The Effects of Thermage

Thermage a non-ablative (does not damage the skin surface) technique is also called radio frequency resurfacing. Thermage is quick, easy and safe and gives immediate results. Radio waves are delivered through a hand piece (that also has a cooling spray) to the second layer of the skin causing it to contract and reduce lines and wrinkles. New collagen develops to mold and firm the skin giving it a smooth youthful appearance. Thermage treatment has benefits as well as side effects

Thermage treatment takes about 20 minutes or up to two hours depending on the extent of the area to be treated. The patient can return to a daily routine immediately after surgery. The result is instant gratification of smooth, firm and tighter, younger looking skin that will last for six months and up to two or more years. The United States Food and Drug Administration approved Thermage treatment in June, 2004 to treat the entire face.

According to HoustonMedicalCenter.com, "the Thermage procedure is utilized across the world and has accumulated an exceedingly safe record." The side effects of the Thermage treatment are considered minimal. These side effects may include swelling, redness or bumps as well as blisters at the area of the skin that's treated. These symptoms usually disappear in three to ten days. A rare and longer lasting side effect that may occur is an irregularity or a depression in the skin.

Some degree of pain is encountered during the procedure. Pain will be treated by the healthcare provider with the application of an anesthetic cream, a nerve block (administration of an anesthetic agent directly near a nerve to block pain) or with the use of intra-venous sedation. Any pain after the Thermage treatment is usually treated with an over the counter pain reliever.

Approximately 70,000 Thermage procedures have been safely done with less than 1 percent of these procedures resulting in side effects. The cost of a thermage treatment in the United States ranges between $1000 and up to $5000 depending on the treatment area and extent of the treatment, the geographic location also plays a role in the price. Thermage treatments are not covered under a basic insurance policy.

According to Smart SkinCare web-site, in a study by Drs. Alster and Tanzi from Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery at Georgetown University Medical Center 50 subjects were treated with Thermage to improve neck and check laxity. The report revealed that there was significant improvement in check and neck skin laxity in the majority of patients with short term effectiveness and relatively mild side effects.