The popularity of cosmetic surgery in the Philippines has made many people want to try it, but some of them are not as convinced to go under the knife. They think of the physical pain the surgery may cause, as well as the potential embarrassment they can get when friends and family see them healing and with bandages on. All of these are reasonable concerns, but with the advent of new medical technology, it is now possible to get the same benefits of plastic surgery without having to face its potential consequences. Using non-invasive techniques, cosmetic surgeons can now provide patients with the physical improvements they have been dreaming about.
One such procedure is a beauty treatment known as Thermage. Since Oprah Winfrey introduced this concept in her show, more and more people have been seeking to undergo this non-surgical facelift. Winfrey has been promoting Thermage as she believes in its technology and she has become proud of the fact that there is no recovery period needed. She has championed the treatment in her episodes “Look Younger! Live Longer!” and “How to Stop the Clock on Aging” among others.
What Thermage does is it tightens the neck and the face, not through any invasive means, but by utilizing an innovative radio-frequency method called Thermacool. It gently lifts the skin so that wrinkles are eliminated and the contours on the face are renewed. The Thermacool device uses radio-frequency heat to stimulate and increase collagen production, allowing the skin to tighten and smoothen. The patient will not feel any burning sensation, as the apparatus will also cool the skin’s surface while the procedure is being done. After three to six months, the result will be facial skin that is visibly younger and more vibrant looking.
Thermage is non-invasive, but some patients are known to have experienced mild discomfort during the procedure. To avoid this, some doctors will apply a low dose of local anesthetic before the treatment. Some other side effects that may be caused by the procedure are tenderness, swelling, skin rashes, redness, and blisters. The possibility of having these side effects are quite low (less than 1%) and if they do occur, they usually go away after a few days.
Thermage normally lasts about 20 minutes or up to two hours, if the area to be treated is bigger. As mentioned, there is no need for recovery time — one can go in the morning to have the treatment done and be back in the office or at home after a couple of hours. This cosmetic procedure works on all types of skin and can be used on all parts of the face. Recently, the FDA has also approved Thermage to be used for the eye area and the abdomen. Soon, Thermage will be available for use for the whole body.
If you are one of the many people who would like to gain back that youthful glow, but are not yet ready for aesthetic surgery, then Thermage may be the solution for you. Consult with a Thermage physician to know how this technology can work for you.
