Stretch Mark Camouflage Treatment

MCA (Multitrepannic collagen actuation) is a treatment that involves the same steps as medical camouflage but without the use of any pigments. This can promote healing of the scar/ stretch marks if they are not yet fully healed or they dip slightly lower than the surrounding skin. Occasionally this may be all that is needed and sometimes this is carried out prior to the insertion of pigments.

The session can take anywhere between 1-3 hours depending on the size of the area being treated. For very large areas we wouldn’t advise having this carried out in 1 sitting and would need to book you in for 2 separate visits. Please note that mixing the pigments can take around 30 minutes before the procedure starts. We can advise how long we would expect the area to take during your initial consultation.

Yes, we treat Fitzpatrick 1-6, although if you are very pale this can be harder to colour match as this skin can almost appear translucent. For skin types that are prone to keloid scarring this treatment wouldn’t be recommended. On darker skin types and if you suffer with hyperpigmentation, there is a risk that the healed area can stay darker beyond the 60 days. This is why a colour match test is recommended to gage the healing process.

In short yes. You must ensure the practitioner carrying out the treatment is fully trained and the premises you are attending is following guidelines to ensure your health and safety. The pigments can contain elements of some metals which have been proven to be safe in the skin including chromium and titanium dioxide (which are commonly found in most SPF’s) If you have any known allergies to these you would be unsuitable for treatment.

Yes. We will ensure you have had a patch test during your consultation, or we can post this out to you.

As the needles penetrate the skin it can cause some minor discomfort however many clients liken it to a scratchy sensation like microneedling. We do not advise a numbing cream for treatment as we wouldn’t want this to affect the pigments in any way. You can take paracetamol prior to treatment but not aspirin as this can thin the blood and cause clotting at the treatment site.

This is classed as a permanent procedure much like other forms of pigment insertion like microblading or semi-permanent make up. However, as the pigment is diluted considerably to match skin tones, we would usually advise it lasting from 3-7 years on average. You will find the pigment will slowly fade over time and will differ from person to person depending on immune systems, sun exposure, adherence of aftercare and general healing.

You may be a little sore, red and swollen which is perfectly normal. This will settle usually within 7-14 days and the skin will then appear dark and scabby. As the skin heals it can appear darker for some time until the skin heals and reveals the final result. Results after the first session can vary quite a bit, some clients will notice a significant improvement and some will not notice much, this is why 2-3 sessions are recommended.

Please note that session 1 is always carried out more cautiously to avoid any over pigmenting of the skin. On your second session the practitioner will be able to assess if any colour adjustments are required and we can then build the pigment up further. Please be patient as this is a multi-treatment procedure.

Initially after treatment you will be red and swollen at the treatment site which is completely normal. You will need to continue to apply a cold compress the area at home to induce the healing. You can go to work however we would advise avoiding any exercise for 7 days.