Thermage
Thermage is an FDA-cleared, non-invasive skin tightening treatment for the face and body. Patented monopolar radiofrequency delivers controlled heat to the deeper layers of skin, tightening existing collagen on the spot and prompting your skin to build new collagen over the months that follow. One session, no incisions, no anesthesia.
What isThermage?
Thermage works with heat, precisely delivered. The handpiece sends monopolar radiofrequency energy into the deeper layers of skin while a cooling spray protects the surface, keeping the treatment comfortable without anesthesia. Each pulse brings a brief sensation of heat, then cooling.
The heat does two things. Immediately, it causes existing collagen to contract, which many patients notice as subtle tightening right after treatment. More importantly, it signals the skin to remodel and produce new collagen, so firmness keeps building gradually over the following two to six months.
Because the surface is never broken, there is little to no downtime: most patients go straight back to their day. And because the energy reaches the deeper, collagen-rich layers of skin, Thermage works nearly anywhere skin has loosened, including the eyelids, one of the few non-surgical options for the eye area.
Who is Thermage for?
Thermage is for people with skin that has started to loosen and who want it firmer without surgery.
We examine your skin at a consultation and tell you honestly what Thermage can achieve for it. Severe laxity is better served by surgery, and Thermage is not advised during pregnancy.
You have mild to moderate laxity
Loose skin on the face or neck, early jowls, or softness along the jawline.
You want the eye area treated without surgery
Thermage is one of the few non-surgical treatments for loose eyelid skin and crepiness around the eyes.
Skin loosened after weight loss or pregnancy
Mild laxity on the abdomen, arms, or thighs responds well.
You want to stay ahead of aging
Thermage works as a preventative treatment, keeping collagen active before laxity advances.
You are ready to review your health history
Share any underlying health issues or concerns with your provider at your consultation, and we design the plan around your skin type and tone.
Where Thermageworks
Thermage reaches the deeper, collagen-rich layers of skin, so it goes almost anywhere skin has loosened: the face and eyelids most famously, and the body wherever mild laxity has settled in.
Select an area on the figure to see what Thermage does there.
Thermage, full face1 / 2
Thermage,before and after.
These photographs are from the Thermage results gallery on the practice's previous website. Individual results vary; your plan is designed at your consultation. Drag the handle to compare.
See all Thermage resultsIndividual results vary. These photographs are from the practice's previous website and are not a guarantee of your own outcome.
See Thermage at our office
Where Thermage shines, from the eye area to cellulite, plus a look at treatment at our office.
If you would rather talk it through, a consultation covers everything you see here, for your skin.
Whatto expect.
Book a consultationPricing depends on the area treated, so we build a personalized quote at your consultation. Thermage costs considerably less than comparable surgery.
A single in-office session sized to the area, with no anesthesia required. The built-in cooling keeps each pulse comfortable.
Return to normal activities immediately. Mild redness or swelling, when it happens, resolves within a few hours.
Some tightening shows shortly after treatment; the real improvement builds gradually over two to six months as collagen remodels. Results last a year or more for most patients.
Frequently asked questions
What does Thermage treat?
Loose skin and wrinkles on the face, eyelids, jawline, and neck, and mild laxity on the body, including the abdomen, arms, and thighs.
Is Thermage painful?
It is well tolerated without anesthesia. You feel a brief sensation of heat with each pulse, followed by a cooling spray that protects the skin during and after the energy is delivered.
How long does a treatment take?
Between 45 and 90 minutes depending on the area treated. It is a single in-office visit.
Is there downtime?
Little to none. You can return to normal activities immediately; mild redness or swelling resolves within a few hours.
How soon will I see results?
Some patients notice subtle tightening right away from collagen contraction. The most noticeable improvement develops gradually over two to six months as new collagen forms.
How long do results last?
A year or more for most patients, depending on your age, your skin, and your lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle helps the result hold.
How many treatments will I need?
Many patients need just one. Your provider may recommend a maintenance treatment down the road to keep the result.
Can Thermage really treat the eyelids?
Yes. It is one of the few non-surgical options for loose eyelid skin and crepiness in the eye area, and it is a signature use of the technology.
Is Thermage safe for my skin tone?
Thermage is designed to safely treat many skin types and tones. We confirm it is right for your skin at your consultation.
Can it replace a facelift?
No. It significantly improves mild to moderate laxity, but skin that has loosened severely responds better to surgery, and we will tell you if that is your situation.
Can I have Thermage while pregnant?
No, treatment is not advised during pregnancy. If you are breastfeeding, ask your doctor before scheduling.
Can Thermage be combined with other treatments?
Yes. It pairs well with fillers, Botox, lasers, and resurfacing treatments, each addressing a different part of how skin ages.
Where to next
Related treatment
EMFACE
Needle-free lift for the face.
Explore the treatmentRelated concern
Lines & Wrinkles
Motion lines and creases that stay put
Start from the concernWorth reading
Thermage for the Neck and Décolletage: Nonsurgical Lifting Options
Thermage for the neck and décolletage lifts and tightens aging skin without surgery. Discover this nonsurgical option today!
Read the answerAsk about your skin.
Tell us what you would like to change and we will come back with the treatments that fit, honest expectations, and a time to talk it through.
Your details go straight to our Montgomery Road front desk and are never shared. A team member replies during office hours, usually the same day.
Ready when you are.
Book a consultation at our Montgomery Road office, or call and we will help you decide where to start.
Medically reviewed by Shalini Gupta, MD, Harvard-trained dermatologist and founder of The Dermatology, Laser & Vein Center. Last reviewed September 2026. This page is for education and is not a substitute for a personalized medical consultation.