THERMAGE VS O'NEIL SKIN REJUVENATION

Thermage is a non-invasive skin treatment designed to tighten, contour and smooth out the skins surface. The Thermage machine, called Thermage Therma Cool NXT is a monopolar capacity radio frequency device. This machine or "tool" delivers high frequency energy into the skin and underlying tissues causing them to heat up.

The energy is aimed at the Dermis, heating this deeper layer of skin. The surface skin or the Epidermis is protected with a cooling spray. The heating of the Dermis causes new collagen formation and ultimately skin tightening. The results are gradual, improving for 2 to 6 months after the procedure.

It is commonly used on the face, tummy, arms, hands, thighs, and buttocks. Costs vary, depending on the physician, but usually run $2000 to $3000 per treatment area.

Thermage's claimed advantage is its non-invasive nature and lack of downtime, which is true. Results certainly vary depending on the experience of the physician.

O'Neil Skin Rejuvenation is a treatment protocol designed by Dr. Kelly O'Neil. The treatment is a combination of chemical peel and ultrasound therapy of the skin. He has used it successfully on approximately 9000 patients in the past 27 years.

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(Notice the lifting effect on the cheeks and jawls, the wrinkle removal around the eyes and mouth, and the removal of pigment sun damage all done without invasive surgery.)

O'Neil Skin Rejuvenation (OSR) works by stimulating collagen growth in the Dermis causing tissue contraction, skin tightening and wrinkle removal. This is a result of dermal fibroblast (cells that form collagen) stimulation by the chemical formula and the heat generated by the ultrasound waves. The OSR treatment is designed specifically for the face and is not used on other body areas.

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(The skin improvement and aging improvement are remarkable. Most OSR patients look 10+ years younger. Thermage gives no skin improvement and aging change is only a few years.)

Thermage, by comparison, can be used on many body areas, was first approved for facial skin tightening. The skin tightening with OSR is more immediate than with Thermage. The skin tightening with OSR is 90% complete in 10 days versus 6 months with Thermage.

The formula used in OSR kills the surface skin cells stimulating re-growth of a new surface layer of skin. This removes and improves complexion problems such as actinic (sun) damage, acne scars, large pores, and other pigment abnormalities. Thermage has no effect on the skin surface hence no improvement on these types of problems.

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(This patient had OSR to improve acne scarring but look how much tighter her upper eyelids are after OSR. Thermage does little to improve acne scars)

The surface healing with OSR takes 10 full days and one should expect "down time" of 10 days to 2 weeks with OSR compared to none with Thermage. The new skin, with OSR, has an inflammation or pinkness to it that lasts several months and patients usually feel more comfortable with some make-up covering the first couple of months.

OSR requires some local anesthesia and intravenous sedation (twilight anesthesia) for patient comfort during the procedure. Some pain medication may be required the first few days, following the procedure, to dull a "sunburn" like feeling. Thermage is not painless but is usually performed without anesthesia. There is a mild to moderate burning sensation associated with the procedure and little if any discomfort after the procedure.

When comparing OSR and Thermage treatment of the face, there are two big differences in results. OSR offers surface skin improvements as well as skin tightening, Thermage offers only skin tightening.

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The other difference is the amount of skin tightening and wrinkle improvement Thermage, at best removes fine lines around the mouth and eyes. Skin tightening is modest and in the range of 2 to 3 years of aging improvement, OSR, by contrast is capable of removing deep lines and wrinkles in all parts of the face. The skin tightening is much more dramatic and in the neighborhood of 10-12 years worth of tightening.

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OSR is much more effective in stimulating new collagen growth in the Dermis and it is the new collagen that results in skin tightening and wrinkle removal. For the same reason OSR will last much longer than Thermage, 10-15 years versus 2 to 3 years with Thermage.

Thermage, at $2000 to $4000 is less costly than OSR ($5000 to $7000) but the added results and longevity of OSR will make up the cost difference in the long run.

In summary, Thermage of the face is best suited for younger patients who are looking for modest changes (fine lines and 2 to 3 years of aging improvement) and for those who have no time to spend "down" away from work while healing. For those patients who desire more dramatic results (10 to 15 years of aging improvement) and who have the time for a "down time" of 10 to 14 days, OSR would be the preferred treatment.

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