Can I get a facelift if I had Thermage 6 years ago?

Question

I had 3 Thermage treatments about 6 years ago. Can I still get a facelift and what are the chances this could cause complications?

Earl Stephenson, Jr., MD, DDS, MBA · Answer

Dear Trustworthy,

Great question—and one I get more often than you'd think as patients consider moving from non-surgical to surgical options.

Yes, you can absolutely still have a facelift after Thermage treatments—even if you had three sessions, and even if they were years ago. In my professional experience, having performed facelifts on patients with a history of Thermage and other energy-based treatments, this does not complicate your facelift procedure.

In Summary:
✅ Yes, you can safely undergo a facelift after Thermage.

Safa Manav, MD, FEBOPRAS · Answer

Thank you for your question. Yes, you can have a facelift after Thermage, and three treatments six years ago are very unlikely to cause any problem.
Thermage uses radiofrequency energy to heat the deeper skin layers and stimulate collagen. In some patients, especially after many or very aggressive sessions, it can leave some fibrosis (scar-like tissue) or small areas of fat loss under the skin. This can make the dissection a little more demanding, but it rarely changes the outcome in experienced hands. After six years, most of these tissue effects have settled.
The risks of your facelift will mostly depend on the usual factors: your general health, blood pressure, smoking status, medications, and the surgeon's technique. Not on your previous Thermage.
Make sure to tell your surgeon about the treatments during your consultation, so they can examine your skin and plan accordingly. If any fat loss is found, it can often be corrected at the same time with fat grafting.
Best wishes,Dr. Safa Manav

Semih Yildiz, MD, FEBOPRAS · Answer

Thermage done six years ago usually does not prevent someone from having a facelift. Most patients who have had prior nonsurgical skin-tightening treatments can still be evaluated for surgery if their skin quality, anatomy, and health status are appropriate. A facelift works by repositioning deeper support and redraping skin, so it is different from an energy-based tightening treatment.

The surgeon should know exactly what treatments you had and examine for skin thinning, firmness, scarring, or unusual tethering. Prior energy treatment can occasionally make the tissue planes feel more fibrous, but after six years it is rarely a reason by itself to avoid surgery. An in-person consultation with an experienced facelift surgeon is the best way to judge your risk and plan the safest approach.

Stephen Prendiville, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question.  The answer is that you can have a facelift after previous Thermage.  However, the level of soft tissue scarring may complicate the procedure and requires an experienced facelift Surgeon.  All of us who focus on facial rejuvenation have seen this and other less than ideal scenarios multiple times in our practices.

Todd Christopher Hobgood, MD · Answer

Yes, you can still get a facelift if you've had Thermage. Prior radiofrequency skin tightening treatments are not typically associated with added risks or complications during facelift surgery. In fact, it's very common for facelift patients to have undergone nonsurgical procedures before eventually pursuing surgery.

So long as you are in good overall health, you should be able to move forward with getting a facelift; however, always book a consultation with a board-certified facial plastic surgeon who can evaluate whether you are a good candidate.

Gianfranco Frojo, MD · Answer

Yes, any non-invasive treatment on the face/neck can create scarring that will make the surgery more challenging. This is because scar distorts the natural tissue planes.

Jill Hessler, MD · Answer

You can definitely have a facelift despite having 3 theramge treatments 6 years ago. I have frequently performed facelifts on patients that have had thermage, filler, ultherapy, morpheus and other facial treatments with great results.

John Michael Thomassen, MD · Answer

You should be able to have a facelift after Thermage.  You have waited a signifcant amount of time and any scarring associated with this therapy should have remodeled sufficiently.  The soft tissue in the neck may have additional scarring that may make dissection a bit more challenging but should preclude having a face and neck lift.

Ali Cetinkaya, MD · Answer

Thermage is a non-invasive treatment that stimulates collagen production and tightens the skin, but it's much more superficial compared to a surgical facelift.Since your last Thermage session was 6 years ago, the treated tissue has fully healed and regenerated by now. This would not pose a problem for undergoing a facelift today.There’s no increased risk of complications due to your past Thermage treatments.Of course, before proceeding with a facelift, we evaluate skin quality, tissue elasticity, and overall facial anatomy. Previous energy-based procedures like Thermage are usually not an obstacle.Still, an in-person consultation is essential to create a personalized treatment plan that suits your needs.

José Eduardo Telich Tarriba, MD · Answer

Dear Trustworthy1493, thank you for your question!
Yes, you can absolutely have a facelift after having Thermage treatments, especially since your last session was six years ago. 
By this point, any collagen remodeling or tissue changes from Thermage will have stabilized, and an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon will be able to assess your anatomy and plan your surgery accordingly. There are no specific complications tied directly to previous Thermage treatments when enough time has passed, and many patients who’ve tried non-surgical skin tightening eventually pursue surgery for longer-lasting, more significant results.
Be sure to discuss your full aesthetic history with your surgeon during the consultation so they can tailor the procedure safely and effectively for you. You're on the right track!

Jacob Tower, MD · Answer

Hello, hope you are well. The simple answer is 'yes', you may absolutely still have facelift surgery after undergoing Thermage treatments many years ago. There is a very low likelihood that any potential complications could be attributed to this.

Best,
Dr. Tower

Best,
Dr. Tower

Can I get a facelift if I had Thermage 6 years ago?

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