Thermage: Science or Fiction

Thermage: Science or fiction? Is there really such a thing as a non-surgical face-lift?

Singapore (PRWEB) March 25, 2005 -- The bad news about plastic surgery is that it is not something to be regarded flippantly. Considering the possible deaths from general anesthesia, it has become startling clear to patients that plastic surgery has its associated dangers.

The good news is that taking the risk in the pursuit of the youthful appearance many have come to covet is becoming less and less necessary. In the recent years, cosmetic dermatology has produced tremendous breakthroughs such as Thermage.

Some doctors are already calling it the biggest breakthrough in skin technology since the laser.

Thermage is amazingly simple. Joan, our stylist on the team volunteered eagerly for a trial. We watched Joan's procedure. First, they ink a grid on her face. Then they fire up the gun. Radio waves are being used to fight aging in a procedure that may delay the need for a face lift in some people. Instead of scalpels, this non-invasive technique is said to tighten the skin without incisions or a long recovery period.

Joan is about the have the Thermage procedure on her forehead, "I want to open up my eyes."

For the next few minutes, a hand piece that emits radio-frequency energy will be applied to each square in the grid on her skin. Thermage is the only device on the market that tightens skin this way.

"That heating causes a little bit of injury, to stimulate some wound healing, which part of the wound healing is new collagen deposition and also skin tightening," explains Dr. Low Chai Ling, an aesthetic physician in Singapore.

Because Thermage uses radiofrequency energy, there can be some discomfort. But there's no anesthetic, incisions or downtime. In fact, there aren't even immediate results. Noticeable changes to the skin can take up to six months.

Dr Low Chai Ling describes, "Skin then becomes more elastic and doesn't look as saggy."

The procedure only lasts about twenty minutes and it's relatively painless. Lian, 44 was thermaged about seven weeks ago. She says, "It's kind of an amazing thing. Its something you do, then forget about and then one day you're putting your makeup on in the morning or washing your face and you're like, hey, my jowls are gone."

Lisa from Malaysia is 49. She was thermaged four weeks ago. She says, "Maybe it is still too early for me to see the full picture but some people said my skin looked fresher or just healthier."

So who gets thermaged? Mainly women between 35 and 60, many of whom would not consider the more expensive, more invasive, more painful facelift surgery that would also require them to take off at least a couple weeks from work.

Thermage patients can go back to work immediately, although, some of the women we spoke with reported a day or so of redness or mild swelling. The good news, once it goes away, your skin continually improves for about six months and continues to look good for up to three years.

At the end of the treatment, Joans face was slightly flushed, perhaps from the Thermage and also possibly from the excitement of looking younger. When asked if it was something she would undergo again in a few years time, she nodded her head enthusiastically.

It is really not too bad. Dr Low tuned the heat to my comfort level and I was distracted with chatting to her throughout the treatment.

There were some sensitive areas that made me jump a little but other than that, it was definitely better than what I expected. I had my lips filled with collagen some months ago, and I thought that was worse."

"We find about 80 percent of patients do seem to get some noticeable skin tightening. The important thing is not to over treat and cause side effects for the patients. I always communicate with my patients to make sure that we are getting the optimal treatment with the lowest risk." says Dr Low Chai Ling.

So does it mean the more shots the better? According to Dr Low, good technique is as important as the number of shots or passes delivered. There is an optimal number of passes (or area covered) for the best results, and beyond that, you may be increasing the risk of side effects especially for the sensitive asian skin. You definitely have to do enough to see the results but not too much. It reaches a stage when the results peak and any more shots are wasted.

"I am happy to repeat the procedure for my patients after 6 months if they want even more tightening, but so far, my patients have been happy with one treatment. However, I personally am not too comfortable with overtreating my patients as this will mean they have to pay a lot more for the procedure the first time round. More worringly, they may have to suffer more discomfort and have higher risks. There is a science to this treatment. For example, 6 tablets of paracetamol may not only not cure your fever faster than the recommended 2, you are subjecting your body to unnecessary medication. I think this applies to all aspects of medicine."

Our patients usually work closely together with us and are reviewed monthly. We do a series of other treatments for them which are included in our Thermage Facelift program. So we make their skin nicer and brighter while waiting for the Thermage results to kick in. It keeps my patients happy to know that I am monitoring them even after the treatment."

New and exciting indications for Thermage include flabby arms, saggy tummy skin and even the undereye area. Many who have not already hopped onto the Thermage bandwagon will not be staying off for much longer now. Watch this space.

Dr. Low Chai Ling is an aesthetic physician at The Sloane Clinic in Singapore. You may contact her at 65-65332522 or log onto their clinics website at www.sloaneclinic.com

Dr. Low Chai Ling is a Thermage certified physician practising in Singapore. You may also find out more about Thermage at www.thermage.com.

Disclaimer
The information in this article is made available for information purposes only, and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Also, the accuracy, currency and completeness of the information is not guaranteed. The author does not accept any liability for any injury, loss or damage incurred by use of or reliance on the information. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health professional.

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