Thermage for Skin Firming
Posted: Sunday 11 April 2010 03:17pm
Thermage is a non-invasive skin tightening procedure that uses capacitive radio frequency (CRF) technology called ThermaCool to heat up the collagen in the deeper layers of the skin and its underlying tissue, while simultaneously protecting the outer layer of the skin with a cooling system. The heating action causes deep structures in the skin to tighten.
Says Dr Michael Zacharia, President of the Australasian Academy of Anti-Ageing Medicine claims “there is nothing else non-invasive that tightens the skin like Thermage. It is definitely the gold standard in non-surgical skin tightening procedures.”
Who it’s for: Women and men who need skin tightening, firming contouring and definition, and have fine lines.
Claims: Unparalleled non-invasive skin tightening
What’s involved: You may have an anaesthetic cream applied beforehand. Then a treatment tip is moved over the skin, delivering a controlled amount of CRF energy. You feel a brief, deep heating sensation as the energy is delivered to the skin, and then the skin is cooled down. The deep heating action is an indication that your collagen is reaching effective temperatures for tightening. The treatment takes up to 60 minutes.
Downtime: Mild redness afterwards, which subsides within hours. You can return to work immediately.
Risks and side effects: Can be used on patients of all skin types, but choose a good practitioner, as the skin could be burnt if the practitioner misjudges the amount of energy delivered to the skin.
Preparations: None
What you might ask: How experienced the practitioner is with the treatment – how many procedures have they performed? Can you see some before and after examples of patients, or talk to other patients who have had it done?
Treatments required: One treatment only.
Complications: This is a safe treatment but some people report swelling, blisters or bumps, but this subsides in a few days or weeks.
Optimal results: You skin will immediately feel tighter, and smoother, but best results are two to six months later
Ballpark cost: $3,500 for the full face