With over 9,000 procedures performed, Dr. Ruth Hillelson is a pioneer in radio-frequency (RF) technologies and a developer of treatment protocol guidelines. She is one of the leading experts on the latest surgical and non-invasive solutions. Dr. Hillelson has led numerous presentations worldwide and was awarded the Pinnacle Award by the International Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery for her lecture on non-invasive RF treatments. Her experience as a board-certified plastic surgeon, combined with her research in non-invasive procedures, makes her a leading specialist in cosmetics and aesthetics.
Sagging facial skin and wrinkles can be a self-image nightmare, but they are an unavoidable fact of life for many people. The natural process of aging causes your skin’s collagen stores to decrease, leading to poor skin tone and looseness. This problem is especially noticeable in the face, where it can cause fine lines, forehead creases, jowls, and deep nasolabial folds. Folds on the neck are also common and can be a major contributor to an aged appearance. All of these problems can make you feel self-conscious about the way you look, impeding your confidence in social and career situations. Thermage is a solution.
Common treatment areas for Thermage FLX
*Each patient is unique and individual results may vary.
Despite the many issues caused by aging skin, many patients do not want to resort to surgery. While surgical procedures like the face lift have the most dramatic results, they also have lengthy recoveries and leave permanent scars. Fortunately, there are options for improving your loose and sagging skin without a single incision.
Ideal Candidates
Thermage can benefit anyone who wants to reduce the appearance of mild-to-moderate wrinkling and sagging, achieve sleeker definition in their neck and jawline, or rejuvenate loose or crepey-looking skin. Good candidates will be in good health and will keep in mind realistic expectations for what will be achieved through noninvasive techniques.
Benefits of Treatment
Thermage can provide great improvements in skin texture by plumping sagging skin as well as by minimizing many fine lines such as crow’s feet. It can highlight your natural features by tightening areas like the jawline, and can even provide good results in tricky places like the eyelids. In many cases, it will also reduce the appearance of cellulite and can be used to shrink certain fat deposits.
The best part of Thermage is that it is completely noninvasive, so it leaves no scars and requires no absences from work or social activities. Patients will be able to resume normal activities the very same day.
Thermage FAQ
How many times will I need to be treated?
It depends on the initial issues and the desired result. In the short term, most patients see their desired results after only one treatment. For some patients, a booster treatment may be recommended months after the initial experience. However, the new collagen produced will eventually disappear again. In most cases, this occurs around two years after treatment. Although the results do last for quite a while, many people decide to continue getting Thermage treatments at regular intervals as a maintenance technique to keep their skin tight and youthful. At Hillelson-Whipple Clinic, other technology protocols are utilized to promote a more encompassing skin result.
When will I see my results?
Many patients see a noticeable change immediately, but since the procedure relies on increasing production of collagen, most changes will take a little while to develop. Results will become more apparent over the first two to three months, and they’ll continue to improve up until six months.
Is Thermage an option for tightening loose skin from weight loss or pregnancy?
It depends on the extent of the loose skin. Thermage works by causing your skin to produce more collagen, which tightens it somewhat and greatly improves the texture. If you have a large amount of loose skin, Thermage cannot remove the entire excess. For cases where there is a small amount of loose skin that may have a loose or wrinkly texture, though, Thermage can lead to a great improvement.
Will my Thermage treatment be painful?
The procedure itself usually involves nothing more than a tingling or vibrating sensation coupled with slight hot and cold feelings as the treatment works its way through your skin. During recovery, most patients report no discomfort.
Is Thermage a good option for aging in the eye area?
In many cases, yes. Thermage can treat certain types of sagging as well as the fine lines, crow’s feet, and crepey texture that plagues many people. In some cases, it can also improve the appearance of fat deposits that cause bulging under-eye bags although only surgery can remove these fat pads. For those who have more significant amounts of loose skin in the eye area, surgical intervention may be recommended.
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