Thermage® FAQs

Who should NOT use Thermage® treatments?
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Thermage® is not suitable for patients with pacemakers. It is also not suited during Pregnancy. See: Are Thermage® treatments safe?

Who should administer Thermage® Cosmetic Treatments?
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Thermage® treatments are only performed in a doctor’s office by Thermage®-certified personnel. Most doctors offer free consultations to determine if Thermage® is right for you. Women 35-60 normally have the best and most predictable results. If your skin is too lax, the results will not be as dramatic.

Is there any special preparation or follow-up regime?
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No. Unlike surgery, there is no pre-procedure preparation, such as blood work or fasting required. One can return to regular activities immediately following treatment and there is no special care after treatment. Some patients exhibit a temporary redness or minor swelling after treatment, this usually resolves within 24 hours. Good skin care and sunscreens are recommended as part of your regular skin care regimen. The only signs of treatment are naturally smoother, younger, and healthier skin.

What results should I expect from Thermage® treatments?
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After treatment, your skin may be slightly red for a day or two. But most people resume regular activities immediately after treatment, with no downtime or special follow-up care.

Immediate results are visible, and improve over time. Measurable tightening and contouring improvements appear gradually over a two to six month time period following a single treatment session.

How long does a Thermage® treatment take?
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Normally, the complete procedure can be performed in just one session lasting from 20 minutes to two hours, depending on the treatment area.

Are the Body by Thermage® procedures safe?
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Body by Thermage® procedures have an excellent safety record. With over 190,000 estimated worldwide patient treatments to date the reported incidence of side effects is less than 0.4%. The most frequently reported incidents are classified as swelling, redness, bumps, and blisters on or around the treated area. These side effects have disappeared in a few days or weeks. A rare (<0.11%) but longer lasting side effect described as a surface irregularity has also been reported. Dr. Turek will discuss this and any other questions you may have on the safety record of Body by Thermage® procedures.

Are Thermage® treatments painful?
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With each touch of the ThermaTip device, the patient experiences a brief, deep heating sensation as the CRF energy is delivered to the skin and underlying tissue. This deep heating sensation is an indication that collagen is reaching effective temperatures for tightening. To protect the skin and make the treatment more comfortable, the surface of the skin is cooled before, during, and after each application of CRF energy. Dr. Turek will ask for patient feedback on the level of heat sensation experienced during the procedure to help guide him to balance procedural comfort with maximum results. He may offer light pain medications prior to treatment to minimize the heat sensation.

General anesthesia is not required, but to make sure you are comfortable the doctor may offer light pain medications prior to treatment.

How soon are the results of Thermage® treatments noticeable?
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You should feel and see your skin being smoother, firmer, and tighter immediately after your Thermage® treatment. You may also notice some contouring effects which will begin enhancing the shape of your face.

After the procedure, you should continue to see improvements to your skin as a result of the production of new and increased collagen, as well as some additional contouring effects due to continued tightening over time. These effects will continue for up to six months. You should see lasting results.

How long does the effect of the Body by Thermage® procedures last?
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Body by Thermage® procedures immediately tighten existing collagen and stimulate new natural collagen production for up to six months following the treatment. Unpublished reports indicate that results may last for years and are based on the patient's natural aging process.

How many Thermage® treatments will I need?
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Unlike many laser procedures requiring four or more sessions, a single Body by Thermage® treatment produces results in the majority of patients. Dr. Turek will determine the course of reatment that is right for each patient, based on the patient’s needs and goals.

Are there side effects from Thermage®?
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Significant risks with Thermage® procedures are infrequent, but the potential side effects to the treatment are:

• Swelling
• Redness
• Bumps
• Blisters

However these side effects listed above usually disappear in a few days or weeks.

Is Body by Thermage® the only radiofrequency technology on the market today?
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While there are other skin care technologies that use radiofrequency energy, only the Body by Thermage® proprietary capacitive radiofrequency technology delivers deep uniform volumetric heating powerful enough to naturally tighten and contour skin and underlying tissue. Also, Body by Thermage® procedures achieve results in a single treatment compared to other technologies requiring five or more treatment sessions.

How much do the Body by Thermage® procedures cost?
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The procedures cost will vary based on the areas treated. Dr. Turek will discuss the fees with you at the time of the consultation.

For more information about Thermage® treatments...

We'll be glad to answer your Thermage® questions personally, so don't hesitate to call or email DermaVogue.