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Procedure |
Thermage, thermalift, thermacool |
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Adverse effects |
Swelling, pain |
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Duration of procedure |
1 hour |
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Duration of recovery |
1-3 weeks; takes up to 3-6 months to see final results |
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Duration of results |
unknown |
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Cost |
$1,500 to $5,000 |
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Before |
After |
Before |
After |
Thermage™
Unlike prior generations, today’s young adults are proactive about their health and appearance. They want to look as young as they feel. Our younger, more active patients are having the early signs of aging such as “crow’s feet”, frown lines and smoker’s lines around the lips treated in increasing numbers. They are requesting non-invasive, non-surgical procedures that have little, if any, downtime.
Now, you don’t have to miss a thing. Thermage™, using the Thermacool™ system, is performed in our office, on an outpatient basis, to gently smooth fine lines and wrinkles without surgery, so you can resume normal activities immediately.
Thermage is one of the latest FDA-approved nonablative procedures for maintaining a youthful appearance. It is not a laser. It is a radio frequency (RF) system. The advanced Thermacool system incorporates a cryogen-cooling spray to protect the skin’s outer surface while the RF energy heats and modifies the soft tissues beneath the skin. This causes the collagen to contract and tighten. Each treatment is customized through the system’s computer to control the depth and degree of the heating process.
You will want to explain to your physician the level of skin improvement you hope to achieve. The doctor will then review your medical history and examine your skin to determine if you are a good candidate for Thermage. Together you can discuss your options, evaluate your expectations and determine the best treatment for you. Photographs may be taken for comparison of your results.
Our advanced, computer-controlled Thermacool system gives your physician precise control over the tissue tightening process. The cooling spray maintains the cool skin surface while the RF energy gently heats and modifies the soft, underlying connective tissues. The procedure is rapid and bloodless.
Thermage can be performed with topical anesthetic cream applied about an hour before your treatment. When the machine is pulsed, patients feel brief, intense heat in the treatment site followed by the immediate cooling effect of the cryogen spray.
Some patients see results immediately. However, for most patients the results are gradual over a three to six month period as the skin tightens and more new collagen is formed. Depending on the area treated, the skin laxity and your desired results, multiple treatments may be required.
Fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes and mouth fill in, while the deeper frown lines and grooves are softened. Facial skin and the skin along the neck can be tightened providing a mild, non-surgical browlift or facelift effect. This tightening effect can be used to firm up loose or sagging tissue in other parts of the body. This same deep thermal tissue heating may also have benefits for treating acne, acne scarring and stretch marks.
Treatment results last from 12 to 18 months. Your skin will continue to age as it has in the past and eventually you may wish to have another anti-aging procedure.
Yes. While this is a relatively new procedure, the use of RF energy in other areas of medicine is not. The worldwide safety record of this procedure has revealed very few adverse effects thus far.
• It is non-invasive. There are no incisions and
no tissue damage.
• A level of control can be achieved that is difficult with other treatments.
• There is no bleeding or bruising and the risk of scarring is minimal.
Basically, there is no recovery. You may resume all normal activities immediately. The full effect of your treatment develops over a few months following the procedure and can be expected to last for several months or years. As with any cosmetic procedure, the results can be expected to fade gradually over time, at which time the procedure can be repeated if desired.
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Copyright © 2004 Academic Dermatology & Skin Cancer Institute of Chicago
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