Reclaim Juicy Skin: Thermage


Posted on August 31st, by staff in Treatments. 9 comments

Lately, beauty buzz seems to be all about “volume loss,” that slow but sure process that begins at a trot in our late 20s and breaks into a full gallop by our 40s. Collagen is the substance in our skin that gives it plumpness. As we age, collagen production slows down so that by our 40s, we may lose up to half of the collagen we once had, leading to the hollowing out of cheek bones and other areas of the face. Over the span of  just a few years, we lose the “juiciness” that defined our skin in our early 20s.

So what’s a guy or girl to do? Although topical retin A (retinol) has been clinically proven to promote collagen production, it does not seem to keep pace with the volume loss that naturally occurs with age. An effective option can be  fillers such as Juvaderm and Restalyne which use a synthetic form of hyaluronic acid to immediately plump the skin. And for those who want a more subtle, gradual change, there’s Thermage. 

Thermage is a non-invasive skin-tightening treatment that uses radio frequency (RF) energy to tighten loose skin. First, a grid-like sticker is placed on your face, then the technician does a few passes of the RF device. RF energy penetrates deep into the skin’s tissue, heating the treatment areas to stimulate the formation of new youth-plumping collagen. The company says that, “Continued tightening and contouring can happen for up to six months as your body forms new tighter, stronger collagen.”  Advocates also say that that results from Thermage can last for years.

The pros

  • results may be visible after just one treatment
  • minimal downtime
  • results are gradual and natural-looking
  • results are long-lasting; generally up to two years!

The cons

  • a single treatment in Toronto starts at $2,500
  • studies show that Thermage does not work for up to 20% of patients
  • mild discomfort during treatment

Few people knew what Thermage until Oprah raved about the treatment on her show back in 2006.

Click here to read about how Thermage can benefit men.





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