Thermage® Noninvasive Skin Tightening
Thermage® is a noninvasive skin-tightening treatment that can be used on the face, neck, eyelids, or body. It uses electrical energy to carefully heat the skin in a way that causes collagen to contract and stimulates the production of new collagen, resulting in a tighter, firmer appearance.
Types of Thermage Treatments
There are two types of Thermage® treatments, both of which take place in the office and require no anesthesia, sedation, or downtime afterwards.
Superficial Treatments on the Face, Neck and Eyelids
Aimed only at skin tightening, superficial treatments offer visible changes like elevation of the eyebrows, upward movement of the cheeks, contouring of the jawline, tightening of the eyelids, and reduction in neck laxity. While Thermage® can yield results immediately and those results can continue to improve for up to six months, it is not a substitute for surgery. Patients looking for dramatic changes in their jowls, neck, or eyelids will likely need surgery to reach satisfying outcomes.
Deeper Treatments for Body Contouring.
Performed on the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, and arms to induce more contouring, deeper treatments can yield changes to a patient’s measurements right after treatment. Thermage® treatment of the abdomen is not a substitute for abdominoplasty (tummy tuck surgery) or liposuction, but can be used to enhance the results achieved with these procedures. Again, the amount of improvement anticipated after a Thermage® treatment will not rival that achieved by surgery and will require multiple treatment sessions for optimal effects. Thermage® remains an attractive option for many patients who are willing to accept less dramatic outcomes in exchange for avoiding the risks, recovery, and scarring associated with surgery.
Characteristics of a Good Candidate for Thermage® Treatment
- Mild to moderate skin laxity that doesn’t warrant surgery
- Only modest sun damage
- Nonsmoker
- No need for modification of muscle or fat underneath the skin
- Between the ages of 30 and 70
- Modest, realistic expectations
What to Expect in Treatment
Thermage® treatment is performed in the office without sedation or anesthesia. Treatment of the face and neck, the abdomen, or the arms takes approximately one hour. Thermage® treatments are HIGHLY technique-dependent, so it is vital to select a knowledgeable, experienced care provider.
Immediately following treatment, the treated area may be slightly pink for a short time, but patients can typically resume normal activities immediately. Results vary greatly from patient to patient, and final results cannot be judged for six months and final effects typically last 1-2 years.
As Thermage® treatments help build collagen in the skin, they can play a preventative role and should be incorporated into a regular maintenance plan along with skin care and injectables. We have a large number of patients who look better today than they did when they started undergoing regular rejuvenation treatments 10 years ago. Let our staff help you build a plan to help you look your best and maintain your appearance for many years.
Safety of Thermage®
Thermage® treatment is perhaps the safest technology-based treatment available. When performed properly, discomfort is minimal and the risk of scarring or being harmed in some way is extremely low. Anesthetic injection, pills, or creams are not required, and there is no downtime necessary You could literally undergo treatment at 11:00 am and make a lunch date at noon with no redness, swelling, significant soreness, or discomfort. Makeup may be applied immediately after Thermage® treatment.
Thermage® Treatment of the Eyelids
Dr. Biesman completed a five-year process of developing and testing a treatment tip for the Thermage® device designed specifically for the eyelids. While Thermage® eyelid treatments do not reduce the “puffiness” or fine wrinkling, our initial studies demonstrated improved eyelid tightness and a reduction of excess upper eyelid skin in nearly 90% of subjects. As is true in other anatomic regions, improvement in outcomes can continue for at least six months after Thermage® treatment.
To achieve ideal eyelid rejuvenation, Thermage treatments may be combined with laser treatments to smooth fine wrinkles, Botox treatments to reduce the appearance of deep lines caused by action of eyelid muscles, and fillers to restore volume to the lower eyelids and eyebrows.
Quick Facts:
- Thermage® treatment is currently the gold standard of noninvasive skin tightening
- Noninvasive skin tightening can be used to help rejuvenate the face, neck, eyelids, abdomen, thighs, and other areas
- Treatments are performed with minimal discomfort and no down time or recovery period
- Some tightening is usually visible at the conclusion of treatment
- Continuing improvement occurs over several months
- Thermage® treatment is not a substitute for surgery
- Thermage® treatments are complimented by fractional resurfacing, IPL, and injection of Botox® and/or fillers