Thermage costs $3,268 on average, according to 166 reviews. Prices range from $1,700 to $7,900, due to factors like:
This popular cosmetic dermatology treatment uses radiofrequency energy to tighten existing collagen fibers and stimulate new collagen production. The goal is firming and smoothing the skin for a more youthful appearance, often in a single treatment, with little to no downtime (except for temporary swelling and redness). Its RF energy can also help to reduce the appearance of cellulite.
The technology is considered suitable for all skin types and tones, on various areas of the body.
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Related: Everything You Need to Know About Thermage
Thermage is a noninvasive treatment, but it’s still a medical cosmetic procedure that requires a licensed professional to perform it safely. When tuned to certain settings, Thermage works to address the deeper layers of the skin and tissues. (The average laser treatment, on the other hand, delivers energy more superficially.)
It’s also expensive because medical offices must cover the cost of the device itself (made by Solta Medical), as well as single-use, sterilized tips for the handpiece that ensure a hygienic treatment for each patient.
Finally, providers can charge a premium because Thermage is considered by many to be the OG of nonsurgical skin tightening treatments. (The same can be said for Ultherapy, which aims to firm the skin with ultrasound energy.)
Thermage uses radiofrequency (RF) energy to stimulate new collagen production. This non-invasive skin rejuvenation treatment is also FDA-cleared for the temporary improvement of cellulite.
These are the top factors that impact how much you’ll pay.
While it's tempting to choose your provider based on price, keep in mind that Thermage results (and safety) depend heavily on your provider’s technique.
In the hands of an inexperienced provider, the procedure can have some nasty side effects, including burning, blisters, hyperpigmentation, lumps, numbness, and scarring.
Since the device can heat and alter the deeper tissues—potentially melting youthful facial fat—you definitely want a savvy practitioner selecting temperature and depth settings that are appropriate for your anatomy and goals.
To help avoid risks and get the best results, it's often worth paying more to be treated by a board-certified dermatologist, plastic surgeon, or another highly qualified provider with extensive experience performing this procedure.
Taking the time to read provider reviews (both good and bad) and look at photos posted by patients (not just those the provider or clinic chooses to show) can help ensure that your results will be worth the money.
A provider practicing in a swanky, high-rent building in a major metro area has to pass more of that cost on to their patients. If you're looking for more affordable rates, look for experienced providers in more outlying areas with modest practices.
The level of patient demand and number of providers offering Thermage in the area will also impact your cost. Providers who feel like they need to compete for patients may offer discounts, while those who have no trouble filling appointments tend to raise their rates.
A Thermage treatment session takes between 30 minutes and two hours, depending on the how much surface area you're having treated.
This versatile treatment can tighten skin on multiple areas of the face and body, including the arms, stomach, thighs, backs of the hands, knees, butt, around the eyes, and along the jawline.
Body parts with more surface area, such as the stomach or thighs, can take over 90 minutes, making them more expensive to treat than a small area like the eyelids or jawline, which takes just 30 minutes.
The newest generation of the machine, Thermage FLX, may command a higher price tag than older versions. But it has a larger tip that allows providers to treat broader areas faster, with less discomfort.
Treating multiple areas in one session takes longer and costs more, but it's also more cost-effective to combine treatments in one procedure than have each area treated in a separate session.
Many providers recommend pairing Thermage skin tightening with other skin rejuvenation procedures, like a chemical peel or laser resurfacing (such as Fraxel), to treat sun damage and other signs of aging at the skin's surface.
You may also choose to get Botox or fillers at the same time, to further fine-tune your results.
Adding treatment options to your session will increase your total cost, but some providers discount the price of each procedure when you combine them.
RealSelf Tip: Most patients need just one Thermage procedure, but you may also want to budget for the recommended maintenance treatments every 6 to 12 months. Results last one and two years, depending on your skin condition, skincare routine, and how far along you are in the aging process.
Thermage has a 67% Worth It rating from RealSelf community members, many of whom cite benefits like smoother, tighter skin with no recovery time or restrictions on normal activities.
The newer Thermage FLX has much higher patient satisfaction.
An experienced provider will be able to assess your skin and determine whether it's likely to be worth it for you. A good candidate for Thermage skin tightening shows early signs of sagging, along with fine lines and wrinkles on the face and neck like upper-eyelid sagging and hooding, crepey skin, crow’s feet, or subtle jowls along the jaw. It can also address slightly loose skin on the body and mild cellulite.
One of the biggest benefits of Thermage is that it treats skin laxity in a single session—though you’ll have to be patient as you wait for optimal results. You’ll see some tightening right away, along with firmer skin as new collagen growth develops over the next three to six months.
Reviewers who thought Thermage wasn’t worth the cost either thought their results were too subtle or found the heat from Thermage’s radiofrequency technology too painful for the results they saw.
If you have severe laxity or loose skin, you'll see better results from a plastic surgery procedure that involves excess skin removal, such as a facelift, tummy tuck, or thigh lift.