Thermage
Thermage is a innovative new procedure that specializes in skin tightening through promoting connective tissue contraction. Thermage treatment is presently considered an alternative to having a face-lift, and, as it is non-invasive, Thermage popularity is on the rise. Thermage risks and side-effects are, furthermore, rarely seen, and Thermage costs are lower than those of most plastic surgeries.
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Up until fairly recently, a face-lift was the only available option for those who wanted to effect skin tightening on specific facial areas, but this procedure involved incisions being made into the skin, which sometimes resulted in scarring. Although Botox and collagen treatments were also available, they did not prove excessively popular, which has paved the way for Thermage.
Thermage treatment works by stimulating connective tissue - collagen - deposits that lie deep beneath the skin to contract and, in this way, to give the skin a toned appearance. Thermage involves the application of short bursts of RF (radio frequency) energy to the targeted facial areas, which heats up the underlying collagen deposits and, simultaneously, cools down the outer layers of skin. Not only does Thermage treatment cause the collagen deposits to contract, Thermage results also include further collagen development.
One of the reasons for the recent increase in Thermage popularity over that of the surgical face-lifts is that traditional face-lift surgery involves incisions, could cause scarring and necessitates quite a lot of down time during which a patient recovers from the surgery. A patient can, on the other hand, undergo a Thermage procedure in under an hour and can immediately continue with their normal activities. Thermage risks and side effects are also not as far reaching as those that accompany face-lift surgical procedures, and, if Thermage patients experience any side-effects at all, they will see slight swelling, redness or small blisters.
Thermage cost is also not as excessive as the cost of the traditional cosmetic surgeries like face-lifts, male breast reduction, chin surgery or ear surgery. A Thermage price would usually come in at anything between $900 to $2,000, although prices of $4,000 are not unknown. Thermage treatment never involves general anesthetic and usually does not involve local anesthetic, although this is available on request.
Thermage results usually last for approximately two years, and, although results are noticeable immediately after the Thermage procedure has been completed, skin tightening and collagen development will continue to take place during up to six months after the treatment.
