BECOME YOUR OLD SELF, ONLY BETTER

Posted by Dorene Kaplan 02.04.10

Before and After Thermage CPT

PHOTO CREDIT: www.thermage.com

Interested in looking younger? Younger in a fresher – wow you had a great relaxing vacation- sort of way, not – wow you had a scary face lift – kind of way?

Thermage is the answer to your prayers.  Thermage is not like a face lift.  It will not dramatically change the way you look.  Instead, it will help make your face/eyes/abdomen look the way it used to.  Thermage can help smooth and tighten your skin for an overall naturally younger looking appearance, without surgery or injections.  Sounds too good to be true?  There is more.  Thermage requires no downtime, none.

As you age, the collagen in your skin breaks down, resulting in wrinkles and sagging.  Thermage helps tighten and renew your skin’s collagen through all three layers of skin: the epidermis, dermis, and the deep subcutaneous (fat) layers.  Your skin looks and feels noticeably smoother, tighter, and firmer, almost immediately, with results improving over a couple of months.

The preparation for the treatment is simple, you need to do nothing other than show up for your appointment.  This treatment is effective and safe year round, and  since there is no need to avoid the sun like after laser treatments, you can make your appointment whenever it best suits your schedule.

The treatment starts with a gentle cleansing of the area to be treated, and then the doctor will apply a washable grid on it.  This grid tells the doctor exactly where to place the small, hand held device to insure maximum results.  The doctor also uses a cooling gel to minimize any chance of burning or bruising.  The hand held device emits a unique radio frequency which safely heats the deeper layers of the skin, stimulating existing collagen, and promoting new collagen growth. The doctor makes numerous passes across, up, and down this grid. For the most part, there is no discomfort whatsoever.  The goal is to feel a warm, heating sensation, without a burning sensation or pain. It is an interactive treatment in that you are expected to give the doctor feedback , so they can adjust the frequency if needed.   For example, the frequency you can tolerate on your cheeks may be different that what you can tolerate on your temples. Everyone is different, and the beauty of this new hand held device is it gives the doctor complete control and flexibility to best treat eyes/face/abdomen, adjusting the frequency as they go.

The treatment lasts about an hour, depending on body site, and prices vary accordingly.  Following treatment, you can immediately apply make-up, and go on your merry way.

In Chicago, Dr. Carolyn Jacob  and her staff at  Chicago Cosmetic Surgery & Dermatology offer the newest Thermage treatments in their soothing, relaxing office.  They conduct business in a spa-like environment and employ true professionals.  When you go, ask for Nirali. She is incredibly gentle and experienced. Exactly what you want when you go for any kind of treatment like this.

FINAL VERDICT: RDW (Run Don’t Walk) An hour or so of time to bring back younger, tighter, smoother skin? I can’t think of a better way to spend the time.

* Gifted*