Thermage

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 and stimulate the production of new collagen. The result is 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.

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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

• Good quality skin
• Mild to moderate skin laxity
• Nonsmoker
• No need for modification of muscle or fat underneath the skin
• Modest, realistic expectations

What to Expect in Treatment

Thermage® treatment is performed in the office without sedation or anesthesia and 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. For most patients, measurable results appear gradually in the two to six months following a single treatment session and can last 1-2 years. 

As Thermage® treatments help build collagen in the skin, they 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! 

Safety of Thermage®

Thermage® treatment is both safe and effective for all skin types and colors. When performed properly, discomfort is minimal and the risk of scarring or being harmed in some way is extremely low. 

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.

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