In other words, the heat causes the skin’s collagen fibers to contract, resulting in subtle tightening and more visible firmness. Best of all, the effect is both instantaneous and long-term. According to Suarez, “the dermal contraction produces an immediate tightening effect and, over time, the contraction of the fibrous septa produces a three-dimensional tightening which results in greater definition of the facial contour and a generalized rejuvenation of the skin.”

In a study led by Jeffrey S. Dover M.D., Brian Zelickson M.D. and a 14-Physician Multi-specialty Consensus Panel, 26% of patients demonstrated immediate tightening, 54% observed skin tightening six months after treatment, and 68% of patients found the treatment results met their expectations.

What are the results?

Like any in-office treatment, Thermage FLX results can vary and are dependent on the technician. For my treatment, I visited Dr. Jaime Tufet at the Pedro Jaén Group in Madrid, and I can affirm that immediately after undergoing the procedure, my skin looked tighter, my pores looked smaller, and my contours more defined.

Now, I just have to wait two or three months for the newly created collagen to provide more firmness; results typically take a few months to fully develop and can last for a year or two.

Is there is any downtime?

Unlike radiofrequency microneedling treatments, which Kormeili says carry a “higher risk profile,” the heat from Thermage FLX is generated deep inside the skin and does not puncture the epidermis. “The nice thing about radio frequency is that it has minimal to no downtime,” says Kormeili.

Immediately post-treatment you might see some redness and swelling, but “when performed correctly, it is rather safe and does not carry a big risk profile,” notes Kormeili.

Is Thermage FLX painful?

Though there’s little to no downtime, Thermage FLX is not exactly known for being painless. In fact, in the aforementioned Dover-Zelickson study, 45% of people found the procedure “too painful.”

That said, I personally didn’t find it “too painful”—or at least, not as painful as I’d expected. Yes, I did experience discomfort at times—mostly, a hot tingling sensation on my forehead and jawline—but nothing more. My hour-and-a-half treatment was actually surprisingly tolerable and I was definitely able to go about my business right afterwards. As a bonus side effect, my acne, eczema, and minor blemishes seem improved.