Thermage: no pain face lift?
If you are thinking of getting an anti aging treatment but facial surgery isn’t for you – you may be tempted by Thermage – marketed as a low risk alternative to face lift surgery.
Thermage – the makers claim – is a highly effective non surgical face lift – all the skin lifting effects of a face lift without the pain.
This apparently miraculous anti aging treatment first came to everyone’s attention – as with so many other things – following a glowing review on Oprah.
Thousands of eager viewers rushed to get the procedure. But is Thermage all it’s claimed to be?
Thermage is a type of laser treatment which which heats and tightens the lower layers of collagen in the skin resulting in a younger and smoother appearance.
Thermage uses radio frequency to heat up the deeper layers of the skin and this technology has caused some users significant problems with dimpling. The heat from the Thermage machine penetrated too far into the tissue heating up the fat layer as well as the skin and resulting in a lumpy dimpled look – a bit like cellulite. Definitely not what they wanted to achieve.
The makers of Thermage insist that these problems no longer occur because the technology has moved on. Typically the whole Thermage treatment is given in one intensive session and some plastic surgeons consider that a gentler approach over a series of sesions is a better approach.
If this is a worry but you are still interested in Thermage – talk to a registered cosmetic surgeon or clinic about it. There are other options availabe and may be something else would work better for you.
When Oprah featured Thermage on her TV program, the treatment was very new and the glowing reviews generated quite a bit of heat after the show – apparently there were quite a few Thermage customers out there who had a far from rosy view of the Thermage face lift.
It’s important to realize that one Thermage treatment can’t be a replacement for a face lift surgery – expect a degree of skin tightening and skin firming around the order of 30% but don’t expect miracles.
The Thermage face lift can be applied to the forehead, brow, eyes, mid and lower face and the neck to reduce wrinkles and lines. How much of the face is given the Thermage treatment is up to you and your cosmetic surgeon but it will depend on the amount of collagen breakdown.
The results of your treatment will take quite a while to be obvious – typically around 3-6 months following the Thermage session.
Just how long the effects last is another matter. If you don’t smoke, avoid sun exposure and look after your skin – results will last longer but most people are looking at anything from 6 months to 2 years before they need a top up.
A Thermage facelift is a relatively simple process. A wand is passed over the skin, sending out radio waves that have an immediate tightening effect on the skin.
The procedure is relatively painfree, with the sensations being described as similar to deep heat within the skin. Some people describe pinching and burning sensations which can be a little unpleasant. A cooling spray is used to ensure that you are kept comfortable throughout the Thermage treatment.
Unlike face lift surgery – normal activity can resume immediately following Thermage treatment
Possible side effects include redness of the skin, swelling and blisters although these should all be temporary problems and can generally be expected to disappear within two weeks.
If your wrinkles, crinkles, sags and bags aren’t too pronounced and you are happy with the cost involved – Thermage may be something to consider as an alternative to a full face lift.
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Filed under Facial Treatment
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