An oldie but a goodie; why I love Thermafrax treatment

People are always interested to know about the very latest treatments but it’s often the tried and tested ones which make a real difference. Thermafrax is one such treatment which I tried just over a year ago.

Thermafrax isn’t new – it’s a combination of Thermage FLX Radiofrequency skin tightening followed by a Dual Fraxel Laser which evens out the skin tone (it takes about 90 minutes in total). I had the treatment at Consultant Dermatologist Dr Ophelia Veraitch’s Harley Street Clinic, which is one of the few places in the UK who offer these treatments together.

Dr Ophelia explained that Thermage FLX is one of the most powerful Radiofrequency (RF) treatments you can have in clinic. The RF uses radio waves to heat up the lower levels of the skin, to contract collagen. This has an instant ‘shrink-wrapping’ effect on the face. It also stimulates the skin to produce more of its own collagen. Some clinics refer to Thermage FLX as ‘face ironing’ because of the smoothing effect it can achieve on saggy skin. It also can help lift a sagging jawline, subtly lift the cheekbones help tighten up hooded eyes. It’s a great treatment for women (and men) who want a naturally lifted look. The Fraxel Laser can help with fine lines, some types of pigmentation and scarring.

Dr Ophelia describes Thermafrax as having a ‘mini facelift’. I’m not sure I’d go as far as that, but if you have the right face for it (and by that, I mean significant sag or the beginnings of a saggy jawline like I did) combined with some lines or pigmentation, you should notice an improvement.

The treatment begins with a grid being traced over the face and then a device delivers a precise dose of RF energy to each small square on the face. The heat damages the existing collagen in the skin, which shrinks in protest giving an immediate lifting effect and then starts to repair itself. The repairing takes time, so full results will be seen between three to six months after the treatment. Each pulse from the treatment feels hot but not unbearable thanks to a cooling tip. It’s less comfortable around the jaw and the level of discomfort depends on the expertise of the practitioner, so choose someone who has been doing it successfully for a while.

Immediately afterwards my skin was pinkish but I could see a definite lift which was exciting. Next came the Fraxel Laser. Numbing cream was applied as well as eye shields. I have to say I’m a bit of a wimp when it comes to laser treatments but I’ve definitely had more painful lasers than this and thankfully the discomfort is only for a millisecond as skin is zapped. I asked Dr Ophelia to have a few breaks as I think understandably my face had already been traumatised with the RF. The upper lip and forehead was really the place where it felt most uncomfortable.

Immediately after the treatment, my skin was hot and red (and you want to go straight home). But the morning after, I was back at the office with what looked like mild sunburn. This lasted about three days after which I was really thrilled to see a lovely, clear skin with a definite improvement to my sun damage. I was thrilled to go almost makeup free (just wearing mascara and lipstick) for the first time ever. The only caveat is you have to apply SPF50 everyday as the laser will make your skin more prone to sun damage.

Three months after this treatment, I just remember looking and feeling my best. I couldn’t really pinpoint why but I looked rested and like I’d had a good holiday. I noticed a tightening around my jawline and my cheekbones seemed lifted too. The Thermage FLX effects can last up to 18 months (sometimes longer) and the Fraxel Laser will depend person to person but you may need a yearly top up. I’d absolutely recommend this treatment if you’re after skin tightening, lifting and less blotchiness. And of course you can choose to have the treatments separately if you can’t face having them together on the same day.

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An oldie but a goodie; why I love Thermafrax treatment

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