Thermage - Patients ask, Dr. Ringpfeil answers
Please feel free to use the blog below to share information about Thermage or to ask Dr. Franziska Ringpfeil a question that might be of interest to others.
Philadelphia and Mainline Center of Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery
Thermage and other Radiofrequency Devices
Overview:
Radiofrequency drives heat to the superficial, mid and deep dermis and stimulates collagen production.
Expected results:
Subtle tightening of the skin around eyes, face, neck and abdomen. Results are highly variable.
Preparation:
Topical anesthesia +/- nerve block by injection.
Post treatment instructions:
Sun protection for at least 3 months.
Time to desired results:
4-6 months
Contraindications:
None. Radiofrequency is considered safe on all skin types.
Duration of desired effects:
Up to 2 years.
Downtime:
Redness for up to 24 hours
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I have voluma that I do not like. It is like a bubble on my check. I saw my dermatologist about it and she didn’t want to dissolve it. My question is will RF help dissolve it?
Volume is a fast setting hyaluronic acid based filler. On the cheek it is typically injected over bone. Even if it was “changeable” by heat, I would not count on radiofrequency. There is no external radiofrequency device that reaches to bone safely unless a probe is inserted in that area.
Voluma can be dissolved with hyaluronidase that is injected with a needle where it was placed. The effects are almost immediate.
recently lost 30+ lbs The skin on my thighs is a bit saggy. Will thermage help?
Radiofrequency treatment is currently the best answer to non-surgical skin tightening. However, the radiofrequency energy needs to be delivered directly to area where tightening is needed, the second layer of the skin (dermis). This can be achieved with a number of devices that are now available in the US and many more in Canada and Europe. Infini, for example, delivers radiofrequency through insulated probes to the target layer (dermis) where old collagen and elastin is replaced by new collagen and elastin. Thermage, however, is one of the first generation radiofrequency devices that transmits radiofrequency on the surface of the skin and subsequent penetration into the layers where tightening needs to be achieved. Its limitation is the amount of energy that can safely be used not to burn the top layer of skin. In my opinion and experience, it achieve reproducible results in less than 50% of people who are treated.