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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9 answers to “If Thermage is so great, how come...”

A: Thermage works but it is not surgery

By Jordana S. Gilman, MD - Manhattan Dermatologic surgeon

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... more

A: Thermage absolutely works

By Steven F. Weiner, MD - Fort Walton Facial Plastic Surgeon

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... more

A: Yes, Thermage does work

By Michael S. Kaminer, M.D. - Massachusetts Dermatologist

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... more

A: Thermage

By Farbod Esmailian, MD - Orange County Plastic Surgeon

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... more

A: Thermage seems to be a gimmick

By Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD - Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

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... more

A: Thermage = Low Satisfaction Rate

By Daniel Reichner, MD - Orange County Plastic Surgeon

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... more

A: Because Thermage isn't so great!

By Richard P. Rand, MD - Seattle Plastic Surgeon

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.

A: Thermage

By Kris M. Reddy, MD - Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon

Thermage generally 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 minimimal correction (generally 1 -... more

A: Thermage Results

By Sofia Rubbani, MD - Long Island Oculoplastic surgeon

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... more

Comments

aliu
109 posts
5 Nov 2008

An important concept to remember that Thermage and any other procedure depends on many factors. The most important ones for Thermage are patient age & degree of skin looseness. I would recommend Thermage to a patient comfortably if they have good skin elasticity and are not looking for a dramatic result. The problem with many Thermage recipients is that they were overpromised results and were not ideal candidates to begin with. Make sure the doctor you consult with is also a surgeon who performs surgery on your area of concern. If he or she ONLY knows how to offer Thermage, then how are they qualified to know when NOT to offer Thermage? If you give a carpenter only a hammer, how do you expect them to take care of a screw? Also, Thermage is not a procedure that can be rushed through. A good Thermage treatment to the face can last several hours, like a facelift. Each pulse needs to be tailored to the patient's facial skin/area/structure. That being said, it will never replace the results of a facelift. But for younger patients who have subtle aging changes and for patients who do not want surgery, it is an excellent option to consider. The results are long lasting, in the duration of years. It is not like Botox where you need to have it repeated every few months.

San Diego Laser MD
9 posts
30 Jun 2009

Thermage has erroneously been perceived as a substitute for surgical lifting. In actuality, Thermage is a skin "tightening" procedure that occurs over time following the procedure. When the treatment is done correctly, most patients will see some improvement, though at varying degrees. Much of the improvement will depend on your own body's ability to generate new collagen. Older patients with few remaining fibroblasts (the little "collagen makers" in the skin) will get a lesser response than someone younger who has more robust tissue response. If patients will accept the limitations, they'll find it can well be a nice boost to appearance. But keep in mind...if you need a facelift, there is no nonsurgical alternative to date that can compete.

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