Thermage or CO2 Laser for Tightening the Skin on the Face?

Thermage is a non-inasive technique and C02 laser is an ablative technique. Co2 laser treatment will require a downtime of approcximately 3-7 days to heal the skin depending on the strength, depth and tightening required.. However, with the CO2 laser treatment results are a lot more pronounced in overall tightening the skin and even the skin pimentation. We routinely achieve excellent results in our patients.  There is a relatively new technique with no downtime and non-invasive known as Ulthera, which can also tighten the jwls and neck area. When you combine the two techniques together Ulthera or Thermage with fractional co2 laser (e.g Pixel) you get the best and most long lasting results in my experience – short of plastic surgery.

Thermage tightens existing collagen and stimulates the production of new collagen.  The placement of the pulses also causes lifting of the jawline and tightening of the eyelids.   If you are not yet ready for surgery, Thermage would be perfect for now but still allows for surgery in the future.

Fractional CO2 laser resurfaces the skin, gives some tightening (but not lifting as with Thermage) and minimizes fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation.  It can be used in combination with Thermage to give the best result.

Your redness will not be addressed by either Thermage or CO2 laser resurfacing.  You should consider intense pulsed light or pulsed dye laser treatments for the redness, perhaps combined with photodynamic therapy to help reverse your sundamage.

You should consult a dermatologist who offers all of these treatments and can propose a plan for you.

Dear patient, speaking as someone who offers both laser and Thermage, I can tell you that realistically neither treatment will help with your "turkey neck". You may be a candidate for surgery. CO2 would help with fine lines and improve any discoloration and skin. And Thermage would tighten your skin, but it will be subtle. 

 

Thermage is a non-invasine, radio-frequency machine, that has no downtime and is used to tighten tissue and help stimulate collagen production.  CO2 laser treatment is invasive and has downtime of a week to two weeks.  It is not meant for tightening tissue but to resurface the skin. 

 

Hope this helps.

 

Dr. Grant Stevens        

Thermage and CO2 laser are very different.  Thermage is a non-invasive procedure with no downtime and is intended for tightening of the skin.  It works best for the lower face and neck areas.  Most people see some degree of tightening, but the results can be subtle and it is not a substitute for a surgical face lift.  CO2 laser is an ablative laser that treats and heats the surface of the skin.  There is some downtime since the treated skin needs to slough off afterwards.  CO2 laser is the gold standard for improvement in fine lines and superficial sun damage such as brown spots.  It also tightens the skin due to collagen shrinkage and new collagen generation over time.  The exact amount of downtime depends on the intensity of the treatment and this can be adjusted to fit your expectations.