Gone are the days when the only option available to fight the aging signs – like skin laxity and wrinkles –was to go under the knife and get a surgical facelift. Today, there are many alternatives available to help effectively reverse the signs of aging. Two widely used aging treatments in Singapore today are Thermage and Ultherapy. They are both FDA-approved and non-surgical treatments for skin rejuvenation. So, how do Ultherapy vs Thermage compare, and what to expect from each? Let us dig in a bit deeper to find out the benefits, cost, and expected results of these two popular skin rejuvenation treatments.
What Is Ultherapy?
Ultherapy is a non-invasive facelift alternative aimed at treating common aging symptoms like wrinkles and skin sagging around the face, brows, chest, and neck. It works by stimulating collagen production in the treated areas to deliver youthful, lifted skin.
Ultherapy uses an FDA-approved technology to target particular regions under the skin using ultrasound waves. It works with a special temperature of heat energy to promote the regeneration of collagen. The procedure treats wrinkles in three layers i.e. skin, muscle, and the surface. The ultimate goal of the treatment is to achieve natural-looking, wrinkle-free, and less saggy skin.
What Is Thermage?
Thermage is also a non-invasive skin tightening treatment that helps achieve better skin contour. Similar to Ultherapy, Thermage also targets collagen production in the skin by stimulating collagen growth to achieve the desired results.
Thermage relies on radiofrequency technology for promoting the growth of new collagen and achieving a tightened skin. A special device is used to reach through all the layers of the skin making the treatment more effective for several areas of the body. Some common areas treated with Thermage treatment include the face, hands, eyelids, neck, and other body parts.
Ultherapy vs Thermage – How The Two Compare In Benefits, Cost, And Results?
With both the treatments considered effective for skin rejuvenation, let us find out how they compare in terms of benefits, costs, and the results one can expect.
Thermage Coverage
Thermage can be used comfortably for the treatment of different areas like eyes, face, lips, abdomen, arms, hands, thighs, buttocks, and knees. It can produce great results for loose and lax skin, saggy jawlines, thin skin, and crepey skin on top of the knees.
For treating the areas mentioned above, the treatment sessions can run for around 45 to 90 minutes on average. This usually varies depending on the number of areas that need treatment and the skin condition of the patient.
Unlike other treatments that need two or even more sessions, Thermage can produce desired results with only a single session for most patients. However, expect the doctors to give customized care and determine the course of Thermage treatment depending on the patient’s individual needs and the aesthetic goals in mind. Hence, more than one treatment may be recommended based on the desired results, skin condition and their natural process of aging.
Thermage Benefits And Expected Results
As it takes time for the skin to start producing new collagen and one may need to wait for a few weeks to witness any significant changes. Generally, measurable skin contouring and tightening takes shape gradually over a period of 3 months, leaving the patients with rejuvenated and youthful skin.
One should not expect any dramatic changes often associated with surgical treatments. With Thermage, the following benefits and results can be expected:
- Better contoured and tighter skin for all skin tones and types
- Rejuvenated eye area and corrected eyelid hoods
- Minimized wrinkle appearance around the face
- Softened nasolabial folds
- Improved neck and jawline laxity
- Improved complexion with lightened acne scars
- Tightened skin around the arms, thighs, abdomen, and buttocks
- Minimized cellulite appearance
- More natural-looking results that keep improving over time
- Non-invasive treatment without the need for any injections or surgery
- Results achievable with a single treatment only
- Virtually no downtime
The patients can expect these results to last for around 1-2 years depending on their natural skin aging process. One can always receive touch-up treatments for maintaining Thermage results for a little longer.
Ultherapy Coverage
When comparing Ultherapy vs Thermage, one can consider Ultherapy as a non-invasive facelift procedure. The treatment is more suitable for those who are more concerned with skin lifting. Ultherapy can be used for effectively treating multiple areas including full face, full neck, upper face, lower face, brow area, décolletage, and around the mouth.
This treatment targets the skin at two different levels of depth, unlike Thermage where there is just a single fixed setting. The waves used in this procedure also have a deeper penetrating capacity compared to Thermage as they can reach up to 4.5mm rather than only 3.0mm in case of Thermage. The aim of Ultherapy is to reach deeper into the dermal layer for the treatment, and it even goes down to the SMAS and fat layer located almost 4.5mm under the skin’s surface. Targeting the SMAS layer also help to bring about better skin tightening and lifting results. Different transducers are used for targeting different depths. It will not be wrong to say that Ultherapy treats the skin “inside out”.
Ultherapy can be a viable treatment option for individuals who are not yet ready for a facelift but also want to make their skin feel rejuvenated. Each session can last for around 60-90 minutes with some patients reporting a little discomfort during the procedure. Generally, the treatment requires no downtime.
Ultherapy Benefits And Expected Results
Ultherapy is effective for skin tightening and making it more compact. Results are usually visible after treatment. Unlike Thermage, Ultherapy patients can expect to see visible lifting and firming benefits after every session. However, as biochemistry changes from one individual to another, the collagen production rate can vary among different patients. So, despite the fact thatbest results generally start showing up in 3-6 months, it is very much possible that some patients experience noticeable improvements earlier.
Generally, patients can expect the following benefits should they opt for Ultherapy:
- Stimulated collagen production
- More natural-looking skin lifting and tightening effects
- No need to undergo any surgical procedures
- Little to no downtime required
- A safe procedure that is performed using Ultrasound imaging technology
To ensure lasting results with Ultherapy, patients generally have to undergo one treatment in a year. But, sometimes, multiple treatments may be required at frequent intervals for achieving desired results.
Comparing The Costs
On average, the cost of Thermage treatment in Singapore is around $3000. Patients can expect it to be anywhere between $3000 and $5000 depending on the treatment areas. Even though the treatment is considered among the most cost-effective options around, particularly compared to the surgical alternatives like facelift, Thermage may still feel like an expensive treatment for some. There are several factors that affect the cost of Thermage treatment in Singapore including:
- The number of treatments required for achieving the desired output. Generally, however, just one session is enough and one can expect significant savings compared to other similar treatments that need multiple sessions.
- The size of the treatment site.
- The number of shot that comes with each tip
Talking about the Ultherapy cost in Singapore, it also varies depending on the size of the treatment site and also the required output based on the patient’s condition. Some clinics provide more affordable Ultherapy treatments for areas of the upper face such as brows and forehead with the prices going as low as $640. For wider treatment areas like cheeks, the costs can easily swell up to around $2000 or more.
Generally, full-face Ultherapy treatments would cost around $2000-$6000 in Singapore. For instance, a full-face Ultherapy with under chin treatment can start at $2500 and can go upwards. Similarly, if the neck area has to be treated alongside full-face Ultherapy, the costs would start at around $3200.
Conclusion
Generally, both the treatments are effective and it is the matter of one’s personal preference and the kind of results they want to achieve. The choice of treatment can also depend on the area of the body that has to be treated. It is advised that one should consult with their doctor and pick a proper treatment for their needs after thorough deliberation.
About Dream Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery
Bespoke surgical for cosmetic or medical reasons is what Dream covers to bring out the beauty in every individual. Going beyond the aesthetics and working on physical anomalies are what we value the most in leading our patients to cherish self-improvement and confident lifestyles.
Derived from Associate Professor Vincent Yeow’s long-standing experience performing plastic surgery in Singapore, our treatment plans deliver physical remodelling in our patients’ favour. One of the notable remodellings is droopy eyelid correction. The ptosis surgery used for treatment eventually fixes drooping eyelids, improves vision and enhances appearance.
Most importantly, as a trustworthy plastic surgery and aesthetic clinic, we treasure positive and natural outcomes for each individual. We will ensure to deliver the beauty refinement of your dream without compromising your safety and privacy.
