Today we caught up with one of our favorite Los Angeles based doctor, Dr Alexander Rivkin M.D. on Thermage treatments. Here’s what he had to say:
The Thermage procedure is a safe, effective way to tighten loose skin all over the body without the risk, downtime or expense of surgery. The Thermage machine is not a laser – it is a device that delivers radio frequency energy down to the deeper layers of the skin, stimulating the production of new collagen and causing the existing collagen to interlace more, tightening the skin above.
Thermage is a one-time procedure. There is no need to purchase series of treatments. It takes about 30 minutes to an hour and a half to complete, depending on the areas that are treated. Improvements are both immediately visible and continue for up to six months. Results can last for years depending on your skin condition and aging process.
The Thermage procedure is cleared by the FDA for the non-invasive treatment of wrinkles and skin tightening.
The procedure is minimally uncomfortable – patients do not need topical creams or sedation.
Thermage is a procedure that does not cause downtime – taking days off from work is usually not necessary after Thermage. There is a small amount of redness and swelling after the procedure that subsides within a day or two. More invasive laser procedures, such as CO2 laser resurfacing, result in several weeks of severe redness, weeping skin and discomfort.
Because Thermage is not a laser, any skin type or color can be treated without concern for burning or scarring. This is an important advance over CO2 laser procedures, where the risk of skin discoloration and scarring after treatment is quite serious in individuals with olive or darker skin.
Our team works closely with Dr Alexander Rivkin M.D. and would be happy to refer you to him or help with advice on whether Thermage is right for you. Please feel free to drop us a line at facialbungalow@gmail.com or call 323-570-2664