How Long Do Thermage Results Last?

Question

I am thinking about getting Thermage for my turkey neck and some facial skin tightening but I don't want to have to go back every year for more treatment series to maintain the effect.  How long do Thermage results typically last, and how likely is it that several maintenance treatments will be required?

Rebecca Fitzgerald, MD · Answer

Thermage tightens skin by delivering enough heat to cause a collagen production response. How well YOUR skin will respond to the treatment and "how long" the final results last is dependent on a number of factors.Why AGE is an important factor:The older you are, the less responsive your skin becomes to collagen-stimulating procedures. New collagen needs "old collagen" as a starting point. The less "old collagen" you have, the less opportunity for new collagen to form.In dermatology, we refer often to Patient Selection. This means we make our best efforts to only treat people who will most likely get a satisfactory outcome with that particular procedure. Potential patients with too much lax skin (as happens with more mature patients) should not expect the same kind of results as a younger patient who has minimal looseness.Skin health importance:How well you take care of your skin with the use of sun protection, antioxidant use, healthy diet, proper rest, proper skin care routine, etc., will also affect how well you might respond to procedures. The final effects of a Thermage treatment are complete at 6 months. It takes this long for new collagen synthesis to complete. You can help maintain the results with the proper skin care and lifestyle, but we all continue to age and we all age differently.Thermage firming and tightening is not a substitute for patients who have "turkey neck," but can provide subtle contouring of the jawline for the appropriately selected patient.

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

Themage Not Ideal for loose skin so I predict you will be very unhappy as you will still have a turkey neck and loose skin after Thermage.

	Thermage has noticeable but very limited results.Like other skin resurfacing procedures it tends to tighten the skin to an extent to smooth some of the fine lines, improve pigment problems and diminish pore size. What they do NOT do well is to minimize jowls and other signs of facial soft tissue laxity. Only a  facelift will take care of this problem in a significant fashion. This is why satisfaction after Thermage treatments are rated so low

Anshul Gambhir, MD · Answer

Thank you for your message! Our office typically recommends repeating the Thermage procedure 1-2 times a year based off a patient's schedule/budget. The results can last longer than this but in order to stay ahead of the aging game it can be done more frequently. Thermage results are typically seen within 2-6 months. I would recommend an in person consultation with a provider in your area as sometimes the skin is too loose for Thermage to be as effective as you may want it to be!

Mehrdad Hassid, MD · Answer

Thermage treatment results may last 3-5 years depending on the individual client.  Please remember that no procedure, including a surgical facelift, is not permanent.  The aging process never stops.
Good Luck.

Michele S. Green, MD · Answer

If you have a turkey neck with lots of wrinkled skin then you will not be a good candidate for this procedure.  Unfortunately it sounds like you have so much extra skin that you may be better served investing in a lower face lift,

How Long Do Thermage Results Last?

Answers (8)