Thermage

FDA Approved Non-Invasive AntiAging Cosmetic Procedure

Thermage is one of the latest non-invasive antiaging cosmetic procedures. It was approved for full facial treatment by the FDA in 2004.

Thermage does not use laser energy, but rather radio frequency, to heat the collagen below the skin surface.

It has been clinically proven that this tightens and lifts the skin, smoothing out wrinkles and restoring facial contours.

Unlike some laser resurfacing treatments, Thermage can be performed on all skin types.

The treatment is non-invasive and there is little to no recovery time and little chance of scarring or discoloration in the treated areas. The treatment is done in your doctor's office and generally takes under an hour. There have been very few adverse reactions reported. You can return to normal activities immediately.

The system is designed to uniformly heat large amounts of collagen in the deeper layers of the skin, while the outer layers are protected by cooling the treatment tip during the procedure. Patients will feel a brief burning sensation and then an immediate tightening of the treated areas.

One of the most useful applications for the treatment is to correct sagging and drooping in the mid and lower facial areas, especially under the chin and in the jawline. According to the company, this is the only non-invasive treatment effective on those areas of the face.

The procedure is now being used on other parts of the body, including sagging underarm areas, as well as the abdomen. The pictures in the advertising brochures depict dramatic skin tightening.

There are reports of almost immediate noticeable difference, although it is more likely to take three to six weeks for the full effect to be noticeable. Generally only one treatment is necessary and the results will last one to two years.

It seems that the benefits of this procedure are similar to what you would expect with a face lift, although the results won't last as long. But if you don't want to consider a face lift or want to postpone one, maybe indefinitely, this procedure certainly bears looking into.

Go to the Thermage website, to locate a physician that can perform this procedure or to download the patient brochure.

I recently had the Thermage treatment on my face and neck.

Read my Thermage Journal for a blow-by-blow account of my experiences with the procedure.

More About Thermage

My Thermage Journal
My Thermage Face Lift Results
Thermage Safety and Effectiveness
Thermage Followup

This article is for informational purposes only. It does not purport to offer medical advice.