Thermage
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Thermage hype or reality?

By panda200 on 10 Feb 2010

I was talking to my doctor and he said that thermage is a bunch of bunk. I was hoping someone(s) could give more about their experience and guide me on whether I'm getting good information from my doctor.

View 14 doctor answers to If Thermage is So Great, How Come People Say They Don't See Results?

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charlotte (1 post) 29 Nov 2006

I would like to know if anyone has had laser with the TITAN laser, and if there was any improvement after the procedure.  I have heard that Thermage doesn't  work, but I'm wondering if the TITAN laser is any different.  I would greatly appreciate any comments.

 

Suze (unregistered guest) 11 May 2007
I tried Titan right before my wedding last year, and can't tell you if it worked or not, which I suppose means it didn't work too well. However, I only tried one session, and I'm not that loose in the face. For my money, I wouldn't repeat.
guest (unregistered guest) 24 May 2007
studies show thermage is more effective with ONE treatment vs Titan's 3 to 4 treatments. Thermage is NOT a laser...it uses radio waves instead of light. Titan simply is a superficial toy compared the Thermage
bonnnie (unregistered guest) 23 Sep 2007
i had the titan series. i did not see any improvement tho they took before and after pictures, at different angles. what i have noticed 2 years later is that my skin has aged remarkably fast. i feel like it damages the skin to build collagen, but ....that it really does damage the skin. have they done any long term monitoring to know if it does? all the results i have read on it the women say they lost the fullness to their face, which later makes it look older. whether it damages muscle tissue of depletes fat i don't know, but i do not recommend it.
Dianna (unregistered guest) 15 Dec 2006
Ok- I am not a doctor and this is only my opinion.  If your doctor is a dermatologist than they are FOR thermage.  If your doctor is a plastic surgeon- they say it does not work and believe that you can only improve sagging skin from cuttting it away and tightening the muscles- aka facelift. 
So, I went to a dermatologist.  my experience has been that it does work.  I have minimally sagging skin, some wrinkles that I fill with Restylane 2 to 3 times a year, depending on my budget.  I had thermage on my eye area and definetly see improvement. 
Dottie 712 (1 post) 19 Mar 2008
May i ask how old you were at the time you had it done? REason being Im in my 60's and I feel that the sagging jowls and neck are bad.
puzzle (unregistered guest) 25 Mar 2008
Hallo Dottie 712, my wife was hardly damaged by a Thermage procedure here in Germany in Dec. 2006 and every day brings new results. Beside this certified Dr. in Germany other Thermage certified Drs. say after 50 years Thermage dont work - it is a too high risk. Another reason absolute not doing Thermage in the face is a small face. Both facts the "lying" Dr. did not gegard. He (study and experience with Th in USA) promised no side effects!
puzzle (unregistered guest) 15 Apr 2008
Excuse me: "hardly" is the absolute wrong word. Severely damaged (fat loss, deep dents, problems with the teeth and eyes) is correct.
shana (unregistered guest) 21 Apr 2008
And what is this percentage of "Severly damaged" side affects? I believe it is around .05%, and was due to being treated incorrectly. This is less of a percentage of side affects than TYLENOL. Problems with teeth and eyes? Explain please, I have heard nothing of the sort. I had Thermage done two and a half years ago and was/am ecstatic with the results. I am getting it done again in a few months.
r.s. (unregistered guest) 24 Apr 2008
I've been wanting to get this done for 2-3yrs but can't afford to waste the money. So many comments on here say its not worth it. You say you were very happy with the results. How old are you and who did your thermage? I think it makes a difference in the doctor you use. Then, some people say age has something to do with the results?? I do not want to go under the knife, I am 62 and have High BP. Hope you can answer my questions. Thanks
puzzle (38 posts) 25 Apr 2008
We both (over 60) were treatet and damaged! This must be unusual and it seems the Doc made a lot of mistakes. He said he can not see a reason - he has treated correct... I am waiting for his explanations to our attorney. Than I will report here.
James E. White, MD (12 posts) 27 Apr 2008
Would like to see photographs of the damage--please share to educate the public.
View answers from James E. White, MD
puzzle (38 posts) 30 Apr 2008
We have just received a letter from the Doc`s attorney. We never have seen such a lot of lies. Whats my wife concerns you can find a detailed report to "Thermage problems"- outcoming in march 2008 on a FDA page. Thermage USA provides a lot of useful informations but some Doc's think they are well informed enough without the experience of others. Interesting is a report from Thermage USA that in 2002 an 2003 6% of the praktioneers. caused 100% of the damages! I hope this is the correct page: http://www.medicalspamd.com/display/ShowJournal?moduleId=182618&categoryId=38416 In the medicalspamd you can also find helpful detailed informations from "Midwest" to the > efficacy of the Thermage procedure based on 300 treated persons. I also placed their a short report with my thoughts about the bone density.
Stacy F. (unregistered guest) 22 Dec 2006
panda - I decided not to get thermage. My problem with it was that the before and after pictures never look that impressive. IMO they show really little difference. On top of this the doctor I talked to about thermage told me it may be less effective on some people than others. in other words no guarantees! hardly worth thousands of dollars i got quoted. -stacy
shana (unregistered guest) 21 Apr 2008
Just an FYI...Thermage is NOT a facelift. It is considered to be a subtle change in some/dramatic in others. It is NON INVASIVE which means that there is no cutting of the skin and no downtime. It is for those who want to look refreshed, not tightened as if they had extreme surgery....
dannie (unregistered guest) 22 Jan 2007
Thermage is so over-hyped! I will never forgive oprah for pushing it. Does she have a contract with them? I have 4 girl friends who spent $3-4K on thermage sessions and NOT ONE of them feels it made a difference. that's not at all what you hear about from doctors who sell it. the best thing to do is bite the bullet and get a mini-facelift or neck lift. proven to make a big difference. d.
Patti chacon (unregistered guest) 9 Feb 2007
I agree totally! I also had the Thermage in 09/06 and I did get some improvement on my wrinkles around the eyes but I don't know if it was Thermage or my dermabrasions and chemical peels that also helped so, I can't say for sure it was Thermage that took the wrinkles away. I WOULD NOT DO IT AGAIN! I have decided to bite the bullet and get a lower face lift with a board certified plastic surgeon. Since my Thermage I see the jowels sagging even more than before. I don't know if its from the Thermage or I am just aging more. I also didn't think it was worth it but I don't have regrets since I did see some results around my eyes.
guest (unregistered guest) 24 May 2007
Your gf's were not appropriately consulted and their expectations were out of whack. Thermage clearly works, it's solid science however ANY non-invasive procedure cannot guarentee results - not even surgery.
Louise Tubbergen (unregistered guest) 5 Jul 2007
I have already booked to have thermage done but im now starting to doubt that it works, I am only 28 but have used sun-beds for years and recently my skin has started to sag and i also have alot of lines and wrinkles, It is making me so depressed and im desperate to have something done about it, Do you think i am too young to have a mini face lift?
Tami (unregistered guest) 6 Aug 2007
Try IPL first. You are way too young for anything else and it really helps with sun damage.
meg (unregistered guest) 1 Feb 2008
hi - I was looking on the website when i saw your note - I hope i am not too late. Thermage does not work on everybody and it is very expensive. I had it done and it certainly did not work. I have been told by cosmetic surgeons that the sand blasting is better.He also said using alot of scrubs because it stimulates the collagen. Thermage is painful as well. I have since had a mini face lift and work done on my eyes - I am much happier and now that I have done it I realise that that I should have done that in the first place. You are young so maybe go for the sand blasting procedure first. If you have already had the thermage done then I hope you are one of the few it seems to work for good luck Meg
4Real (unregistered guest) 28 Jan 2007
RE: BODY THERMAGE - SKIN TIGHTENING SYSTEM! **not to be confused with the Facial Thermalift procedure. HELP! Despite hours-upon-hours of online research, I'm no more informed than when I started my quest. There is a lack of "real-time" photos and testimonials regarding "BODY by Thermage". Thermage has been around since 2004 and the US FDA approved off face applications one year ago in January 2006 so why isn't more documentation available? My background: Early 40's size 6, 5'5" weigh 125# should be thrilled right? But after having children and yo-yo weight gain/loss, I'm left with moderately loose abdominal skin and a tush that could be better toned. I've no real skin flaws such as stretch marks but am begining to show signs of minor cellulite. Five years ago I had abdominal lipo and a breast lift, nice result. Two years ago I tried Mesotherapy & Endermology, no appreciable benefit for those procedures. Here are my questions: 1) (PHOTOS) Why aren't "Body by Thermage" photos posted other than those provided by the Themage Company? Moreover, why haven't physicians posted their own "success" BODY photos? This leads me to believe there aren't any. Even discussion boards and forums are without pt. photos, why? 2) (PAIN and SCARRING) There are mixed reviews on whether to numb. Seems numbing may block pt's ability to percieve pain therefore scarring could occurs. Are docs using lower frequency and more wand passes hoping for better outcomes? 3) (WAIT) Should I wait on improved technology like ELOS or UltraShape / Vaser's LipoSelect rather than take a gamble? I'd like small spot reductions while addressing skin laxity but want to avoid disappointment. 4) (Which Specialty) Plastic Surgeon -vs- Dermatologist, who'd you select to do the procedure? Plastics know the body and Dermatologist know the skin but shouldn't there be clear guidelines to calling cards? How does one go about finding the doc whose performed the most body-Thermage procedures and has been "peer" rated as a "Top Doc" in this field? 5) (Far out thinking) Bare with me--how about an endoscopic (keyhole) mini-tummy tuck instead? Through my research, it seems that this procedure is mostly performed on men, why? Are there any females who've had this done? Perhaps, this procedure could be combined with VelaSmooth or another procedure that awaiting FDA approval. Short of the matter, I'll pay whatever and will travel wherever for a successful outcome but need better information. I'll continue to diet & exercise; refusing to go down without a fight. Please share stories (good and bad) and pics if you've had this procedure... THANKS!
guest123 (unregistered guest) 1 Feb 2007
I had Thermage on my eye and forehead area. I'm 40, with thicker oily Italian skin, and I've had a lot of derma stuff done - I get microderm regularly, botox, restlnyne, sculptra. I've also tried several different lasers. My take on Thermage is that it helps a little. It's not dramatic at all. It's not like injectables where you go "wow". I saw some improvement, but it was subtle. So I'm not upset - it was worth trying - but I would not repeat. Maybe thinner skin would react better?
guest (unregistered guest) 24 May 2007
Thermage's websites are chock full of before and after pics - what are you talking about? Your practioner should also have pics as well. Derm or Plastic - doesn't matter when it comes to body Thermage. Look at the company website and choose a Pinnacle Award provider (on the physician locator section) - these are the offices doing more thermage than anyone else. Good luck
lisalisa615 (unregistered guest) 14 Jun 2007
Hello, i read your blog, and i would like to let you know that i had the same problem after aving my child, i was left with loose skin on my belly, and considered having thermage done....but all the bad comments, i wasnt so sure. So i heard about Beautytek....its a machine called beautytek that disolves fat. I live in canada and got it done, i had 3 session at 200$ each, and had amzing results, They even gave me pictures a the end of each session to prove the results. check it out

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