Understanding Thermage and How It Works In order to understand Thermage, you must know a little bit about proteins. A protein is simply a long chain of amino acids linked together. When you heat a protein, it shrinks because the amino acid chain tightens up. Think about a piece of steak heating on a grill. Isn’t it a little more compact when it is done cooking? The more well done the steak, the smaller it becomes (yes, there is some fat lost, but you get the general idea). Thermage acts by the same principal. The skin tightening device delivers energy to the proteins deep within the skin and heats them. These proteins hold the upper layers of skin to the deeper tissues. As we now know, heated proteins shrink. Thus, the outermost skin is pulled tighter to the deep tissue. Thermage vs. Laser Skin Tightening Contrary to popular belief, Thermage is not laser skin tightening. Laser skin tightening uses light energy, either externally or internally (surgically), to heat the proteins of the skin. Thermage uses monopolar radiofrequency energy. This is closer to ultrasound sound waves than it is light energy. In fact, Thermage device uses the same kind of energy that has been used by physicians to ablate (destroy) abnormal tissue for years. The skin tightening device delivers a less potent form of the radiofrequency energy, however, than that used to ablate tissue. Advancements in Thermage: Comfort Pulse Technology (CPT) While the energy is less intense, early versions of the Thermage system were still a bit powerful. Patients often reported pain during the procedure because of the...
Most patients don’t want to undergo surgery because of the risks and the discomfort of recovery. Also, surgical procedures often leave scars, especially ones done on the delicate skin of the face. For many people, the beneficial effects of surgery often outweigh these negatives. Still, the majority of patients would rather have an alternative. And now, thanks to modern cosmetic technology, they have several non surgical facelift procedures to choose from. Laser And Radiofrequency Skin Tightening Medical science has discovered that heating the outer layers of the skin makes it tighter and induces collagen growth. The tightening and the plumping effect of the collagen work together to make wrinkles and creases disappear. There are two popular methods to achieve this skin tightening effect. The first uses radiofrequency energy to heat the skin. An example of this is the Thermage treatment. The second uses infrared light for the same purpose. This is usually called a laser facelift. The Polaris and Titan are the most widely used of this type of treatment. Microcurrent Face Lift This is a type of non surgical face lift procedure are different from laser and radiofrequency treatments because it doesn’t rely on heat. Instead, it uses gentle electric currents to stimulate the skin’s natural production of elastin and collagen. The effects are much subtler, usually taking several weeks before any noticeable difference in your appearance. This is because the microcurrent focuses on making your body produce healthier new cells instead of fixing the exiting outer layer of skin. Thread Facelift The thread facelift is a new non surgical facelift procedure which is used to reduce sagging...
There are many plastic surgery treatments aimed at tightening the skin and rejuvenating it, giving the appearance of healthier, younger complexion, all by eliminating the wrinkles and fine lines that are present. A lot of these, however, are very invasive, requiring surgery that could very well be traumatic to the patient, and requires a long recovery time. What is Thermage However, there is a procedure that can do skin tightening, line and wrinkle reduction, and eliminating sagging skin, all without pain, surgery, and best of all, has no need for long recovery times. This technology is called Thermage, a system that uses heat to tighten the layers beneath the skin in order to have a tightening effect. Thermage facelift is ideal for people who wish to have the beneficial effects of traditional facelift, but do not want to contend with the accompanying surgical trauma and recovery time needed. The results from Thermage are more subtle, but requires almost no recovery time. This is ideal for patients who are very busy and cannot afford the time, or very conscious about the possible appearance of scars resulting from incisions. Procedure A thermage treatment does not need any anesthesia or sedatives, because patients generally do not feel any pain whatsoever during the procedure. The surgeon then uses the Thermage Thermacool device, an instrument that uses radiofrequency energy, on the target area, tightening the skin’s collagen to fill out any fine lines and wrinkles. This in turn eliminates the prominence of these lines and wrinkles, resulting in a smoother, more youthful look. The Thermage treatment targets all three layers of the face’s skin,...
Titan is a non-surgical laser device used to tighten the skin by stimulating collagen remodeling in the deeper layer of the skin called the dermis. It can be applied on the face, neck, abdomen, arms, legs, buttocks and any other part of the body suffering from skin laxity. If you keep getting frustrated over all forms of wrinkle products in the market and want a younger skin without needle pricks or going under the knife, Titan skin tightening is an excellent option for skin rejuvenation without the hassles of plastic surgery and a long recovery period. Titan’s unique wavelength range and treatment parameters make it special from other laser resurfacing devices. Its carefully selected range of light energy provides a more uniform distribution of heat. In the United States, it has been cleared by the FDA for topical heating of tissues to tighten and improve circulation to the skin. In Europe and Canada, it is widely used in the treatment of wrinkles and for general dermatological use. How Titan Works A safe infrared device is used to deliver heat on the skin’s dermis, resulting to the contraction of collagen. This gives the skin a tightened and lifted look. The heat also stimulates the formation of fibroblasts that will give rise to collagen, thereby achieving continuous skin tightening over time. The outer layer or epidermis is prevented from heating up through its built- in cooling device, which keeps the surface safe from any heat-related injuries. Is Titan Skin Tightening For You? If you long for a younger-looking skin by getting rid of sagging skin in a fast, non-invasive manner, titan...
Wrinkled and sagging skin finds a new ally in this innovative non-surgical process of rejuvenation. Laser skin tightening makes use of an infrared light source, which heats up and provokes a contraction or tightening of collagen. There is likewise an increased turn-over of skin cells, replacing the damaged ones. Results are visible right after treatment, without the prolonged recovery period. Laser skin tightening treatments make use of the TitanTM, Polaris®, Candela or GentleYAGTM systems to name a few. All of these apply the laser technology to heat up the deeper layers of the skin where collagen is found, while cooling down the outer skin so no external injuries are evident. How Does It Work? Just like the popular laser hair removal, laser skin tightening also uses laser light, an intense, pulsating beam of light. The laser frequency waves are applied to the areas of the skin to be treated. It penetrates the lower layers of the skin called the dermis. The waves heat up the water content of the skin that produces a uniformed heating effect in the areas to be treated. It causes the damaged, disorganized collagen fibers to contract while stimulating fibroblasts to produce new collagen. Simultaneously, a cooling system keeps the skin surface from heating up. The collagen remodeling process leads to a firmer, youthful and smoother skin. Who Can Benefit From Laser Skin Tightening? Skin laxity can be attributed to many factors. Among these are aging, pregnancies, and weight loss. Individuals with visible loss of elasticity of their skin but fear face lift by going under the knife can opt for this minimally invasive procedure. Wrinkles...
