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POSTED UNDER Thermage REVIEWS

What's the Difference in Results Between Thermage and Reaction by Viora? - Santee, CA

ORIGINAL POST

I have been searching this website for days,...

firstalchemistFebruary 11, 2013
$1,600

I have been searching this website for days, looking for any information on Reaction by Viora for the eyelid and face. Does anyone have any experiences? Many people complained that Thermage facial treatments left them looking gaunt and hollowed in the eyes. Worse, they ended up looking 15 yrs older. While Reaction by Viora is a bipolar instrument, Thermage is monopolar. The bipolar allows for more radiofrequencies to pass thereby capable of doing more good or more bad. Also, with Viora, the technician has more energy control and more control in penetrating the different layers of the skin.
Everything I checked on Google led to an advertisement article. No one in scholarly journals, because there aren't enough studies. The FDA's page says that Reaction by Viora is approved for what the CEO wrote in his FDA application: for muscle spasms and problems with tightening muscles. (Have not seen one advertisement for muscle use) Per the CEO's request, the FDA gave them "Clearance to market the machine as listed with the FDA." Per the CEO's request, Viora was cleared for MFDA (approval to market the product). On another matter,I don't know if I read this part from a medical journal or from the FDA: "...rather than studying individual complaints, we will do case studies."

firstalchemist's provider

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Replies (22)

RosePDX
February 18, 2013
Know nothing about Viora but it has been interesting reading all the thermage reviews that refer to it as a laser. It is not; its radiofrequency energy which the state of Texas reminded a friend of mine when she filed a complaint with them over burns a few years ago that occurred from a provider there. In 2009, Texas said they had no jurisdiction over the treatment :(
firstalchemist
February 18, 2013
THANK YOU!
RosePDX
February 18, 2013
You are welcome; PS to clarify she first went the FDA but they would not investigate Thermage; they said the problem sounded "like" the provider which would be regulated by their state, so that taught me that one really needs to investigate any new technology AND the provider as one is on their own short of gross negligence (which would be hard to prove and cost $).
RosePDX
February 18, 2013
PSS I have used Thermage and had good results but its been several years and it was done by a board certified doctor (himself); see my other posts for more info : )
chrishand
August 29, 2014
you are correct about different frequencies having different effects. I have tried 3 different frequency machines with the venus freeze (multi polar & dual wave form) being the best ( and a good operator). i mention operator as I had 3 treatments with the same bi polar machine recently but a different operator for the third treatment. She didn't seem to get as good a result with the same machine. All beauticians so 2 out of 3 good.
kleeh
December 19, 2014
I had neck and check lower face work on a Viora brand machine (ReAction) and although the film the surgeon required me to watch, as well as he and the person actually performing the treatments stated that results were often experienced from the first one, I was not one who did experience results...in fact, after 10, the 9 for the paid for course plus an extra one thrown in when I complained before the 5th treatment of not seeing any difference, there was zippo improvement in my sagging jawline, chin, and neck. the most disappointing experience. I paid over $2000. And so, I made it clear that I was not happy and did expect a refund. I backed it up with documentation and would have gone to small claims. Luckily for me and him, he decided to do the right thing and refund. I don't know if it was the Viora machine, the technician doing the treatments or my particular weird skin, but as a professional I would expect him to stop the treatments when it was obvious there was no improvements. These treatments were over 4month period and then more months while they insisted that "they don't really work for 6 months (Doctor) to 1 year (Technician). In the meantime I could have had surgery and been healed. Very disappointing.
marybud
February 11, 2015
I had no results with thermage, none. Haven't tried anything else
Suzad
January 1, 2016
I've had two Viora Reaction treatments on my face and 5 on stomach. Wish I never had! It actually aged my face and my stomach is now dimpled with cellulite-and I'm 105 lbs and work out regularly with weights/cardio/yoga. I wanted facial tightening, not fat removal-it actually aged my face, even though they only used the tightening apparatus. Glad I stopped at two. The treatment may work well on someone who could use less fat in their face. Also, they don't tell you that small burns are common when getting treatment. They are painful, slow healing, and leave little scars-no matter how experienced the operator. Definitely not worth it. Ther age doesn't work either. The best thing I've found is Retin A cream mixed with moisturizer-small amount applied nightly and wear sunscreen.
Suzad
January 1, 2016
*thermage
Louise1981
July 8, 2016
I've had the ReFit (not ReAction) treatment (see my post above). I had it done at 2 different MedSpas. The first MedSpa left me with zero burns. The second left me with 3 burns. I think that many of the technicians are poorly trained. The problem with Viora is that it is very much up to the technician to figure out how many applications to apply with each pass and to use their own 'eye' to remember where they already applied the machine. This is a problem because they may forget.

The difference between the *good* technician and the *bad* technician is as follows:

Good Viora technician did the following:

She applied a TON of cold gel and use this not only to provide cooling for my skin, but ALSO to see the imprints of where she had applied the machine on the first pass. She did 2 passes of cross hatches, like an X, and carefully spaced them so that my entire face was covered.

Then, she applied fresh gel (even more!) so that my face was cold. And then, repeated as above.

Then, another application of fresh gel, and repeated as above.

She seemed to know NOT to hit the same spots as the previous passes.

She also went up and down and side to side.


Bad Viora technician did the following:

She applied a thin layer of gel as if it were some sort of expensive commodity (it is dirt cheap and should be used liberally)

Then, she did a very uneven pass

Then, she reapplied a thin layer of gel, and basically went over the same places again, in the same uneven manner.

This was repeated until I screamed in pain, and I got burns.

It was TERRIBLE.

So, the moral of the story is that you should make sure your technicians are top notch. Also, MAKE SURE your technician was certified by Viora (in the last 4 months). Because my Bad Viora technician was not certified by Viora. She was trained by the doctor, and the doctor was not a good teacher (obviously) and was stingy about using gel (weird).

A good technician WILL NOT BURN YOU even on the highest settings.
lilysaysay
March 3, 2020
Hello, can I ask you, Was that done with vacuum when they heat your skin?
Suzad
March 3, 2020
Yes. It's been years and my stomach still looks weird-like cellulite under the skin. I don't have cellulite anywhere else and I've always been thin-105 lbs. I just wanted to tighten my stomach. What a waste of money.
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