Thermage - Non Surgical Face Lift

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Thermage - Non Surgical Face Lift - By: Dave Stringham, Posted on: 2007-11-07

Thermage is a safe, clinically proven way to tighten and contour skin, with improvements in tone, contour, and texture occurring naturally through the stimulation of your own collagen.

Thermage is completely non-invasive: no surgery, no injections. A single treatment tightens your existing collagen and stimulates new collagen growth. Improvements are both immediately visible and continue up to six months. Results can last for years depending on your skin condition and aging process.

The procedure itself is normally done as a single treatment that takes from 20 minutes to two hours depending on the treatment area. What's more, there is no downtime, so you can quickly resume your normal routine. Unlike lasers, this procedure works on all skin types and tones. And unlike injections or fillers, this procedure works on your entire face: forehead, eyes, nasolabial folds, jaw line, jowls and the area under your chin.

If you no longer recognize the face looking back at you in the mirror, it's time to talk to a certified physician and learn how this procedure can help you look as young as you feel.

FDA cleared for the non-invasive treatment of wrinkles and rhytids. Side effects are generally mild and may include redness, swelling, blisters, bumps and rare instances of surface irregularities.

To understand how this procedure works, it helps to know a little about how your skin works. The facial skin is made up of three distinct layers: a visible outer layer on the surface called the epidermis, a collagen-rich under layer beneath the surface called the dermis, and an inner layer beneath the dermis called the subcutaneous layer, also known as the fat layer that has a web of collagen fibers running through it.

When the collagen in these three layers breaks down due to sun exposure, family heredity, or the normal aging process, your face begins to sag and wrinkle. Naturally, treatments that work on just the surface can't do anything to restore the collagen in the under layer or the inner layer of your skin.

Thermage is the only non-invasive procedure available that tightens and renews your skin's collagen in all three layers. How? The unique Capacitive Radiofrequency (CRF) technology safely heats your skin's under layer and the web of collagen in the inner layer, causing an immediate tightening as well as improved tone and texture. And the improvements will continue and become even more noticeable for four to six months following treatment due to new collagen growth.

This procedure works on all skin types and colors. Best of all, you only need one treatment to obtain the full benefits, not three to five as you would with some laser therapies. And there is no downtime, so you can quickly resume your daily routine.

Women and men 35-60 normally have the best and most predictable results. If your skin is too lax, the results will not be as dramatic.

Normally, the complete procedure can be performed in just one session lasting from 20 minutes to two hours, depending on the treatment area. Anesthesia is not required.

During the treatment, you'll feel a brief, heat sensation that delivers radiofrequency energy to the under layer of your skin. This indicates that your collagen is being stimulated and tightened.

After treatment, your skin may be slightly red for a day or two. But most people resume regular activities immediately after treatment, with no downtime or special follow-up care.

Immediate Results: You should feel and see your skin being smoother, firmer, and tighter immediately after your Thermage treatment. You may also notice some contouring effects which will begin enhancing the shape of your face.

Continued improvement over time: After the procedure, you should continue to see improvements to your skin as a result of the production of new and increased collagen, as well as some additional contouring effects due to continued tightening over time. These effects will continue for up to six months. You should see lasting results.

The procedure can take anywhere from twenty minutes to two hours, depending on the size of the treatment area. Additional time may be required for skin preparation prior to the procedure.

Immediately following the procedure, your skin may feel tighter, smoother and more youthful. Overtime, you will notice additional tightening.

Unlike many laser procedures requiring four or more sessions, a single treatment has produced results in the majority of patients. Your physician will determine the course of treatment that is right for you.

Recently published studies show that measurable tightening improvements appear gradually over 2 to 6 months after a single treatment session. However, many patients have reported seeing an earlier response.

The procedure may cause immediate tightening of the collagen structure, with additional tightening over time. Unpublished reports by experienced cosmetic physicians indicate that results may last 24 months or longer based on the patient's natural aging process.

Article Source: http://www.girlarticles.com

Dave Stringham is the President of LookingYourBest.com an online resource for plastic surgery in Hawaii. Learn more about breast augmentation and non-surgical procedures.