When we start to lose skin elasticity, it can be the most frustrating sign of aging. Simply because you cannot hide it under make up or a tan. It also takes a lot of work for improvement and topical creams definitely fall short. But aging is inevitable and so is a decrease in collagen and skin elasticity. At some point we all will find sagging skin. How long it takes and how fast it shows up all depends on genetics, your environment and overall lifestyle. These things can hinder or accelerate the process.
Let’s take a minute to be thankful for technological advancement. Men and women now have a non-surgical option for facial skin tightening. It is called ThermiSmooth!
Thermismooth is a FDA-approved treatment that delivers a gentle heat targeted to tighten, smooth, and rejuvenate loose skin tissue. And although we all haven’t found a way to stop the aging process, we have found ways of taking control of unwanted changes along the way.
What is ThermiSmooth?
ThermiSmooth is a procedure used to improve the appearance of aging skin by increasing collagen production and tightening the skin over a period of time. A hand held piece is used to deliver a targeted area and gently heating the surface of the skin.
ThermiSmooth Face is considered RF, or a radiofrequency, energy treatment that is used to help treat wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin. Most commonly used around the mouth, the cheeks, and the neck. But can also be used to treat the forehead and around the eyes.
How Tissue Heating Improves Skin
During your treatment, your technician will use a handpiece that will be applied to the skin and guided in a circular motion. All the while it heats the skin’s surface. The handpiece is built with an advanced computer system that allows the temperature to be controlled. It’s also programmed to sense the skin’s temperature. Throughout the treatment the heat is automatically adjusted to the patients most comfortable temperature while providing the most effective treatment. This heat is generated using radiofrequency.
Collagen, when exposed to a certain heat or temperature, shrinks – which helps make the skin contract and tighten. As well as stimulating the production of collagen. This rejuvenates the skin in the treated areas and helps to fill wrinkles.
This procedure is done with absolutely no anesthesia needed. Which makes for one of the most comfortable and non-invasive skin tightening remedies.
Ideal Candidates For ThermiSmooth
Sagging skin got you down? Maybe you’re considering a face refresh without surgery. Or maybe you’re just unhappy with where your skin is at. You could be a good candidate for ThermiSmooth.
ThermiSmooth is a great option for men and women looking to rejuvenate their face and neck without surgery.
It is most commonly used to treat the following areas:
- Forehead
- Eyes
- Cheeks
- Mouth
Talk to your Dermatologist about ThermiSmooth. They can assess your skin and recommend the best plan to get you to your desired results. For even more optimal results, it’s common for ThermiSmooth to be performed with additional treatments such as dermal fillers. Procedures like dermal fillers are also minimally invasive. Both treatments in combination can help restore volume to your face.
How Does ThermiSmooth Work?
When sustained heat is applied to skin above 104 degrees Fahrenheit, the collagen under the skin will shrink. This helps initiate a process where the skin starts to tighten. This tightening helps counteract the effects of aging.
The handpiece transmits controlled radiofrequency heat into the dermis, ThermiSmooth causes the skin’s foundational collagen protein fibers to contract. This causes a natural inflammatory response that accelerates cell regeneration.
Because collagen helps provide the skin with elasticity and its overall structure, the slowing of production over time means the skin becomes looser, thinner, and more prone to fine lines and wrinkles. Heat-based energy treatments like ThermiSmooth help find the cells (fibroblasts) that produce collagen fibers, to increase production and help the skin become smoother, tighter, and more youthful.
This treatment is a gradual process. Increasing collagen production takes more than one treatment. It may take weeks or months to notice the benefits.
ThermiSmooth face treatment sessions start to align with the rate of cell turnovers in a series of three to six procedures between two to four weeks apart. At least, that is recommended!
ThermiSmooth Treatment
ThermiSmooth treats many different areas. It is used commonly to target around the mouth, under the eyes, forehead, neck, and eyelids.
During treatment, a tiny amount of gel is applied to the surface of the skin on the area that is going to be treated. This gel helps conduct heat safely onto the skin. Radiofrequency energy is then transmitted through the skin. No anesthetic needed. All without breaking the surface of the skin. Expect the treatment to feel warm like a massage, and if there is a level of discomfort, make sure to let your provider know so that the temperature of the handpiece can be adjusted accordingly.
The handpiece is set to a specific temperature, which then gets moved across the treatment area, gently in a circular pattern. With an advanced computer system in the handpiece, the system will automatically adjust the temperature of the device based on how the patient’s skin is responding to the procedure. The area is treated for about 5-15 minutes, with a total of 30-45 minutes per session. Depending on which areas of your face you are looking to address lines and laxity. With the number of treatments being determined by you and your healthcare professional.
Treatments with ThermiSmooth™ are repeated multiple times and the exact number of treatments varies depending on the desired cosmetic result of the patient. While multiple treatments may be necessary, most patients will see some result after the first treatment with full results developing over 3 to 6 months.
Side Effects
Side effects include minor redness and swelling, but should be able to continue with your day as usual post-treatment, with no recovery needed.
How Does a ThermiSmooth Consultation Work?
During your consultation, your doctor will examine the areas of your skin that you’d like to improve. Answer any questions you may have, and help you design a plan of action to get you to your desired results. They will also review your medical history and make sure all possible conditions are addressed to make sure you’re the right candidate for this treatment.
Pros
One of the biggest pros of a non-invasive, non-surgical procedure is no downtime! After a ThermiSmooth treatment, you can return to your regularly scheduled programming immediately. It is also pain-free and safe for all skin tones and types. Because the heat on the skin is regulated by the response of the patient’s skin during treatment, there is no risk for side effects like scarring and hyperpigmentation.
Cons
ThermiSmooth, in comparison to other surgical skin tightening options, is a lot more subtle in nature. Because of this, results may take a little longer to produce. In addition, a review of literature on radiofrequency for skin rejuvenation showed that most studies reported about 96% positive results and only 44% only showing a statistically significant difference.
To be able to reach long-term, and noticeable results, multiple treatments are necessary followed by yearly maintenance.
To enhance the ThermiSmooth treatment, it may need to be coupled with other skin rejuvenation treatments like dermal fillers. Complementing ThermiSmooth with additional procedures may help achieve what injectable fillers or laser resurfacing achieve in a more aggressive manner.
When will you see results?
Following the treatment, you may feel your skin tighten immediately after a treatment. This is due to the contraction from the heat on the skin’s collagen fibers. Results are more visible and will improve with every treatment. Typically, it takes three to six months to see full effects of ThermiSmooth.
With maintenance to your results every nine to twelve months.
Most patients come to ThermiSmooth to achieve a natural rejuvenation. Board certified dermatologist, Dr. Thomas Balshi understands the importance of patients wanting to look and feel their best, which is why he takes a highly individualized approach to cosmetic enhancements. During your ThermiSmooth procedure, he will apply her masterful techniques to restore a natural-looking, youthful appearance.
ThermiSmooth provides a temporary reduction of cellulite from in the thighs and produces a more youthful look in the face. It is a precise and safe procedure that targets under the skin as a non-invasive treatment with a specially designed thermistor-regulated hand piece. With this hand piece, it gently heats the skin by dermal heating to target and correct all your problem areas in a few sessions.
Thinking About ThermiSmooth To Improve Your Skin?
If you are considering ThermiSmooth, contact Balshi Dermatology today to schedule a consultation and learn more about the treatment. At Balshi Dermatology, our board-certified dermatologists are trained in ThermiSmooth and many other methods of helping you look your best. We look forward to meeting you!
To schedule a consultation with a board-certified dermatologist in Delray Beach, contact Balshi Dermatology at (561) 272-6000 or send us a message on our Contact Page to set up your appointment.