WHAT IS THERMAGE?

Thermage® uses pulses of radiofrequency waves to generate heat to around 42°C in the dermis. The body’s response to this is to create collagen to repair the perceived thermal damage. Thermage® thus stimulates the body’s natural collagen building processes and so the more heat (inflammation) generated the better the potential result. Some people are more heat sensitive than others. To compensate for this the latest Thermage® machine (CPT generation) uses a vibrating tip to deliver the radiofrequency pulse. The vibration tricks the brain into thinking that less heat is being generated, so making higher temperatures more tolerable to the patient’s skin. The tip also has state of the art sensors that help prevent overheating of the skin and hence burns. It is used on areas such as the jowls, eyelids, face, neck, post pregnancy abdomens, buttocks, thighs, arms and anywhere loose skin exists. The machine prefers crepe-paper like skin and so the most dramatic results are seen in these cases. What might interest you most is that Thermage is the choice of treatment for the rich and famous such as Oprah, Kim Kardashian, Linda Evangelista, Michelle Obama and many more. ARGERA is the only clinic in WA at present to have the CPT technology.

IS IT SAFE? WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS?

Thermage® is universally considered to be a procedure where side effects are minimal and downtime virtually nil. There have been over 1 million treatments worldwide and currently, the American FDA has given Thermage® a 98.9% safety rating. That’s the highest in cosmetic procedures. The staff at ARGERA have all had treatments with nothing other than a temporary redness to the skin that resolved within hours. Thermage® is not suitable for patients who have an implantable pacemaker, an implantable cardioverter/defibrillator (ICD) or any other electronic implantable device.

HOW LONG WILL IT LAST?

Thermage® acts to reset the skin bringing it back to a more youthful level. Surgery does this too. And, like surgery, you simply continue to age there after. Surgery will provide more dramatic results but has increased downtime and cost. Thermage® has virtually no downtime, and provides a softer result. There have been dramatic results seen with Thermage® but we could not promise these as the result depends upon the individual’s response to the treatment. As it takes up to a year to get the full effects of collagen remodelling then we do not recommend that patients have further treatments earlier than 6 months after the initial. Most people have one treatment only and would not consider another for 2 or 3 years at least. Please also note that whilst some people get a result immediately, for most it will take at least 3 months, so you will need to be a patient patient!

WHAT IS THE COST?

There are a number of factors in determining the cost of the treatment based upon the number of tips needed for an area and the time to complete the area. ARGERA has attempted to keep the cost as low as possible and remains one of the least expensive operators in Australia. A treatment will cost from $1980 for around the eyes and brow lift to $3420 for face/neck/lower eyelids. This is clearly far cheaper than a face-lift for those desiring softer results.

To summarize THERMAGE®

• Only proven alternative to surgery to significantly tighten the skin
• Once off treatment, lasting up to 2 years and more for some who look after it
• Skin tightening takes 12months for full effect hence gradual improvement naturally
• No downtime
• Quick - maximal time for large treatment 2 hours
• Tolerable with the vibrating hand-piece of the CPT system
• The thinner the skin, the better the result
• Affordable - patient cost $1980 to $3420 (compare with tummy tuck and neck lift $10,000)
• All scientific studies on radio-frequency skin tightening were done on the Thermage® machine
• A great addition to other non-surgical treatments for aging.
• Can treat jowls, lift brows, eyelids, under eyes, necks, post pregnancy skin to abdomen, arms, hands, inner thighs and anywhere the skin is loose
• Over 1 Million successful treatments worldwide already performed
• Choice of the rich and famous such as Oprah, Linda Evangelista, Kim Kardashian, Ellen Barkin and many more
• Good support from the company for patients and doctors
• Huge amount of information in the media and on the internet e.g. www.solta.com

All photographs are courtesy of Solta.