Many people are intimidated by the prospect of aesthetic surgery. Will it be painful? How long will it take to heal? Will there be a difference? Then, there’s the additional pressure of embarrassment when a patient goes out in public following a surgery—what to say when friends ask about the bandages, or how to handle appraising looks from strangers. With new medical technology, however, non-invasive procedures offer patients a viable alternative.
Thermage
Few Americans had heard of a beauty treatment called Thermage until Oprah Winfrey began championing it on her talk show. In episodes with names like "How to Stop the Clock on Aging," "Look Younger! Live Longer!" and "Look 10 Years Younger in 10 Days," Ms. Winfrey introduced Thermage as one of the "latest cutting-edge treatments" and as a "lunchtime face-lift" that requires no recovery time.
Thermage is a non-invasive procedure that reverses the signs of aging in the face and neck by tightening and gently lifting the skin to smooth out wrinkles and renew facial contours. The result is a look of youthful freshness. More recently, Thermage has gained FDA approval for protocols for skin tightening around the eye area (Eyes by Thermage) and in the abdomen (Thermage Tummy). It is foreseen that in the near future, FDA approval for whole body Thermage will come.
Thermage utilizes a patented radio-frequency technology called ThermacoolTM. The apparatus pulses intense radio-frequency heat into the skin’s deeper layers while simultaneously cooling the surface layer to prevent burns on the visible skin. Heating the underlying layers of skin stimulates collagen production, thereby tightening and smoothening the skin in the treated areas. The skin appears lifted and more youthful, with a markedly reduced appearance in wrinkles. There is a visible difference immediately following Thermage treatment, but optimal results are usually seen three to six months later. These changes can last up to a year post-treatment.
Although the procedure is incision-free, some patients have reported some discomfort during treatment. Experienced doctors, however, will usually administer a mild, topical local anesthetic before beginning treatment. Still, there has also been a very low incidence of side effects (<1%) such as swelling, tenderness, redness, bumps, skin depressions, or blisters. Though such side effects may occur, they are extremely rare and will usually return to normal after a few days.
The procedure itself is normally done as a single treatment that takes from 20 minutes to two hours depending on the treatment area. What’s more, there is no downtime — so you can quickly resume your normal routine. Also, unlike lasers, this procedure can be performed on all skin types and tones; and unlike injections or fillers, Thermage works on your entire face — forehead, eyes, nasolabial folds, jaw line, jowls and the area under your chin.
If you no longer recognize the face looking back at you in the mirror, it’s time to talk to a certified Thermage physician and learn how Thermage can help you look as young as you feel.