Thermage: Q&A
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If Thermage is So Great, How Come People Say They Don't See Results?
My doctor recommended Thermage for the loose skin on my neck, jowls and eyelids, but I don't know anyone who has done it and I don't really think it will work. If Thermage is so great how come a lot of people say they don't see results?
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19 Doctor Answers |
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anon
+14
Yes, Thermage does work
There is absolute scientific data that shows Thermage works for approximately 94% of properly selected candidates. This has been published in peer reviewed journals and is accepted by the majority of skilled Thermage physicians. The key then becomes who is a properly selected candidate? In my experience (as a disclosure, I was chairman of the Thermage Scientific Advisory Board for 8 years and continue to consult for the company) the best candidates are those with medium sized faces and...
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+11
Thermage seems to be a gimmick
I have yet to meet a patient pleased with Thermage, and I have seen a lot. Most patients would experience excellent results from surgical treatment that doesn't hurt (at least not much). Patients complain that Thermage is extremely painful. There is no way to shrink skin--period. Excess skin requires surgical excision.
What is also very disturbing is using Thermage as a trap for patients. There are a number of facial plastic surgeons in my community who sell a fairly useless Thermage...
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+10
Thermage = Low Satisfaction Rate
The patient satisfaction rate for Thermage is around 40% - Compare that to a Tummy Tuck with around 80%. You would think that for a "no down-time", less expensive, less painful treatment you would have greater satisfaction. The reality is that the treatment does not work very well despite all the cheerleading. Unfortunately, there are lots of companies that really "market" these products to doctors who sick and tired of dealing with insurance companies and the hassles...
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Real Review With Real Abdominal Before & After Photos - Scottsdale, AZ
18 months ago I began researching Thermage as a tummy tuck alternative. The reviews I read...
+7
Thermage
Thermage if done effectively can be a cost effective treatment. However, thermage frequently disappoints patients since practitioners overpromise its benefits and do not choose appropriate candidates. Thermage can be somewhat effective for some patients although it fails for a large number of patients.
For those that it works on, Thermage provides significant correction (generally 1 - 2 mm). The procedure may need to be repeated every year to 18 months. Therefore, we would...
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+5
Because Thermage isn't so great!
If you have loose skin on the neck you need surgery to get a nice correction. Thermage has been associated with so many unhappy patients that you should skip this treatment.
+5
Thermage Results
Thermage is a great treatment. The results depend upon two things.
The patient as a candidate for successful treatment
The skills of the person performing the treatment.
It really depends upon these two factors. The physician who consults you should be able to give you a realistic expectation of the results that you may see. Also, when you are doing your research to find the best place to perform your treatment, make sure you ask them:
Who performs the procedure?
How much training do...
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+4
Thermage absolutely works
Thermage works. It won't give you the results that surgery will, but for those wanting a NO DOWNTIME 1 hour procedure, there is nothing better. You will see upper neck and jowl tightening, improvement of the crepiness of the skin around the eyes, cheeks, knees, and abdomen. The prior negative physician's comments are all Plastic Surgeon which prefer the knife to other technologies. I'm a surgeon, but there are people who want something less invasive, with a very natural appearance. Don't...
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+3
Themage Not Ideal for loose skin
Thermage has noticeable but very limited results.Like other skin resurfacing procedures it tends to tighten the skin to an extent to smooth some of the fine lines, improve pigment problems and diminish pore size. What they do NOT do well is to minimize jowls and other signs of facial soft tissue laxity. Only a mini facelift or facelift will take care of this problem in a significant fashion. This is why satisfaction after Thermage treatments are rated so low.
+3
Thermage
This device has changed many times over the years to try to get results that are reliable and reproducible for patients. I first used it in 2005. It certainly began overpromising and underdelivering and is why you may have read many unsatisfied results at high prices and much pain. There have been efforts to change the parameters, handpieces or tips and number of passes and protocols etc to try to get better results with this approach.
Be certain that none of these tightening devices come...
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Boulder Dermatologist
+2
Thermage - Works or Not?
The reputation of Thermage took a pretty heavy hit early on when the pain levels were high enough that doctors reduced the number of pulses to save the patients from pain and potential injury. Obviously undertreating left a number of people unhappy.
Newer Thermage technology eliminated most of the associated pain so results got better as the technology improved and doctors began using many more pulses but at lighter energies. But...
It's good to understand how...
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+1
Thermage works but within realistic parameters
I am so happy that someone asked this question! Thermage works but of course it does not work as well as face lift. The key to getting the right results is patient selection and expectation. You cannot expect it to be the same results as a face lift. Nor is it a substitute for a face lift. However, if you have good skin tone and turgor and you want a non-surgical alternative then you are a good candidate and will be pleased with the results. The procedure takes...
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+1
The simple reason that some people say that Thermage hasn't worked for them is because it doesn't
Work for everyone. Couple that with the fact that it can take up to six months after treatment to achieve the result, and many patients expect their results yesterday, and you know why many people say it didn't work for them. Having said that, in the properly selected patient, who is educated about the process and what to expect realistically, Thermage can be an excellent rejuvenating treatment that many patients are happy with. I think the key here is to see an open...
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+1
Thermage Works
Thermage works great when done by an experienced practitioner who chooses patient selection wisely. To date, this is still the best non-surgical form of skin tightening we have seen. However, there are many variables that are practitioner dependent that can make Thermage not work.
#1. Patient Selection is key - patients should only have mild to moderate laxity. Any more laxity then this patients will not see a good result.
#2. You must do an...
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+1
Thermage and Expectations
Thermage has always been a moderate skin tightening treatment, it has improved significantly since I began using it in 2004, shortly after FDA approval. It is not comparable to plastic surgery yet it is a safe and effective alternative for those not yet ready for the bigger procedures. Some never want surgery and are very content with what Thermage can give them.
Thermage should be repeated every year or two, skin laxity continues and treatment should be repeated (even a...
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+1
Thermage
You need to ask who says something is great. Is it the physician themselves? You first need to make sure the surgeon your are seeing is really a plastic surgeon and is board certified. Lets start there. There are dermatologist and physicians out there that have thermage or other non invasives as their sole mode of facial rejuvenation. So you have to be aware. I am not saying that everyone that comes into the office needs surgery but you need to see a plastic surgeon who offers both...
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+1
Thermage works!
I do not receive any financial compensation from any company, nor am I on any scientific advisory boards for any of the companies who own Thermage or its competitors.Since 2003, I have tested many non-invasive and minimally invasive technologies that have been invented for skin tightening. I am a board-certified dermatologist and I have talked with many plastic surgeons in the Atlanta area to discuss an ideal approach for individual patients..non-invasive or invasive. There is no question...
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+1
Expect subtle results from Thermage
Thermage, like other non-invasive treatments, produces subtle changes. Therefore, patients who desire more significant results will generally be dissatisfied with the outcome even though it has virtually no down-time. The key, as others have indicated, is careful patient selection and understanding of the benefits and limitations of the treatment. For a relatively young patient who is not emotionally or financially ready for facial rejuvenation surgery, the older patient...
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+1
Thermage CPT works well if...
We have had the Thermage CPT for nearly one year and the quality and consistency of the results are significantly better than with the old Thermage. Whereas we had many poor responders with the old device, we have nearly none with the CPT. However, as a Plastic Surgeon who can offer my patients any facial treatment from a Botox injection to a deep-plane facelift, I am very frank with my patients about what Thermage can and cannot deliver.
In my view, if a patient has the Thermage...
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+1
Thermage works but it is not surgery
Thermage absolutely works and can produce beautiful, natural looking results. It tightens the collagen fibers in the skin. The outcome you will have depends on the condition of your skin before Thermage. Younger patients with less sun damage and who don't smoke are going to have better results because their skin is in better shape to begin with. If a patient is older and has sun damaged skin, the starting point for that patient is worse and therefore the results will not be as...
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