Facial fillers and Thermage FLX: Your guide to facial rejuvenation
Written in association with:In this informative guide, Dr Tracy Xu, a leading aesthetic medicine specialist, shares her expert insight on two of the most popular facial rejuvenation treatments – Thermage FLX and facial fillers. The revered specialist details how these aesthetic treatments can tighten the skin, restore volume, and combat the signs of ageing and also reveals how they are best combined depending on each individual’s facial structure and shape.
Thermage FLX
Thermage FLX is a non-invasive cosmetic treatment that employs radiofrequency technology to enhance the skin's tightness and firmness. By stimulating collagen production and remodelling existing collagen fibres, it addresses sagging skin, fine lines, and wrinkles.
Thermage FLX is renowned for its precision, targeting specific areas of concern. It requires minimal downtime and offers gradual, natural-looking results, making it a popular choice for patients seeking skin rejuvenation without surgery.
Facial fillers
Facial fillers are cosmetic injectables used to restore volume, smooth wrinkles, and enhance facial contours. Comprising substances like hyaluronic acid, they are strategically injected beneath the skin's surface. This plumps up areas with lost volume, minimising lines and creases. The results are immediate, and the treatment is relatively quick, requiring minimal recovery time. Facial fillers provide a non-surgical option for achieving a more youthful and revitalized appearance, effectively addressing signs of ageing and improving overall facial symmetry.
Should I begin with Thermage or facial fillers?
To establish which type of treatment should be administered first, we first need to clarify one point: What particular aspect are you looking to enhance? Although wrinkles in the lower facial area are a common concern, the underlying causes differ for each individual.
Slim facial structures
If your facial structure is generally slim without excess fat, but you've noticed hollows or sagging due to ageing, it's advised to begin treatment with filler injections. These injections will help restore lost volume. Following this, Thermage FLX can be used to tighten the skin and fascial layers. This course of treatment will yield the most natural looking and effective results.
Performing this course of treatment in reverse, however, may lead to disappointing results from Thermage treatment and can knock the patient’s confidence (and affect their budget) in terms of proceeding with filler injections to follow.
Rounder facial structures
On the other hand, if you have excess or abundant fat in the lower face with noticeable skin sagging, starting with Thermage treatment is most likely a better choice. This approach effectively enhances skin elasticity and reduces the "weight" in the lower face, meaning that filler injections administered later give better outcomes.
These are the two most common ageing indications in the lower face but the most appropriate course of treatment in your individual case should be determined in a consultation with an aesthetic medicine specialist.
If you are considering facial rejuvenation treatment and wish to schedule a consultation with Dr Xu to discuss the available options, you can do so by visiting her Top Doctors profile.
