Thermage Skin Tightening

What is Thermage?
As you age, the collagen in your skin breaks down, resulting in wrinkles, crepiness, sagging and bulging skin. Body by Thermage procedures help tighten and renew your skin’s collagen through all skin layers: the epidermis, dermis and deep subcutaneous (fat) layers.

Thermage’s unique capacitive radiofrequency (RF) technology safely heats the deeper layers of your skin, stimulating existing collagen and promoting new collagen growth. The result, skin that looks and feels noticeably smoother, tighter and firmer.

Body by Thermage procedures can help smooth, tighten and deep contour skin for an overall younger looking appearance without surgery or injections.

When will I see results?
Generally, some improvement is immediately visable and continues for up to six months.

What is the recovery like?
After treatment, you can quickly get back to your normal routine,.

Body by Thermage is color blind. Unlike lasers, Body by Thermage procedures work on all skin types and colors.

After a Body by Thermage procedure, you do not have to avoid the sun as with laser treatments. Schedule your Thermage procedure in the summer or any time that’s right for you.

Thermage can also be used with many other aesthetic procedures. Combining IPL and Hands by Thermage is a great way to help restore firmer and smoother hands and eliminate unsightly age spots.

Smoothing and Tightening
Tummies, knees, legs, arms and hands can be areas that’s how signs of aging. Thermage has developed procedures and treatment tips that are designed especially to help smooth and tighten wrinkled, crepey and sagging skin on these body areas.

Contouring and Body Shaping
Many women after pregnancy or weight loss find it difficult to get back their shapes and want to tighten sagging skin and flatten unwanted bulges. The Body Shape procedure by Thermage helps tighten, firm and shape arms, thighs, buttocks, “love handles” and tummies.

Cellulite procedure
Despite rigorous exercise and dieting, most women that experience cellulite cannot significantly improve its appearance. In a single treatment, the Cellulite procedure by Thermage helps improve dimples and smooth skin texture with long lasting results.

What does the procedure feel like?
When the energy is applied, you’ll feel a deep but brief heating sensation, which is an indication that collagen is reaching effective temperatures for tightening. To protect the surface of your skin, a cooling spray is delivered before, during and after each application of energy. You will be asked for feedback on the level of heat sensation experienced during the procedure to help balance your comfort with maximum results.

Is the procedure safe?
Thermage has an excellent safety record. Of course, as with any procedure there’s always some risk. Side effects are generally mild and may include redness, swelling, blisters, bumps and rare instances of surface irregularities.

How long will the results last?
The procedure stimulates new natural collagen production for up to six months following a single treatment. Results can last for years depending on your skin condition and natural aging process.

How long before I can return to my normal activities?
There’s no special care needed after the procedure and most patients return to their regular activities immediately following treatment. Some people may experience mild redness, but it usually disappears quickly.
For more information or to book and appointment, simply call (03) 9681 7311 or Make an Online Enquiry.

Younger You Thermage Winner–A Patient’s Experience

My New Face! Victorian businesswoman and entertainer Catriona, 46, was the winner of Younger You magazine's Thermage competition (Issue 1, Spring/Summer 2010). She received the facial rejuvenation treatment at Endless Solutions Cosmetic Surgery & Aesthetic Medicine Clinic in Port Melbourne (03 9681 7311) on March 11. Two months later, May 11, Catriona returned for some "after" photos, which show a stunning difference - even though results really only start to kick in after 6 months!

Thermage is a non-invasive skin tightening procedure that uses capacitive radio frequency (CRF) technology called ThermaCool to heat up the collagen in the deeper layers of the skin and its underlying tissue, while simultaneously protecting the outer layer of the skin with a cooling system.

A grid pattern is applied to the treatment area and then a small hand piece is placed systematically on Grid points to deliver the CRF.

It tightens and lifts the skin, working especially well to define and smooth the jawline and give the cheeks a lift with virtually no downtime.

Treatment takes about 90 minutes depending on areas treated and, with a good result, changes can be seen almost immediately and are permanent. Optimum results are seen after about 6 months, with further improvements up to a year after treatment.

Here Catriona describes the experience - and how it has changed not only her look, but her whole outlook

Catriona before (left), During and immediately after treatment on March 11

I turn 47 in August and gravity was dragging me down! Sagging, Creepy skin which emphasised my already noticeable marionette [ mouth corner ] and nasolabial [ nose to mouth ] lines, giving me a jowly appearance.

The sagging made my eyes hooded and the whole effect was a sad, tired looking face when, inside, I was quite a happy woman! My secondary concern was wrinkling around my eyes. I was also developing quite a turkey wattle on my neck!

After a very warm, friendly "Welcome to the family" of Endless Solutons. There was a thorough description of the procedure and an open discussion of my expectations and concerns. Then I was settled onto a comfortable couch.

My clinician, Gerri, had a knack of making me feel safe and special. As she examined my skin. I found myself examining hers and hoping to look as good as she did!

The grid pattern (as shown in these photos) was applied to my skin and the Thermage began. I was impressed by the precise patter followed and also the "sculpting" of my cheek area (more pulses there).

I can't say that I felt no discomfort but it wasn't extremely painful either. Most of the time it was bearable. But certain areas (eyes, jaw) had me clenching my knuckles and wishing it was over. Gerri explained that some areas are richer in nerves and I agreed! I was glad she'd given me two Panadeine 30 minutes before the treatment.

Half way through the procedure, we took a break and I was able to compare sides. I did notice that the treated side appeared firmer and plumper and had a rosy glow. When the treatment was complete and the grid pattern removed. I noticed a subtle but certain difference.

Perhaps the rosy glow was redness. My face did feel warm - a but like the glow given by a nice Chardonnay! There was no post-treatment pain or bruising and I am a bruiser! I bruise if someone so much as pokes fun at me! There was no swelling: a certain plumpness but not swelling.

About 2-3 weeks after. I had just applied my make up and realised that I could actually see my eyeshadow! Usually I put the eye shadow on, then it promptly disappeared as my hoods drooped over. No longer!

Catriona before treatment on March 11 and after on May 11

The other mose noticeable area was the sides of my cheeks, towards my mouth. The usually crepey skin was no longer there. Just in the past week or so. I have also noticed that my turkey wattle has downgraded to more of a young chicken wattle! Definitely improving.

I am very happy with the results thus far and am just aghast at the thought that I haven't yet reached the 6 month mark - when I am supposed to START seeing results! I am ageing backwards!

I suffer from pigmentation but that seems to have lessened as well.

I always feel good about myself and am always grateful to be healthy. The face that my face didn't convey my inner happiness was worrying me, as people often expressed concern that I was tired or sad, When I actually wasn't

Now when I look in the mirror and apply my make up, I feel like I am looking at the real me. I am becoming more experimental and expressive with my make up and hair. now that I no longer feel like mutton dressing up as lamb!

Family members were the first to comment, about 3 weeks after. My niece noticed my eyes, Just today, my work colleague said she has noticed an improvement in the past week.

My partner refuses to comment (on the grounds it may incriminate him?!) and just tells me I'm always beautiful to him. Sweety!

Like childbirth, the discomfort is forgotten and we somehow start thinking about another baby! I am tempted to try Thermage on my upper arms.

I would recommend Thermage to those who are noticing the effects of time starting to appear on their face but who are not ready to go under the knife.

I would make sure, though, that they were made well aware that the results are not instant and patience is a must.

Their patience will be well rewarded though! Another bonus - because the results appear over time. It would be easy to keep the treatment a secret and just smile graciously when your friends comment on how good you look for your age!

Says Sue Mastrantonio, Managing Director of Endless Solutions: "I think the photos even 8 weeks after Thermage show a real improvement. The texture of Catriona's skin has improved, her nasolabial and per orbital [ around the eye ] lines are softened, her eyes less hooded. It's quite impressive and can't wait to see the results at the 6 month mark.