Thermage - The Radio Frequency Lift

Thermage skin-tightening heat treatment recontours the face by shrinking the skin's existing collagen and stimulating new natural collagen production.

What is it?

Thermage is a pioneering, non-invasive facelift developed in the US to treat oily skin, acne, wrinkles, sun damage and skin laxity. It's the latest US Food and Drug Administration-approved skin-tightening and lifting procedure and its maker says it delivers renewed facial contours and healthy new collagen.

This treatment uses a patented radio frequency (RF) technology called ThermaCool, which has been clinically proven to tighten and lift the skin. Transmitting radio frequencies deep into the skin, as well as into the underlying tissue, causes the collagen fibres within the skin to heat up.

In essence, the treatment 'cooks' the existing collagen layers that lie under the skin. It also immediately kick-starts and stimulates the production of new collagen.

What can it do for you?

Thermage can help to smooth out the visible signs of ageing, such as crow's-feet and smokers' lines around both the eyes and the mouth, as well as treating acne scars.

Loose skin under the chin and drooping eyelids can also be improved. Thermage can lift the brow slightly and gives good results on the neck and chest areas. As well as tackling wrinkles, sagging and scars, it's said to give an all-over fresher skin tone.

The procedure

A single treatment is all that's required, taking from 20 minutes to over an hour, depending on the size of the treatment area. It can only be carried out under medical supervision.

First the area is treated with anaesthetic cream, then a controlled amount of RF energy is applied by the system using a ThermaTip. With each touch, you'll experience a brief 'deep heat' feeling, similar to splashes of warm fat pinging on to the skin. This warming sensation is thought to be the collagen reaching effective temperatures for that all important tightening.

The ThermaTip is cooled before, during and after heating to protect the skin and make the treatment more pleasant. Results are visible immediately.

Cost

From £1,500 to £4,000 per area.

Recovery time

The treatment can be uncomfortable, but most people are able to return to their day-to-day activities shortly afterwards. You might experience mild redness, similar to a slight sunburn, and a bit of swelling, but this usually disappears within 24 hours. Good skincare and sunscreen are recommended for after the procedure.

What can go wrong?

Apart from being slightly uncomfortable and the risk of swelling, redness, bumps and blisters on or around the treated area - which will disappear in a few days - this procedure has a good safety record.

With more than 190,000 estimated treatments worldwide, the reported incidence of side effects is less than 0.4 per cent. A rare (less than 0.11 percent) but longer-lasting side effect, described as 'surface irregularity', has also been reported.

How long does it last?

Although immediate tightening of the skin's collagen structure will be visible, measurable improvements continue to appear gradually over two to six months after a single treatment. This is due to the natural production of new collagen. Results can last up to five years, depending on the individual.

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