Thermage Boston - Facial Lift Wellesley

William LoVerme, M.D. now offers an advanced technique of tightening skin that uses a unique form of radio frequency energy to tighten loose or sagging skin, producing a kind of “facial lift” without an incision or extended recovery time.

This technique is called the Thermage™ procedure. It is also sometimes known as Thermacool or Thermalift. The radio frequency (RF) energy uniformly heats the dermis (inner layer of skin) while cooling and protecting the epidermis (outer layer of skin). It is designed to tighten deeper layers of skin while helping to initiate the production of new collagen, which occurs over a period of time.

Each time treatment is delivered there is an immediate cool sensation, followed by a brief hot sensation, followed by a cool sensation. Dr. LoVerme will assess the need of each patient and prescribe the most effective method to minimize discomfort. Generally, the patients are given narcotics such as Vicodin or Demerol along with an antianxiety medication such as Xanax or Vistaril. For this reason most patients will need a ride home. Anesthetic creams are not used with this procedure because the newest consensus guidelines show that we need to have some feedback from the patient as to how much pain they are having. This absolutely minimizes the complications.

Depending on the size of the area treated, the procedure itself may take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. This treatment is effective on the skin of the forehead and can lift the eyebrows and enhance the appearance of the eyes, making the eyes look more open, less tired, more alert. The jowls can also be elevated and the fat of the neck can appear very minimized.

The FDA has recently approved this procedure for other areas of the body as well and it can be used very effectively for tightening skin of the arms, hands, abdomen and thighs. It does not replace surgical lifts in these areas but certainly tightens the skin without any scars or healing process.

A patient may return to normal activities almost immediately, as there is usually no “downtime”. Minimal redness is seen in some patients but it usually disappears just hours after treatment. Heat-related complications can occur but are very uncommon when used with the new guidelines. There is no special care needed after treatment. However, as a part of good skin care regimen, sunscreen is recommended. Results are rarely immediate and can take up to six months for the final effect. Most patients see a significant effect after two months.

The results of the treatment can last anywhere from several months to several years, depending on the aging process of the patient.

While not a substitute for a surgical facelift, the Thermage™ procedure can be used on patients with a moderate amount of sagging skin and wrinkles. The Thermage™ procedure is sometimes referred to as a “mini-face lift.”