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Pointe
Lift - before & after
Thermage
Skin Tightening - before & after
Pointe
Lift & Thermage - before & after
Loose skin that has been stretched
by age and exposure has been treated in the
past with surgery. Traditional "face
lifts" undermine (separate) the skin
and then pull it towards the ears to make
it tighter. The excess skin is cut away and
the edges are sutured together. Permanent
scars in the hairline and in front of the
ears are necessary for this correction. Face
lifts are still common but don't do much for
thin skin and can look artificial and stretched.
A well done facelift can last ten years before
needing to be redone. It requires a number
of weeks to look normal enough to go into
public and facelifts that don't meet expectations
are still permanent
Loose skin can now be treated
with a new medical technology called "Thermage".
This process tightens the skin using focused
energy (radio waves) that causes the collagen
and protein in the skin to shrink. This shrinking
tightens the skin and causes new collagen
to form making it stronger and more resilient.
The effects increase over time with maximum
results achieved a few months after treatment.
Thermage lifts and tightens sagging skin without
surgery and without downtime. Thermage uses
radiofrequency energy and a cooling spray
to heat the deep layers of your skin and thereby
tightens existing collagen and stimulates
new collagen growth.
Most treatments can be performed in less than
an hour and there is virtually no recovery
period. During a ThermaCool treatment, radiofrequency
energy is applied with a cooling wand. Without
damaging the surface, the radiofrequency energy
is absorbed by the dermal layer of skin tissue
where it tightens existing collagen and triggers
new collagen production. Results are achieved
gradually from the inside out! The treatment
is quick and virtually painless. After treatment,
most patients experience only minor redness,
which subsides within an hour or so.
What
is the Thermage Procedure?
The Thermage procedure was developed to help
the signs of aging skin. It works by tightening
tissue. It is currently used for treating
periorbital (around the eye) wrinkles. The
Thermage procedure is also known as ThermaLift,
Thermal Lifting, Therma Plasty, and Thermoplastic
contouring. The Thermage technology is being
studied for other aesthetic uses on the face.
How
does it work?
The radiofrequency (RF) energy uniformly heats
the dermis while cooling and protecting the
epidermis. It is designed to cause immediate
collagen contraction followed by new collagen
production which occurs over a period of time.
The Thermage procedure is the only non-invasive
method to tighten loose skin.
What
does a Thermage Procedure feel like?
Each time treatment is delivered there is
an immediate cool sensation, followed by a
brief hot sensation, followed by a cool sensation.
An anesthetic cream applied one hour before
the procedure numbs the surface of the skin
to help make the treatment more comfortable.
Your physician may offer additional measures
to increase your comfort.
How
long will the Thermage Procedure take?
Depending on the size of the area treated,
the procedure itself may take anywhere from
a few minutes to an hour. Your physician may
require that you arrive an hour before your
procedure for administration of an anesthetic
cream. This patient had her forehead skin
treated in about 25 minutes. Note the change
in the appearance of her eyes. Before
Patient treated by Julio Barba and Javier
Ruiz-Esparza
After
When
can I return to my normal activities?
You may return to your normal activities immediately,
as there is usually no "downtime".
Minimal redness is seen in some patients but
it usually disappears shortly after treatment.
Heat-related complications can occur but are
uncommon. There is no special care needed
after treatment. As a part of good skin care,
sunscreen is recommended.
When
will I see results?
In most patients, results appear gradually
over 2-6 months, although some patients see
an earlier response. Before
Patient treated by Roy Geronemus
4 weeks after treatment
How
many treatments will I need?
A single treatment has produced good results
in a significant number of patients. However,
your doctor will assess the number and frequency
of treatments required to achieve optimal
results for your skin.
How
long will the effects of the Thermage procedure
last?
Recently published studies show that improvements
continue for at least six months after a single
treatment session. Other studies show that
thermal collagen changes can last several
years, depending on the rate of the aging
process.
How
safe is it?
The Thermage procedure is very safe. Although
it is possible that skin damage can occur,
this advanced treatment has been studied carefully
in hundreds of patients with minimal reports
of lasting adverse effects.
How
does the Thermage Procedure change your skin?
This magnified picture of skin (before image)
depicts diminished collagen density and a
thinning epidermis (top layer of skin) which
is typical of aging skin. Four months after
the Thermage Procedure there is new and denser
collagen and an appreciable increase in the
thickness of the epidermis (after image)
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