A polarization based medical device (300) for optically stimulating the formation of collagen in tissue (100) comprises a light source (310) for providing a beam of light. A polarizer polarizes the beam of light. A first beam shaping optics (320) directs the polarized beam of light to a spatial light modulator (340). A second beam shaping optics (350) directs the polarized beam from the spatial light modulator to an area of interest within the tissue. A spatially controlled pattern of polarized light is directed onto the tissue, thereby affecting the orientation of formation of collagen within the tissue.