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We are delighted to be the only practice in the Washington, DC region to offer Thermage FLX: a highly-anticipated non-surgical innovation to lift, smooth, and tighten the skin.
Thermage, the #1 skin tightening device worldwide, is a non-invasive radiofrequency (RF) therapy that can smooth, tighten and contour skin for an overall younger-looking appearance. FLX is the newest version of this technology, and debuts AccuRep to give automatic temperature calibration with every pulse for optimized results. This is a non-invasive treatment: no cutting, no needles, and no anesthesia.
As we age, the collagen that keeps our skin firm breaks down resulting in aging skin, fine lines and wrinkles. A Thermage FLX™ treatment uses radiofrequency technology to heat the deeper, collagen-rich layers of the skin. The applied heat causes collagen to contract and encourages new collagen to start growing. This helps create smoother skin after just one treatment with results that continue to improve.
Depending on the areas treated, the session will be approximately 45 minutes to an hour. FLX treatment is 25% faster than prior versions of Thermage, and all treatments are performed in our office by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Noëlle Sherber rather than being delegated. The treatment consists of hundreds of pulses of energy that create heat in your dermis, the collagen layer of the skin, and stimulate growth factors. A grounding pad sticker will be applied to your torso and your skin will be glazed with a cool gel for even conduction of energy. You will feel cooling from the tip of the device, as well as gentle vibration, plus as energy is delivered you will feel heat. There can be a few zings but overall the treatment is warm and comfortable: no pain medication of sedation is required. Afterwards your skin may look slightly pink but you can apply sunscreen and/or makeup right away.
Dr. Sherber details her approach to Thermage FLX, a highly-anticipated non-surgical innovation to lift, smooth, and tighten the skin.
You will see some immediate lift from treatment, and results continue to improve for 6 months. One single session of Thermage FLX will smooth, tighten, and contour the skin over time.
Dr. Sherber feels fortunate to have been trained personally by Dr. Vic Narurkar. Dr. Narurkar was a pioneer in dermatology responsible for significant innovation in radiofrequency skin tightening best practices and in helping to develop Thermage technology. He developed a vectored approach to delivering RF energy for optimal results, and Dr. Sherber treats patients in this way rather than with the standard “grid” approach. This vectored approach customizes the treatment to your individual anatomy and goals for maximal improvement.
Botox Cosmetic can be paired with Thermage FLX treatment for additional smoothing around the eyes and forehead or for a more immediate brow lift, or to contour the jawline or neck. Gentle laser resurfacing such as Clear+Brilliant Perméa is a good idea in between Thermage FLX treatments since it reduces dark spots and sun damage, and improves skin texture and tone. Fillers to add volume can be performed after a few weeks but are not performed at the same time as Thermage FLX due to the deep heating involved.
Any skin tone and skin type is suitable for this treatment. Since Thermage FLX is a skin-directed treatment it will not impact muscle or fat. If, however, you want to smooth, tighten, and contour the skin without anesthesia, scars, needles, or downtime then Thermage FLX is a great solution. There is no non-invasive substitute for surgery, so if someone wants a surgical result such as a face lift then no non-surgical treatment can deliver this.
The treatment price depends on the areas treated and the number of tips needed to complete treatment of the desired areas.
Treatment is very comfortable, and no numbing or pain medication is needed.
Thermage FLX is approved by the FDA for treatment of the eyelids, face, and body.
It’s best not to come in with freshly styled hair that you don’t want to wash post-treatment since your skin will be prepped with a cool gel called coupling fluid: this is water-soluble and washes away easily but can get in your hairline. Skin should not be sunburned or otherwise inflamed. To prepare for treatment on the face, men should shave so that no stubble can pierce the dielectric membrane on the device. Please let us know if you have a history of cold sores so we can provide you with a prescription for antiviral medication to prevent an outbreak from the heat associated with treatment.
Results can last 1-2 years, and many patients opt to make this a part of their annual maintenance program.
Thermage is the #1 skin tightening treatment worldwide, and FLX is the newest version of this radiofrequency (RF) device: it incorporates AccuRep technology to detect heat in the skin for unprecedented safety, efficacy, and comfort. We are the only practice in the Washington, DC region to have a Thermage FLX device, and it outperforms older iterations of this technology. Other skin tightening devices may use other approaches to deliver heat – such as ultrasound – or may rely on needles or incisions to access the deeper layers of the skin.
Our team will take high resolution photographs for your record so that we can observe the results of your treatment with accuracy. We will then ask you about your medical history, including current medications and any prior procedures. Dr. Sherber will talk with you about your specific goals and customize a treatment plan for you that might include Botox, other injectables, laser treatments, and skincare products. Dr. Sherber is a board-certified dermatologist and performs all treatments personally.
Before Botox treatment we will clean your skin thoroughly, and Dr. Sherber will ask you to move your facial muscles to make various expressions so that she can map out your muscular anatomy. The injections are not painful but you may feel a small pinch in more sensitive areas. Several points will be injected, with the exact number of injections needed determined by your anatomy and by the extent of the areas being treated. Treatment takes about 5-10 minutes.
Dr. Sherber graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University, where she designed and implemented a novel degree program in health policy focused on assessing and improving quality of care. She next attended the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine where she earned her M.D. degree. Following a post-doctoral fellowship in clinical research at Columbia University, she returned to Johns Hopkins for dermatology residency training and conducted research in scar healing and in disorders of abnormal collagen. She is now a Clinical Assistant Professor at George Washington University in the Department of Dermatology.
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Sherber+Rad1101 15th St. NW, Suite 100, Washington, D.C. 20005