Body Thermage - Alternatives to Body Lift Surgery
Thermage is a laser treatment option that is most commonly used for facial issues. This treatment involves a cool laser therapy that has been successful in providing toning and tightening of the face and neck. However, body Thermage is designed to treat the entire body and cam provide a much larger treatment area than the typical process would offer. The tool used for body treatments is a 3 inch square, which can cover much more surface area than a typical facial treatment tool might. Most lasers are very small and involve a long appointment or even multiple appointments, but this treatment is quick, effective, and completely painless with no recovery.
Body Thermage works by essentially promoting the collagen growth and tightening the skin using radiofrequency energy to achieve the desired results. This procedure has other names, including Radiothermaplasty, ThermaLife, and ThermaCool. The treatment is generally used for the face, neck, eyes, stomach, upper chest, thighs, and buttocks. However, it can be effective when used on other parts of the body, as well. It all depends on where you have loose skin, cellulite, and that ‘cottage cheese?dimpling appearance that you want to get rid of once and for all. In 2002, the FDA approved the use of this product for facial treatments, and then granted approval for bodily treatments in 2006.
Body Thermage can be an ideal treatment for anyone, although the perfect patient is between the ages of 35 and 60 and is suffering from moderate skin laxity anywhere on their body or face. Anyone who uses NSAIDs or who is implanted with a cardiac device cannot use this procedure. Everyone else is able to consider it for their needs. The procedure lasts anywhere from a half hour to an hour and a half, depending on what is being treated and how much of the body needs to be treated. The energy is emitted into the skin with no injections, incisions, or invasive procedures, allowing the patient to immediately return to normal activity after they leave the office.
The immediate effect of the collagen contracting will be significant, followed by the secondary effect. Essentially, the treatment damages the collagen to a point where it is no longer viable and it will regenerate itself over the course of the next 3-12 months, causing lasting results for all patients who have this procedure done. There are no real risks for this procedure, aside from mild swelling, pain, and redness in rare cases. It is a simple process, really, and can work for just about everyone.