Baby bump facial: kind of weird

Don't get me wrong, I love a good facial but when I read about the Baby Bump Facial I was thinking, um, perhaps not.

According to the spa in Washington, the Mom-2-Be Baby Bump Facial ($75 for 30 minutes) "begins with light cleansing. This is followed by the application of a professional treatment mask with a high concentration of targeted firming active ingredients to address slackening skin and stretch marks, leaving the skin toned and even. The treatment finishes with the application of DECLÉOR‘s Perfect Sculpt Stretch Mark Restructuring Gel-Cream, keeping the belly hydrated and reducing the chances of stretch marks in late pregnancy."

If most women get annoyed with random strangers touching their pregnant bellies, why would you PAY A STRANGER to touch your belly?

I must point out that the appearance of stretch marks and similarly, your ability to get rid of them is largely a question of genetics. It is unlikely that any over-the-counter skin cream or salve is going to make stretch marks go away completely. If you are really worried about stretch marks, most experts agree that the only way to make them less noticeable is through cosmetic surgery, microdermabrasian, chemical peels, or laser therapy. You can also get a prescription for Retin-A (which is also thought to be work well in reducing the size of stretch marks). There are side effects from all of these treatments. A belly facial might feel nice but will not 'prevent' stretch marks, unfortunately.