What you describe is unusual. When the Thermage device was first introduced a decade ago, the protocol involved using 100-150 pulses via a small tip handpiece to deliver a high level of heat in selected areas of the face. It hurt, worked but not consistently and patients had swelling, tingling, and numbness. However in the years since, the device and the protocol have gone through many updates. In recent years, thermage has become a comfortable procedure, with no downtime and consistent results. We now use 900 - 1200 pulses via a large spot size handpiece to deliver medium heat over almost the whole face. The combination of avoiding high heats and the addition of the CPT technology (comfort pulse technology = vibration) means the procedure can be just about painless. In my office, we tell patients that on a scale of 0 - I feel nothing, to 4 - don't do that to me again, we want to find the level of heat where the patient reports a 2 - I feel the warmth but it is very tolerable. If the patient feels a 'zing' that is too hot, we reduce the level. Patients leave the procedure without redness, swelling or any strange nerve sensation. The only downtime is having to wash coupling gel ( like a serum) out of your hair because it invariably drips.So my recommendation is that you call your physician's office where you had the procedure. Find out if they expected the side effects you are experiencing - could this be a new or different machine than you had previously? Did they change their treatment protocol? If they did not expect you to experience swelling and funny sensations, then them to get you in to see the doctor in follow up. Any physician's office that does procedures will certainly be happy to see their patient in follow up to make sure everything is going well. An ounce of prevention as they say...I hope this answer was helpful. Best wishes.
