POSTED UNDER Thermage Reviews
Face Looks Worse and Now I Have Undereye Bags - Gulfport, MS
UPDATED FROM Damaged
8 years post
Took No Responsibility for Damage Caused
DamagedJune 30, 2021
$2,800
My face was damaged by Thermage at his office. He took no responsibility to provide treatment to help with the damage and referred me on to a dermatologist. The texture of my face went from being smooth to being rough and indented/scarred with the outline of the grid on my cheeks. I have spent years paying for various treatments at my dermatologist's office trying to break up the scar tissue which form the grid patterns on my face, as well as extracting milia from the thousands of pores that were seared over.
Damaged's provider
UPDATED FROM Damaged
7 years post
8 year update
DamagedAugust 22, 2020
Hello to all you kindred spirits. I’ve been off-line for a while dealing with a very long and painful divorce. It lifts my spirits to see how many responses from those who have been helped and avoided the Thermage procedure. I’m still looking for ways to repair the damage. Twice yearly juvaderm helps in deeper areas around nose and mouth but still no luck with the texture. I have had 9 sessions of professional microneedling. This did seem to help break down the grid lines some, but the overall texture is still like a paper towel with lumps and bumps at each of the 4 corners of the grid square. Although I did see some improvement with my microneedling, I also worry about it since it would seem in my mind to be similar to tenderizing a steak and breaking down the connective structure. But when you get desperate, you’ll try just about anything. I haven’t gotten desperate enough to try any type of radio frequency or laser yet. I am terrified that I might make things worse. I am like “I want my old skin back“; it was pretty good smooth skin! We don’t realize what we have until it’s gone. Looking back at old pictures we fail to appreciate what we had at the time as we are always looking at our flaws. I did find a good product that seems to work with the under eye bag swelling with continued use. It is called Defenage from my Dermatologist office. Since using I don’t have to do the lymph drainage massages every morning so that is a blessing. An emotional side effect years later of trying to move past this, which I don’t know if it is good or bad, is that I don’t Meticulously take as good care of my skin as I did, because it’s a kind of why bother fruitless effort. Maybe that frees me up to live life more fully and not worry so much about the sun that I used to guard myself against religiously. The one hour of Thermage did a lifetime damage to my skin as if I had never preserved it all those years. I have a piece of black tape over my computer camera so that I don’t have to see my face on Zoom or Teams. It is a solemn reminder of the price we pay for beauty.
Replies (4)
October 21, 2020
Have you thought of trying BBL/Halo treatment? It’s has done wonders for my skin.
November 3, 2020
I'm so sorry this happened. I had thermage done on my neck and jaw and I had some dents. It's been upsetting too. I was lucky it wasn't much worse. I really feel for you. Remember, you're strong and amazing, and so brave or sharing with others.
Hoping something will help!
April 23, 2021
I love you and wish I could hug you. I am sorry about this incredibly painful and traumatic time you have been through with the thermage and your divorce. Some things that may help your skin is adding bone broth daily into your diet with collagen rich foods, herbs that promote cellular repair specifically a phytoestrogen, red led light therapy with amber light to sooth inflammation, prp treatment, and putting bakers yeast as a face mask on skin daily or every other day which has been shown to stimulate collagen.
UPDATED FROM Damaged
2 years post
Damage progression photos
DamagedFebruary 18, 2015
I normally don't post photos, but I wanted to share with others so that this does not befall them. I wish that all my pictures could have been taken in the exact same spot, angle, and lighting but this is the best I could do. I have a before picture, actually taken at the doctor's office right before the procedure, then a 7 month picture and a two-year picture. I was 49 when my before picture was taken, and as you can see my face texture and firmness was good; people thought I was in my 30's. I thought I was doing some preventative maintenance by having Thermpage. Worse decision I ever made in my life. Years I spent protecting my face from the sun was all undone in one hour with microwave frequency.
Replies (5)
February 24, 2015
I am really sorry to read it was such a horrible experince. It must be very painful for you but thanks for posting. I was on the fence, but now I will definitely NOT do it. You warning was recived and understood over here. All my sympathy - I had minor problems only with a filler treatment. It was injected on the cheeckbone and moved right down under the eye. It took at least four years before the product dissolved (disappeared, whatever...) completely.
March 6, 2015
Glad I could help you. Neither the doctor or the manufacture will help me, so at least I am glad I can help others not to make the same mistake. Think of what burned scared skin looks like, this is what happens under the surface while they keep the top cool, so as the burned underlayer scars and contracts, it pulls creating the indentions. This is not healthy skin. The new collegen that they claim forms is actually scar tissue. The heat literally dissolves your own healthy elastic tissue and the body repairs itself by creating scar tissue. They say their machine didn't do this, but the indentions happen to be in the shape of the grid squares. This is not a natural occurrence. On another note, I have used Juvaderm as a filler in the nasal area with good results. It dissolves in about 6 mos to a year, so no long effects if something doesn't go right. However, go to a doctor trained by them to administer it. Their web site has a list of approved doctors who have been trained by them. Hope that helps.
March 9, 2015
Thanks. I understand the procedure much better. Scar tissue does not sound like a good idea, besides my skin is very delicate and fair and the scars I have from surgery (appendix, cut on hand) are not good. So I am sure Thermage would have ruined my face.
I found a better dermatologist now and she is doing a good job.... very important to be treated by a trustworthy doctor.
I really hope you can find some solution to improve your skin condition and thanks again for sharing.
February 26, 2015
I am going through similar experience. Thanks for sharing your story. Can you cover skin marks with make up?
March 6, 2015
The right make up can help a little, especially a good light difusing primer. Avon has good product called Face Perfector that I like. However, the indentions are still there looking a lot like acne scarring, and as you can see by the picture the skin is now sagging and caving in spots. You can still see the grid.
This is a dangerous machine. I sent my pictures to the Mfg Solta, and they said how great they look. and that the machine did exactly what it was supposed to do. They refuse to take any responsibility and closed my file. We need to do a class action against the Solta.
March 10, 2015
I have more or less the same marks as you and you could be telling my story. I am so sorry as it's been the most horrid 15 mths. I have visited many surgeons, had rest ylane and cheek filler. It has stabilised but doesn't look young anymore. Looking at a face lift in the future and possibly more fillers before that stage. This is hard to fix. It's good to have shared info and support.
March 15, 2015
Thank you for sharing your story. I hope you can find a solution. I know it's so unfair and that it has been two years, but the body heals, and you are doing al the right things
April 3, 2015
I am so, so sorry. My skin texture is very similar to yours. I am working with a plastic surgeon to see if my skin texture can be smoothed out but since I was under 6 months post-Thermage, he hasn't wanted to touch me yet. I go back next week to see if we can start trying to repair the damage. The doctor that performed the Thermage takes no responsibility either. I am amazed that this is still on the market.
April 4, 2015
I am 3 months post thermage and have had fat loss and indentations on my chin. I saw a plastic surgeon 9 weeks post who said fillers would help but he wanted me to wait until after 12 weeks post and also for me to feel better emotionally. This has been very, very stressful! Have you had anything "repaired?"
Sending you a hug!
Replies (3)