Is Thermage Painful?

Thermage® is now a safe, non-invasive, radiofrequency (RF) cosmetic procedure that’s clinically proven to help smooth, tighten and contour skin for an overall younger looking appearance. The treatment delivers natural looking results 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 your lunch break and return to work after!

Thermage® uses radiofrequency technology to heat the deep, collagen rich layers of your skin. The heat helps tighten existing collagen and stimulate the formation of new collagen, which reduces sagging, renews contours, and improves the 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 definition in 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 under eye bags, hooding, rough texture on the eyelids, wrinkles and fine lines, and other contributors to tired looking eyes. Elsewhere on the body, Thermage® can treat wrinkled, crepey, sagging or bulging skin as well as the appearance of cellulite
 

Thermage should not be a painful procedure. During the treatment it will feel very warm or hot but you should not be in pain. There will be a few spots, usually over bony points where the sensory nerves are closest to the surface, that are more sensitive and will feel very sharp and uncomfortable.
Thermage is not a type of procedure where you "grin and bear it." If it hurts too much you must tell the doctor, because she or he will then turn down the energy level or you could risk getting a burn. During the procedure, your skin may feel more sensitive and you may need to have the energy turned down. That's OK. You should not ever be in pain during this procedure. When I do Thermage I am constantly asking my patients how they are feeling, how the temperature feels and how the pain is.