Thermalifting, also known as Thermage or Thermolifting, is a particularly gentle procedure of skin tightening and skin smoothing for patients with sagging skin and cellulite (orange peel skin). It can be applied to different parts of the body. In contrast to surgical aesthetic procedures, which even sometimes cause unsightly mask faces, thermolifting only very rarely causes mild side effects or after-effects.
What is thermal lifting?
Thermalifting, also known as Thermage, is a particularly gentle skin tightening and smoothing procedure for patients with sagging skin and cellulite (orange peel skin). Thermolifting is also called Thermage, Radiage, Thermalift or radio wave therapy. The ThermaCool system developed in the USA is a lifting method performed with the help of radiofrequency technology (radio waves). As the skin ages, the amount of elastin and collagen stored in the connective tissue decreases. As a result, the tissue loses elasticity. The skin slackens and forms wrinkles. Thermolifting can smooth wrinkles and folds in a gentle way if the skin aging process is not yet too advanced. Therefore, this gentle lifting procedure is usually applied to patients between 35 and 60 years of age. The skin smoothing effect is less pronounced in older people. The treatment method is also suitable for patients who do not wish to undergo surgery and for whom cosmetic surgery is not possible. Thermage can be used on all skin types, as the procedure is individually adapted to each patient. In addition to smoothing wrinkles and fine lines, the Thermalift method can be used for holistic tightening of body contours and reduction of acne scars and remaining acne. The treatment is performed in a few sessions and usually has no side effects. In addition, treatment after-effects such as short-term redness and mild swelling occur only in rare cases. The short duration of treatment and the minimally invasive procedure allow the patient to resume his usual daily activities on the same day. He or she is also fully functional in the period afterwards and usually does not require any special medical aftercare. Because the physician can self-regulate the dose of radio wave energy emitted by the Thermage System, highly customized treatment solutions are possible.
Function, effect and goals
Thermo-lifting can be used to smooth the entire face: Nasolabial fold, wrinkles and folds around the eyes, drooping eyelids, bags under the eyes, crow’s feet and other wrinkles. On the neck, double chin and wrinkles are tightened with the help of the thermal lift. The doctor can also reduce wrinkles on the knees, thighs, arms, buttocks and abdomen. On the abdomen, it is used to treat sagging skin after severe weight loss and pregnancy. Cellulite treatment includes not only the smoothing of contours, but also the elimination of unsightly orange peel dimples. The radio waves penetrate the upper layers of the skin and heat only the subcutaneous tissue from which the aging effect originates. The heat exposure of 39 to 44 degrees Celsius destroys the collagen fibers above in a controlled manner, forcing them to regenerate and reorganize. The skin surface is cooled during thermage, so the patient feels only a slight burning sensation. A positive side effect is that the heat promotes skin circulation. Metabolic waste products stored in the tissue are eliminated more quickly. Sometimes there is even a reduction in fatty tissue, as the membranes of the fat cells burst open and release the fat. The collagen in the connective tissue of the skin contracts under the influence of heat, which tightens the skin and connective tissue. Before treatment, the affected area of skin is disinfected and a numbing cream is applied. Some doctors use numbing injections instead. A grid is applied to the area of skin to be treated using a film. The doctor then follows the numbers drawn there with his probe and works through each of them selectively. The patient feels only a short heat shock, which is immediately cooled by the probe. Before the energy is emitted, the affected area of the skin is also cooled. The entire thermolifting procedure lasts from 30 to 120 minutes, depending on the size of the skin area to be smoothed. The patient sees the wrinkle reduction immediately afterwards.However, the longer-term treatment result is only visible 2 to 4 months after the last session. Usually, several lifting appointments are necessary to achieve an aesthetically satisfactory result. Approximately 3 years later, the patient should undergo a thermal lift booster treatment.
Risks, side effects and dangers
In about 20% of patients, the Thermalift procedure shows no effect. The causes of this effect are not known. The lift has hardly any side effects: In 0.2% of patients, burns, minor scars, dents, blisters and minor skin discoloration appear after the treatment. They usually go away by themselves a few days later. Special medical aftercare is often not necessary. Slight redness and swelling are sometimes visible after the treatment, but these disappear after a few hours. Thermolifting offers patients a particularly natural fresher appearance, as wrinkles and fine lines are only smoothed, but not completely eliminated. An initial result can be seen immediately after the last treatment. However, since collagen fibers take several months to completely reform and reorganize, patients do not see the results of their beauty treatment until 2 to 4 months later. Patients receiving local anesthesia with a pain injection should not drive a vehicle or operate machinery for 24 hours after treatment. The Thermalift procedure is not suitable for treating discolored areas of skin or sunken skin.
