Thermage
Thermage before & after photos
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246 reviews
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Thermage Cost ≈ $2,700 average cost
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“Thermage”

3 posts
Comments (31)
Updated 5 Dec 2007
Posted 4 Dec 2007
Not Worth It
Spent: $7,500 in London, UK
Extremely painful procedure. I had thermage over two years ago.I am experiencing many side effects. Latest, after loosing most fat from my face, the skin is still painfully tightening. It does not lift, thermage cannot "lift" skin, it can draw it closer to your bone structure. My eyes now are much deeper set and very painful through the "pushing" of tightening lids over the eyes.There are too many frightening side effects to mention! I am in the process of suing thermage but that is not going to re verse or even stop the process from continually affecting my face. I will personally visit the headquarters of thermage in Hayward, California. With my efforts to allert the media I will try to inform the public to possibility of irreversible side effects which have affected many hundreds of people. Even if initially you might feel that some thightening is improving your looks, you will experience further fat loss, in some cases even one or two years after procedure. To say that thermage has changed my life is an understatement. From being a very happy,sucsesful Managing Director of a company that has helped to bring to life the program "Dancing With the Stars", I am now living in constant pain, dreading waking up in the morning, only to observe new damage to my skin in the form of dents,uneven skin texture,massively enlarged pores, difforming of parts of my face like my nose, or top lip or eyes. There are internet sites which inform why the thermage technology will never be predictable or safe, how the company is getting away with "murder" is beyond my comprehension. If anyone is still planning to go ahaed with the treatment, please read other internet sites, just key in "thermage fat loss", thermage disasters, thermage complaints, thermage damage and many more. Even from this site you can learn that even if you are lucky enough not to suffer immediate damage, the likelihood of incurring it later are extremely likely.

This review is the subjective opinion of a RealSelf member and not of RealSelf, Inc.

Vote: 75 members found this review helpful

Comments (31)

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MISS_COLD (3 posts) 9 Mar 2008
Hi im 23 & in the uk also. i had this treatments done only 6 months ago by a doctor luca rosso from the rejuvenation clinic in harly street. it had destroyed my face at 23! i now look not only older but really sick & really tired due to the hollowing under my eyes and cheeks & sagging face. does this ever stop or will it continue to get worse?? is there anything i can do?? im really desprate i dont know what to do! everytime i see the dr he just tells me that thermage cant make your face worse & to come back after a few months! plz someone help! any advice is welcome.
esq (unregistered guest) 10 Mar 2008
My lord, why on earth would you get Thermage at the tender young age of 23. I had it done about 4 years ago and was thinking about repeating the process recently. Thanks to you and others who wrote in, I will not risk the possible side effects as you describe. Have you asked your doctor about fat injections? Your doctor sounds like a gem, document everything, dates, conversations, etc and take pictures of your face regularly to show the progressive damage. Good luck. I hope you find some help soon.
mariola (3 posts) 11 Mar 2008
Hi MISS_COLD, you must notify Thermage and ideally FDA in the States! I had exactly the same experience over two years ago and in my case the side effects are continuing! I know that there are hundreds if not thousands of people damaged by thermage and unfortunately there will be hundreds more unless this barbaric treatment is stopped. The technology is basically flawed and that makes it unpredictable and it can lead to side effects that are far worse that just fat loss as it is happening to me!I am taking legal action against thermage but I feel that the only way thermage can be stopped and face the consequencies is to bring media attention to this whole saga! If you decide to take legal action perhaps we should go for class action suit as there are many more of us in the same situation!
terry osborn (unregistered guest) 19 Apr 2008
i had the thermage procedure a week ago today, 4/19/08 and have so much anxiety re loosing $3304.00 dollars on a scam. i have one side of my face that has swelling under the eye and an obvious line under my bottom lip. i went back in to see the dr and i foolishly let him convince me it was normal and i had that line before the thermage; worse than that, i let them take more fotos of me and then show me fotos that he says were taken when i first went in but how do i know that. im so unhappy that i had this done and now i want my money back and i told them so but they convinced me to give it time. before i had it i was told by them that i would see visable results immediately and i did not. now after reading all the complaints im more nervous that i will have more problems with time. i wish i had thought to look for the complaints before i had it done. thanks for listening and if u have any suggestions on where to go to at least get my money back i would appreciate it.
tylerspinkmama (3 posts) 21 Aug 2008

hi mariola, please email me ASAP {edited contact information}

 

<strong>Editor note:</strong> To contact this user privately click on their username.

Faberge (unregistered guest) 13 Mar 2008
I had a full face thermage about a week ago. So far so good. I see results in the surface of my skin and my eyes look slightly larger as my brow has lifted. My neck and chin area appear to have tighten as well. I am very pleased.
Tina B (1 post) 22 Apr 2008
Anyone know a reliable Thermage clinic in the UK? I am concerned on hearing some of the results of this treatment. Still deciding on this and whether to proceed or not ?
MISS_COLD (3 posts) 28 Aug 2008
Dont take the risk its not worth it.
puzzle (38 posts) 28 Aug 2008
MISS_COLD and alle the other servere damaged Thermage... I miss your FDA report! Even when a procedure dont works so often and patients have lost the money for nothing (then) a short report makes sense! We cannot ONLY report in a forum this will changes nothing.
Evagelia Tsouchlaraki (unregistered guest) 13 Jan 2009
I am intend to have thermage treatment the next month. I am 35 years old. What do you think?
Olive56 (14 posts) 10 May 2010
Please don't do it. I had Thermage Eyes with horrible side effects. One eye is wide open and the other is drooping below my pupil. My eyes are extremely sensitive to light. I can't go outside, even with sunglasses, for any lenght of time. I look bizarre to say the least. One doctor thinks it could be nerve damage.
puzzle (38 posts) 15 Jan 2009
My wife and I had our thermage 2 years ago and were both damaged! Absolute nothing can meanwhile - dec 06 - happen promised us the doc in Germany. We have lost too much that we can recommend this unsafe and unexplored procedure.
mariola (3 posts) 15 Jan 2009
I had thermage over three years ago and unfortunately I am still experiencing side effects, like continous fat loss, pain,changes to my skin texture.The monopolar radio wave frequency used in thermage is very dangerous. It has been abandoned in surgical procedures and replaced with bipolar frequencies which are far safer and easier to control. There are very few doctors who understand even the rudimentary principles employed in this technique and there is simply no help or understanding for the numerous victims of thermage. Even if initially the tightening will make you look younger,the inevitable fat loss which will follow will destroy your self confidence in the following months and years. It is totally not worth it!
puzzle (38 posts) 23 Jan 2009
Mariola - the expectations are depressing! But your researching is excellent. A lot of doctors dont know enough about the dangerous monopalar rf. And a problem is that they like to refer to studies. But these are so expensive (and not opportun) that there is no space for the victims like you and us. The side effects like fat melting, skin thinning, deep wrinkles, collagen destruction e.g., are known meanwhile. We both got 2 month after our Thermage treatment problems with our jaw points and later with the teeth. About 1.5 years after the treatment we both got a lot of problems with our eyes. Simultaneous the lower lids lose more and more tissue. This area was not treated. Only the monopolar rf can cause fatty tissue necrosis. Perhaps this explains some strange. Strange things and pains concern the whole body. We all can only submit our immune system. I hope my lines will not be deleted.
LAH SOOT (1 post) 3 Dec 2010
Collect before pics, take pictures of the damage, list details (who did the surgery/ when and where etc) and search for the biggest medical malpractice law offices in the larges city near you... send them the material with a request to handle your case.
This will be accepted without charge to you, they receive a portion of your rewards from the suit.
You MUST continue to see the doctor with complaints, otherwise their responsibility is voided after 2 years. Keep a log of your complaints to the doctor and visits.
If you can find other her willing to join you in the suit you will do better. Put up a notice in sites like this. You should have a very good case.
Good Luck!
Alphacentoree (unregistered guest) 11 Mar 2009
Oh my goodness. You have totallay scared me to death on this procedure. I have considered doing this for well over a year, but no way! Thank you so much for sharing your experience! Please write the Oprah show and see if she'll spread the word!
puzzle (38 posts) 27 Mar 2009
Alphacentoree - your proposal is interesting but also risky. The Oprah show helped Thermage a lot and from the red numbers I think. In Germany I contacted the distributor again. We heard that here nobody was damaged in such a way like we. And we are very much surprised that the high settings must not have caused this! The protection of dental work should not be necessary???... So it seems that WE are the problem not Thermage.... And that their homepage in USA serves only as alibi. I will await clarifying these contradictions. In the meantime we can observe the somewhat disappointing difficult repair attempts with fillers. Without undergoing various operations it will not go. - What results of one "non-invasive treatment"!
dawn Rogers (4 posts) 5 Sep 2009
I recently had a procedure with RF on my arms, and I think what I am seeing is damage to my skin. The under sides of my arms, which is where the skin is very thin has unusual skin texture and is wrinkling, the fat is falling away from my skin and causing my skin to sag. After first having it done, i noticed that at night I had hot sweats on my arms, so I think she burnt the under epidermus of my skin. She also said she used the setting for the face which is much thicker than my skinny arms. Also my pores have increased in size and in those spots, my skin seems to be wrinkling also. Every day this seems to be getting worse. Has anyone had these same adverse results. I know many people don't have this done on their arms, but are these the same things you noticed on your face and what else happens after this. Please someone respond, as I am having many sleepless nights and very depressed days. HELP
puzzle (38 posts) 16 Sep 2009
High dawn Rogers, Sorry what happened with your arms. I have sent you a PN. It seems that you was overheated. Then I think a chance to stop the continuing adverse process is e. g. cortison or immune globuline. A little visible help may be ha injections per needle or maybe per high pressure injection device. Good luck from Germany.
dawn Rogers (4 posts) 21 Oct 2009
What is a pn and what is immune globuine and what is ha injections?
greyhaven (1 post) 30 Jul 2010
I am a 56 year old female with 30 years of teaching in public high schools. Am very active, live a healthy lifestyle,and avoid too much sun. Although most people are shocked when they find out how old I am, I had begun to see those aging signs that are part of the life process. As a science instructor, I am someone who would NEVER consider going under the knife for any cosmetic reason however, I had considered other options the last two years. I'm not a big BOTOX fan so I began my research on THERMAGE treatments. A new MEDI-SPA opened in our area so I arranged a free consultation. After much discussion and weighing the options for me, I chose to take care of a few spider veins with Schlerotherapy and give Thermage a try. We discussed how the early treatments with Thermage were painful and often not effective. I found that on many comments that have been posted. My physician has the latest bipolar radio wave frequency equipment so today I had my treatment. I did not find it to be painful - nothing more than a warming sensation and a minor sting from time to time. The vibrations were not uncomfortable and my physician verbally kept monitoring how I was feeling throughout the process. After finishing one side of my face, I could see visible changes immediately - just a more "lifted" look. After the entire procedure, I was a bit pink, minimal swelling - all normal. My experience was pleasant and certainly less painful than a trip to the dentist for a routine cleaning. I will update this regularly with my progress but as for now, I am pleased with the THERMAGE experience. As for the outrageous cost that I have noted on numerous comment pages - my procedure which will include a followup treatment was only 1900.00. Certainly a lot of money but by far less than many of the amounts I have seen.
browneyedsusan (1 post) 9 Jan 2011
I am so interested in your comments. You are the only commenter here who does not report a horrific experience. Please keep us posted.
windandsee (1 post) 10 Sep 2010
Dear Greyhaven, Where did you have your procedure done? Do you recall the equipment model? I'm having the procedure done in the morning on my face and neck. Cost = $2900. The place I'm going is among the top Thermage producers in San Diego, so I'm hoping they have the latest and best equipment and technique. I'm trusting thermage has come a long way since the negative posts were made in 2006 on this site. The staff claim that downtime and side effects are minimal, just pink skin. We'll see...
Gia50 (1 post) 11 Sep 2010
Spent $3000.00 on upper arms, thermage is an absolute RIPOFF. I feel like I threw $3000.00 right out the window. The RN who preformed it checked each arm midway during treatment. She was reassuring me of how great my arms were going to look a couple of months down the road, she stated shew already sees an improvement. Of course these was a LITTLE less wrinkling of the skin because my arms were swollen from the treatment. She took before photos for comparison on my 6 month check up return. Well, I took before photos at home and have been taking them throughout this 6 month period. NO CHANGE, not even a little. I still can't waer sleevless tops or even short sleeves for that matter. I did not lose a lot of wieght, in fact I was always thin to average. I did however spen a LOT of years in the tanning salons, I had been going on a regular basis year round for about 30 years, luckily I had the sense to block my face throughtout my tanning sessions. I NEVER dreamed my arms would turn into these UGLY loose crepy looking appendages. I am so furious, I am NOT a rich person, but, I desparatley wanted to be able to expose my arms in spring and summer without being ashamed. After much discomfort (during the procedure) and the expense of $3000.00 I am back where I started. DON'T DO THERMAGE, IT IS A TOTAL RIPOFF. Thia by the way was done in a very well known plastic surgeon's spa center. I am going to see if I can at least get a small refund. It is TRULY disgraceful to rip off the public in this manner.
DotMatrix (1 post) 13 Nov 2010
I went to my Doctors office after taking a hormone (they pushed on me)& I ballooned up about 80 pounds in 6 weeks. This created a LOT of problems. And the Doctor frightened me into staying on the hormone. I went to a woman Doctor who took me off of the drug and got me into very limited healthy eating. I lost the 80 pounds in 6 months, which then left hangy skin. I thought is this a joke?

I went back to the original Doctor because he offered these "skin tightening" procedures and I listened eagerly to "Get Help". I had been to surgeons who would have cost me too much money and I was excited about the lower costs. I told them I wanted my arms and thighs done. They told me, for my thighs for 6 treatments, it would run just under $500 a treatment. I signed the contract. I went in and they brought out a little piece of paper placed it on my thigh and drew a square of about 8" by 6", I said what is this? They said what we will do today because if we did your whole thigh it would take TOO LONG. I said, "Wait a minute is this little square a treatment? I thought I paid for MY THIGHS and my ARMS. Not 1/6th of my thigh!"

It was just this little square and I was already on the table, had taken off from work and SO HOPEFUL... Needless to say it hurt so badly, and I was red. It was a financial rip off, in my opinion, as I pointed out if I went for a hair cut I would expect a hair cut not 1/6 of my head done. The verbiage that the nurse and I had was completely misleading. It is a Rip Off in my opinion. Costly, painful, ineffective and heart wrenching failure.

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