Is Thermage Safe?

when performed by experienced providers, thermage is very safe. It utilizes radiofrequency energy and heats the dermal collagen fibers. Pigmentation, burns and fat atrophy are very rare complications.

Thermage is great to smooth, tighten and deep contour skin for an overall younger looking appearance without surgery or injections for the right person with little skin laxity.
Pros of Thermage: It is a single treatment, improvement is immediately visible and continues to improve for six months. No downtime; after the treatment, you can get back to normal routine. Thermage is color blind. Unlike lasers, Thermage procedures work on all skin types and colors. After Thermage, you don't have to avoid the sun.
Cons of Thermage: May or may not see results right away, especially if you need more than usual tightening. Results are not always predictable. It is not a very pleasant procedure, as you may feel discomfort in the form of deep heat sensation.

There is no evidence that I am aware of that Thermage is harmful. It can certainly be performed every 6-9 months, but beware that the results are quite variable. The reason is that the radiofrequency heat that Thermage employs is targeting the dermis of the skin, so the thicker your skin, the more of a tightening effect you will see. Therefore, areas of relatively thicker skin (for example the neck) tend to react better than areas of very thin skin (for example eyelids).
Also, younger patients with healthier, thick skin, with little sun damage, also tend to see more results. One nice way of utilizing Thermage is to maintain the results of a surgical procedure, for example, after a facelift. But I encourage all patients seeking Thermage that the results may not be what they are hoping for.
Dr. S

Thank you for your message! Thermage is very safe. Really only any patient can have it, unless you have an active infection on the area or if you have an electrically implanted device. The results of the Thermage are seen within 2-6 months and it can be repeated 1-2 times a year! The idea is for your body to build it's own collagen which will lead to tighter, firmer skin! I would recommend a consultation with a provider in your area for further assessment! 

Thermage® is a safe, non-invasive, radiofrequency (RF) cosmetic procedurethat’s clinically proven to help smooth, tighten and contour skin for anoverall younger looking appearance. The treatment delivers natural lookingresults with little to no downtime —on all skin colors, on and off the face,all in a single procedure. Fast and easy, you can even come in during yourlunch break and return to work after!
Thermage® uses radiofrequency technology to heat the deep, collagen rich layersof your skin. The heat helps tighten existing collagen and stimulate theformation of new collagen, which reduces sagging, renews contours, and improvesthe smoothness and texture of the skin’s surface. Comfort Pulse Technology,including a vibrating handpiece delivers enhanced patient comfort.
On the face, Thermage® can treat sagging skin, loose jowls, lack of definitionin the jaw line, sagging neck skin (“turkey neck”), wrinkles and fine lines,and lack of definition in the lips. Around the eyes, Thermage® can treat undereye bags, hooding, rough texture on the eyelids, wrinkles and fine lines, andother contributors to tired looking eyes. Elsewhere on the body, Thermage® cantreat wrinkled, sagging or bulging skin as well as the appearance of cellulite!While you will see an improvement immediately, Thermage® usually takes up to6 months to see the maximum result and this improvement is said to lastapproximately 18 months. Often patients repeat Thermage® more often toget additional tightening. It's important, of course, to make sure yousee a board certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist because resultscan be variable depending on who is performing the procedure.