weeks, while scar massage — for example around a caesarean scar — typically starts from around eight weeks, once the scar is fully closed and no longer vulnerable, unless your doctor or a specific treatment advises otherwise. You can read how this process unfolds phase by phase in our overview of postpartum belly and scar recovery.
Timing
Give it time
After a natural delivery, postpartum work can generally start from around six weeks; for a caesarean scar, scar massage usually starts from around eight weeks.
Care
Skincare matters
Combining treatment with good hydration and skincare supports the skin and tends to give the most realistic result over time.
Recovery
Whole-body focus
Connective tissue work fits within a broader postpartum recovery focused on tissue, circulation and how your body feels.
Whether and when treatment suits you depends on your personal situation and is always discussed first. Read more about postpartum recovery or see our FAQ on pregnancy and postpartum.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about stretch marks
Can you make stretch marks disappear completely?
No honest practice can promise that established stretch marks will disappear completely. Stretch marks are small tears in the deeper layer of the skin, and once that tissue has healed it remains visible to some degree. What connective tissue massage can do is work on the skin and fascia around the marks: supporting circulation, suppleness and skin quality, so the surrounding area often looks and feels healthier. The aim is a realistic improvement in appearance, not removal.
Does connective tissue massage help against stretch marks?
Connective tissue massage does not erase stretch marks, but it can support the skin around them. By stimulating circulation and the mobility of the underlying fascia, the tissue can feel more supple and the skin in the area can look better cared for. Many people combine this with good skincare and hydration. It is best seen as a way to improve skin quality and appearance, not as a treatment that makes the marks themselves go away.
Do new stretch marks respond better than old ones?
Often, yes. Early stretch marks are usually red or purple (striae rubrae) because there is still active circulation in the tissue, and at that stage the skin tends to be more responsive to supportive care. Older stretch marks have faded to a paler, silvery white (striae albae) and are generally more settled, so changes in appearance tend to be more modest. This varies from person to person, which is why we always look at your individual situation first.
When can I start after giving birth?
For general postpartum recovery after a natural delivery, treatment can usually begin from around six weeks. If there is a caesarean scar involved, scar work typically starts from around eight weeks, once the scar is fully closed and no longer vulnerable, unless your doctor or a specific treatment advises a different moment. During the free consultation we look at where you are in your recovery and what is sensible for your situation.
Ready to look at your skin together?
Wondering what connective tissue massage could realistically mean for your stretch marks? Start with a free, no-obligation 20-minute consultation. We look at your skin and your situation together and explain honestly what an approach can and cannot do — with no commitment. Please note that BodyFix is a private practice that does not work through health insurance and treats women only.
- ✓
Free consultation (20 min) included — no obligation
- ✓
Specialised in connective tissue and fascia since 2008
- ✓
Two locations in Amsterdam-Zuid — Mon to Sat 09:00–19:00
Prefer to call or email first? You can reach us on +31 6 5580 4938 or info@bodyfix.nl. You will find us at Legmeerplein 7 (1058 NJ) and at Haarlemmermeerstraat 115H in Amsterdam-Zuid.