Thermage® FAQs
Thermage® is a revolutionary non-surgical skin lifting and tightening procedure. The Thermage® facial lift, or “thermalift,” is becoming extremely popular among patients who want the benefits of a face lift, but prefer to avoid the scarring and other complications associated with face lift surgery. Eyes by Thermage® is currently the only non-surgical eye lifting technique available that has been clinically proven to be effective. Because Thermage® is a relatively new procedure, many patients are unfamiliar with the technology and its effects. The following information is intended to answer patients’ questions about Thermage®.
How does Thermage® work?
The Thermage® treatment involves applying captive radiofrequency energy to heat the inner layers of the skin. Over time, the network of natural collagen fibers that gives the skin its shape and elasticity wears out. This process can be accelerated by sun damage, exposure to environmental toxins like smoke or exhaust, or any number of other factors encompassed in the photoaging process. As collagen fibers lose their elasticity and strength, the skin begins to sag and wrinkle.
Applying captive RF heat waves to the skin heats the subcutaneous layer (made up of fat and collagen) and the epidermis (the thin outer layer), immediately tightening and rejuvenating the skin’s existing collagen structure. This means that Thermage® produces immediate results. Better yet, though, is the fact that a single Thermage® treatment stimulates continued new collagen growth for up to six months after the procedure – leading to continually improving results over time.
What problem areas can Thermage® treat?
The Thermage® procedure is most commonly performed on the face. However, while the results of a Thermage® facial lift, or “thermalift,” are impressive, Thermage® can be used on other parts of the body as well.
“Tummy by Thermage™” is a single-stage, non-invasive procedure designed to tighten and tone skin around the abdomen for a more youthful look. Thermage® for the stomach is popular with women who have recently given birth and have some sagging, stretched skin as a result of pregnancy. It is also a good option for those who have recently lost weight and want to tighten up the stomach skin to better fit their new body contour. Patients who don’t want to cope with the stress, recovery, expense, and risks of a tummy tuck surgery (also called an abdominoplasty) or body lift can turn to Thermage® for safe, totally non-invasive stomach contouring.
“Eyes by Thermage™” is a similar procedure that targets the skin around the eyes. As a person ages, the skin around the eyes tends to droop, and fine wrinkles and bags begin to form. The eyes are a difficult area to treat using most conventional procedures because the skin around the eyes is so sensitive. Before Thermage®, the only real option for eye lid lifts was an involved surgical procedure. Now, however, Thermage® offers a safe and effective non-surgical alternative.
Thermage® treatment has also been used effectively on many other areas of the body, including the buttocks and thighs, achieving good results. Individuals interested in learning more about full-body Thermage® should speak to a skin care professional.
What does Thermage® treatment feel like?
Thermage® treatment is nearly always painless, and as such it does not require anesthesia. However, the doctor performing your treatment may offer some mild pain medication as a precaution. During the Thermage® procedure, patients will experience a brief periodic heating sensation as the doctor applies RF waves to areas of the skin. The procedure involves quick applications of heat spaced apart slightly for added safety. Each time an area of skin is heated, collagen is rejuvenated, and new collagen growth begins.
How long do the results of Thermage® treatment last?
Thermage® treatment is a quick and relatively simple procedure. The actual treatment may take anywhere from 20 minutes to two hours, depending on the scope of the procedure in question. The more area to be covered, the longer the procedure will be. A bit more time should be added for consultation with the physician before and after the procedure.
Will I need multiple Thermage® treatments?
One of the biggest advantages of Thermage® treatment is that no repeat procedures are required. By contrast, laser skin tightening procedures can require as many as 10 or more treatment sessions to produce desired results. With Thermage®, many patients experience excellent results for years after their first and only treatment. Indeed, most patients’ results will actually improve over the course of the first six months following Thermage® treatment.
What is the cost of Thermage® treatment?
While the cost of any procedure varies according to area and provider, Thermage® is generally less expensive than comparably effective surgical procedures. Thermage® treatment has the advantage of being a non-surgical procedure using relatively inexpensive equipment in a quick and simple treatment process. As a result, the average cost of Thermage® is around $2000 – much less than surgical face lifts and laser skin tightening.
What is "Eyes by Thermage™"?
Currently, “Eyes by Thermage™” is the only way to achieve dramatic tightening and firming of the skin surrounding the eyes without surgery. With Eyes by Thermage ®, doctors use a radiofrequency tip that is specially designed to be gentle on the delicate skin surrounding the eyes. By plumping existing collagen in the area as well as encouraging the growth of healthy new collagen, doctors are able to endow patients with a dramatically younger look. Patients who undergo eye Thermage ® rave about reduced hooding, softened crow’s feet, the elimination of “crepe-y” skin, and even more ease in makeup application. With no recovery time, anesthesia, or injections necessary, Eyes by Thermage ® is quickly becoming a very popular alternative to other eye rejuvenation procedures such as blepharoplasty.
What is "Body by Thermage™"?
In 2006, the FDA approved Thermage ® as a safe method of reducing skin laxity all over the body. Body by Thermage™ has successfully been used to tighten skin in the abdominal region, thighs and buttocks, and even to eliminate sagging skin on the arms. Because Thermage ® is fast, painless, and very effective, Body by Thermage™ has come to be referred to as “the tummy shrink lift” and “the tummy heat shrink procedure” on popular television shows. If you are tired of aged, sagging skin but do not want to invest your time and money in an invasive lifting procedure such as abdominoplasty or a full body lift, Body by Thermage™ may be for you.
Are Thermage® results immediate?
The initial results of Thermage® are immediately apparent, but to see the full benefits of undergoing the procedure, a patient has to wait four to six months for tightening and collagen growth to be complete. At that point, the procedure will have run its course, and the results should be evident for the next few years.
Is Thermage® safe?
Thermage® is an extremely safe procedure. There is usually little or no pain involved, and because Thermage® treatment is totally non-surgical and non-invasive, there is essentially no recovery time. Almost all patients are able to return to normal activities immediately after treatment. All the side effects associated with Thermage® are minor and generally temporary in nature.
Are there any side effects of treatment?
As with any other medical treatment, Thermage® treatment occasionally causes some side effects. These are generally very minor and almost always temporary. Some of the side effects associated with Thermage® include redness, swelling, blisters, bumps, and rarely some surface irregularities on the skin. In most cases, these side effects clear up in a short time, with no permanent damage or injury.
Use DocShop to Locate a Skin Specialist near You
Individuals who are interested in learning more about the Thermage® facial lift, eye Thermage®, or Thermage® treatment for the stomach can use the DocShop listings to find a cosmetic dermatology specialist who performs these procedures. Don’t postpone your thermalift any longer – contact a cosmetic dermatologist today!
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