Thermage® vs. Facial Plastic Surgery By Nimit D on July 16, 2011

There are plenty of options out there for enhancing the appearance of your face. Some of these involve special laser therapies, others involve injections. When it comes making the face look more youthful and vibrant, we’ve found many patients are considering Thermage® as an option. It should be noted that while effective, Thermage® differs from facial plastic surgery options such as the facelift or the brow lift. When you visit Ottawa, Ontario plastic surgeon Dr. Peter Brownrigg, he’ll assess your whole situation and figure out if your needs will be best met by Thermage®.

We’d like to take a moment right now to distinguish between Thermage® and facial plastic surgery so that prospective patients have an idea about what each involves and why one option may be more effective than another.

With Ottawa, Ontario Thermage®, there are no incisions required for treatment. The procedure itself is completely non-invasive and requires only a topical anesthetic cream on the treatment area. Radiofrequency waves are trained to specific areas of the patient’s face to help stimulate the collagen layer of the skin. This leads to a tightening of the skin over the course of the next month or so, the effects of which can reduce some sagging and eliminate fine lines and wrinkles. The treatments can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.

Facial plastic surgery, by contrast, involves the use of anesthetic and incisions that are hidden in the discrete peripheral areas of the face. Through these incisions, the surgeon is able to adjust the underlying structures of the face, remove excess skin and tissue, and tighten the facial skin. Recovery time is required after surgery, though this is relatively brief in some cases and free of complications so long as post-operative instructions are followed.

Determining whether Thermage® or facial plastic surgery would best meet your needs will involve a consultation with Dr. Brownrigg. Generally, though, major issues with sagging skin and wrinkles are best dealt with through surgery while less substantial matters of sagging and wrinkling can be dealt with using Thermage®. This will vary from patient to patient, though, as each patient has different needs and medical histories.

To learn more about the many options available for aesthetic enhancement, be sure to contact our Ottawa cosmetic surgery practice today.

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