"Isn't Thermage one of those treatments where the stronger and the more shots you fire, the better the result?"
"I tried it once but didn't really feel anything. Was it done too weakly?"
These are questions we hear all the time from people thinking about Thermage.
Hello, I'm Director Kwon Si-jin at DA Clinic Myeongdong ^^
We're getting ready to open our doors in Myeongdong soon, and since so many people have been asking about Thermage ahead of our opening, we wanted to put together this overview for your information first.
With Thermage, the harder you take it, the more it can work against you.
Firing harder doesn't create more collagen; it only raises the risk of burns and pain. Let me start with what's worth knowing before you go.
By the end you'll know what to ask.
Thermage Is a Treatment That 'Heats the Dermis'
Thermage is a tightening treatment that delivers monopolar radiofrequency (RF) into the dermis.
The principle is that heat instantly contracts collagen, and then over the following months new collagen builds up.
It's easier to picture if you imagine ironing out a wrinkled shirt while at the same time reweaving the fabric ㅎㅎ
DA Clinic Myeongdong is preparing to open with the Thermage FLX, and the FLX generation has improved tips and algorithms so the energy goes in more evenly and the burden of pain is reduced.
First, It's Not About 'Intensity' but 'the Right Energy'
Many people think, "Since I'm getting it done anyway, hitting it harder will make more collagen."
But collagen responds best within a set temperature range.
If the energy goes in stronger than necessary, the risk of burns and pain rises before any regeneration does.
So what matters isn't sheer high intensity, but how evenly the energy is delivered to match your skin thickness and the treatment area. This is exactly the point where results diverge even when the same device is used.
Second, Be Sure to Check the Tip and the Number of Shots
Thermage is a treatment that uses a genuine tip, and a set number of shots' worth of energy is delivered through that tip.
So rather than "how many times you've had it," what matters far more is "whether you received the proper number of shots with a genuine tip."
It's a good idea to check before the treatment which tip is being used and how many shots you're getting.
This is something that helps you keep in mind no matter which clinic you go to.
Third, the Effect Is Built 'After' You've Had It
When you look in the mirror right after Thermage, you might think, "Huh, nothing's really changed?"
The real change appears slowly over the 2~3 months, and as long as half a year, while collagen builds back up.
It's a treatment where what comes afterward matters more than the moment right after.
So after the treatment, avoiding UV exposure and moisturizing thoroughly has quite an influence on the result.(how much you feel it differs from person to person)
If it's all radiofrequency, why several devices?
Not all radiofrequency is the same radiofrequency.Depending on how the electrodes sit, what frequency is used and how the surface is cooled, the depth it reaches and how it feels change even when the same dermis is being warmed.
- Thermage FLX — monopolar, warming the whole dermis evenly. It has a function that reads the skin's resistance and matches the energy to it, and is described as having lowered the pain through cooling and vibration
- XERF — described as using two frequencies together to reach deeper layers. It has cooling and tends to be less painful, and comes up for people with little facial fat
- Volnewmer — monopolar radiofrequency, even from the dermis through to the subcutaneous layer. Described as being on the fuller, more voluminous side of firmness
- InMode — the firmness mode and the fat-side mode are separate, and it comes up when the jawline is being considered alongside
The reason we have all four at our Myeongdong clinic is simple: you can only say "you don't need this right now" if there are alternatives. With one device, every concern that walks in converges on that one device.
And where sagging runs deep, the radiofrequency family alone has its limits.That's when we look at the ultrasound side alongside — Ultherapy PRIME, Shurink Universe, Sofwave. However well you warm the dermis, it can't lift what has descended in a deeper layer.
Honestly, We Don't Recommend It for These People
Thermage isn't the answer to every kind of sagging.
If skin sagging has progressed significantly, or if deeper-layer laxity is your concern, RF tightening alone has its limits.
In those cases, honestly, a different approach may suit you better, so we think it's right to talk it through together during the diagnosis.
This isn't a piece saying you should get Thermage no matter what. Knowing the direction that suits your own skin comes first.
What you do in the months afterwards
With Thermage, it's the months that follow rather than the treatment itself that make the result, because that's the period when collagen builds.
- Sun protection — UV is spoken of as the single largest factor that erodes collagen. If it's being eroded while it builds, less of it remains
- Moisturising — during recovery it's better to lean on hydration rather than active, irritating ingredients
- Saunas and hard exercise — safer to postpone for a week or two afterwards
The difference between "it lasted a year" and "it only lasted six months" is sometimes not a difference of device but a difference in these few months.
- Not the strength but the right energy for your skin decides the result
- Check the genuine tip and the set number of shots before you start
- The change appears slowly, over two to three months
FAQ
Q. Does it hurt a lot during the treatment?
A. The pain from Thermage is a stinging or hot sensation at the moment of heating, and in many cases it isn't unbearable. That said, it varies by area, so spots close to the bone like the forehead or around the mouth can feel a bit more stimulating. With the FLX generation, the improved tips and delivery algorithms spread out the impact that reaches you at once, so the burden of pain is reduced compared to before. Before the treatment we apply plenty of numbing cream, and during the treatment we cool the heat with a cooling device as we go, so most people get through it comfortably. Still, if you're sensitive to pain, let us know in advance and we'll adjust the intensity and pace. Please keep in mind that how much you feel differs from person to person.
Q. About how many times should I have it?
A. Thermage is usually a treatment you have once a year, on its own.The idea is that a single treatment instantly contracts collagen and then regenerates it over the following months, so you can expect improved firmness for a certain period.However, since aging continues even after the treatment, the effect isn't fixed permanently. That's why many people have it again about once a year, checking their condition as they go.The right interval changes depending on your skin firmness, age, and lifestyle habits, so rather than having it frequently no matter what, it's best to set the interval to match your own skin condition.
Q. Can I go back to my daily life right away after?
A. Thermage is a treatment you can resume daily life from the same day.It isn't a procedure that involves incisions or inserting threads, so there's almost no downtime where you have to rest separately to recover.Most people can wash their face and wear light makeup right after the treatment, and even if some redness or a mild warm feeling remains, it usually settles within a few hours to a day.That said, for the first few days after the treatment it's a period when collagen is responding, so avoiding UV exposure and moisturizing thoroughly will help your result. It's safer to put off activities that apply a lot of heat, like saunas, jjimjilbang, and intense exercise, for a few days.
Q. I heard you can go stronger with anaesthesia.
A. It's true that less pain creates room to raise the energy. But raising the intensity isn't always better, and the thickness of your skin and the amount of fat have to be considered together.Plan before intensity.
Q. How often is it done?
A. A year or so is the usual baseline, moving either way depending on your skin and age.Collagen needs time to build, so applying heat again before the response has finished stacks strain faster than it adds effect.
Q. It feels like nothing has changed — has it failed?
A. Start by checking when you're judging it. Two or three months in, the change hasn't finished emerging, so a conclusion drawn from that impression will be off.Comparing a photo from before you started with one at three months, under the same conditions, is more accurate.
The result shows months later
Erase everything else and one line remains.
With Thermage, it's not intensity but 'the right energy, a genuine tip, and managing the regeneration period' that makes the result.
I hope the worry you carried into this piece feels a little lighter.
DA Clinic Myeongdong is set to open soon.We'll share news of our opening and treatment information first on our blog and Instagram ^^
Thank you for reading this long piece.This was Director Kwon Si-jin at DA Clinic Myeongdong.
This column is an informational article meant to provide general medical information, and the effects and side effects of treatments may vary by individual. DA Clinic Myeongdong is set to open soon. (Medical Service Act Art. 56)