Thermage is a safe, non-invasive, no downtime, single treatment, cosmetic procedure that is clinically proven to tighten, contour and rejuvenate skin to help restore a more youthful appearance. It is cleared by FDA for the treatment of facial wrinkles. It utilizes a unique form of Capacitive Radiofrequency (CRF) technology to tighten existing collagen and stimulate new natural collagen production. Immediate results are visible and continue to improve for up to six months. The Thermage procedure is fast and easy, and requires no downtime from normal activities. The procedure can be performed on patients of all skin color.
The procedure works by heating deep collagen fibers in the skin and underlying tissue, while protecting the skin's surface with a cooling spray. A handheld device, briefly touches the skin, delivering the non-invasive CRF energy deep beneath the skin. This deep uniform heating action causes the deep structures in the skin and underlying tissue to immediately tighten. Moreover new and remodeled collagen is produced to further tighten skin and renew facial contours over the next few months.
Those who wish to forestall a surgical facelift or surgical brow lift can accomplish a good degree of skin tightening using Thermage. Those who want to tighten abdominal, knee, arm or elbow skin can likewise undergo this procedure. Thermage is not meant to replace a more aggressive surgical procedure. However it is an ideal alternative for the younger person who is just beginning to see some jowls, drooping of their eyelids and eyebrows, or hanging skin elsewhere on the body.
Depending on the size of the area to be treated, the procedure may take as little as 30 minutes or up to two hours.
Unlike many laser procedures requiring four or more sessions, a single Thermage treatment produces results in the majority of patients. Your doctor will determine the course of treatment that is right for you, based on your needs and goals.
Immediate results are visible, and improve over time. Measurable tightening and contouring improvements appear gradually over a two to six-month time period following a single treatment session.
An anesthetic cream may be applied to your skin one hour prior to treatment. You will experiences a brief, deep heating sensation as the energy is delivered to the skin. This deep heating sensation is an indication that collagen is reaching effective temperatures for tightening. To protect the skin and make the treatment more comfortable, the surface of the skin is cooled simultaneously. Your feedback on the level of heat sensation experienced during the procedure will help guide your doctor to balance procedural comfort with maximum results.
No. Unlike surgery, there is no pre-procedure preparation, such as blood test or fasting required. One can return to regular activities immediately following treatment and there is no special care needed after treatment. You may exhibit temporary redness or minor swelling after treatment, but this usually resolves within 24 hours. Good skin care and sunscreens are recommended as part of your regular skin care regimen. The only signs of treatment are naturally smoother, younger, and healthier skin.
The Thermage procedure has an excellent safety record. With over 190,000 estimated worldwide patient treatments to date the reported incidence of side effects is less than 0.4%. The most frequently reported incidents are classified as swelling, redness, bumps, and blisters on or around the treated area. These side effects would disappear in a few days or weeks. A rare (0.11%) but longer lasting side effect described as a surface irregularity has also been reported. Consult with your physician regarding this and any other questions you may have on the safety record of the Thermage procedure.
The Thermage procedure immediately tightens existing collagen and stimulates new natural collagen production for up to six months following the treatment. Unpublished reports by experienced cosmetic doctors indicate that results may last for years and are based on the patient's natural aging process.
Metvix PDT: New, effective treatment for certain types of pre-cancerous lesions of the skin (actinic keratoses or commonly called sun spots and Bowen's disease) and non-melanoma skin cancers called basal cell carcinoma.
Metvix PDT