Thermage - Patients ask, Dr. Ringpfeil answers
Please feel free to use the blog below to share information about Thermage or to ask Dr. Franziska Ringpfeil a question that might be of interest to others.
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Written by Dr. Ringpfeil
Thermage and other Radiofrequency Devices
Overview:
Radiofrequency drives heat to the superficial, mid and deep dermis and stimulates collagen production.
Expected results:
Subtle tightening of the skin around eyes, face, neck and abdomen. Results are highly variable.
Preparation:
Topical anesthesia +/- nerve block by injection.
Post treatment instructions:
Sun protection for at least 3 months.
Time to desired results:
4-6 months
Contraindications:
None. Radiofrequency is considered safe on all skin types.
Duration of desired effects:
Up to 2 years.
Downtime:
Redness for up to 24 hours
Selected Patient Questions and Answers
# of surveys: 4187
Last updated: 1/02/2024 11:10 AM
PATIENT RATINGS
Would you recommend us?
- definitely
- 93.1%
- probably
- 6.16%
- maybe
- 0.58%
- not likely
- 0.08%
- no
- 0.02%
Compare our service to other similar practices
- excellent
- 87.9%
- very good
- 10.1%
- good
- 1.8%
- poor
- 0.06%
- very poor
- 0%
Overall doctor performance
- excellent
- 94.2%
- very good
- 4.89%
- good
- 0.80%
- poor
- 0.03%
- very poor
- 0%
The doctor listened to you attentively
- excellent
- 93.9%
- very good
- 4.97%
- good
- 1.05%
- poor
- 0.05%
- very poor
- 0%
The doctor took time to answer your questions
- excellent
- 94.0%
- very good
- 4.66%
- good
- 1.27%
- poor
- 0.02%
- very poor
- 0%
The doctor explained treatment options
- excellent
- 94.3%
- very good
- 4.16%
- good
- 1.25%
- poor
- 0.14%
- very poor
- 0.02%
The doctor explained treatment options
- excellent
- 92.0%
- very good
- 5.69%
- good
- 2.18%
- poor
- 0.11%
- very poor
- 0.0%
Front desk performance
- excellent
- 85.6%
- very good
- 10.2%
- good
- 3.66%
- poor
- 0.31%
- very poor
- 0.08%
Aesthetician performance
- excellent
- 88.6%
- very good
- 7.61%
- good
- 3.39%
- poor
- 0.24%
- very poor
- 0.08%
Office comfort
- excellent
- 90.9%
- very good
- 6.93%
- good
- 2.08%
- poor
- 0.05%
- very poor
- 0.05%
Parking
- excellent
- 66.4%
- very good
- 14.4%
- good
- 15.7%
- poor
- 2.49%
- very poor
- 0.9%
Friendliness of the staff during appointment
- excellent
- 90.9%
- very good
- 7.23%
- good
- 1.85%
- poor
- 0.05%
- very poor
- 0%
What WE DID WELL
(Answers:674)
You people are superb. The doctor and the assistant understand what they are doing. The doctor really talks like a professional - she knows it for sure.
#12024-12-11Office looks great!
#22025-10-13knowledge and friendly
#32024-11-27The doctor definitely has a wonderful bedside manner, so unexpected when a woman my age is dealing with aging vanity issues.
#42024-12-31The way Dr.Ringpfeil and the medical assistant has communicated
#52025-02-28Dr. Ringpfeil is extremely knowledgeable about her field. She also put me at ease immediatley and made me feel quite at home. I will definatley return once a year for her to check me. Her assistant and the receptionists were most helpful and very nice and more than happy to comply with their patients' wishes. Should anyone be searching for a dermatologist, I highly recommend Dr. Ringpfeil.
#62025-09-20everything was wonderful.
#72025-08-31I did not feel rushed. I felt I was Heard and listened to. The exam and explanations were clear .When my visit ended all of my questions,, symptoms, and diseases were addressed extensively.I am thrilled that I have found this office. I intend to refer my husband, son and friends.
#82011-05-26 11:49:32Everything -- quiet, understated
#92024-11-27The office ambiance is exceptional! Since I am a musician, I really enjoyed the soothing, classical music playing softly in the background. The fresh flowers also add a nice touch. I was extremely impressed by the cleanliness of the facilities and the professional and thorough treatment I received by Dr. Ringpfeil. The technological efficiency of the office was also very impressive!
#102025-09-30What can we do better?
(answers:373)
give me choices of what type of medicines that i can take
#12025-03-04The service is wonderful nothing needs to be changed.
#22025-03-29less waiting time for follow up appointments
#32025-06-04No complaints at all, but since you asked, receptionist today could have been "warmer"
#42010-08-25 10:41:35Everything was great!
#52011-02-17 17:11:54All aspects of care were remarkable--much better than I've encountered elsewhere.
#62025-10-12Nothing that I could think of would be better.
#72025-06-21Everything was great! The only thing I would say is when I called to make an appointment for sun spot treatment to let me know that I should limit my sun exposure and wear sunblock.
#82011-05-05 13:30:08You often have a long wait time in the room for the doctor. When she does come in it is not for a very long time.
#92010-08-23 17:00:56This was a great experience and I would not change anything
#102025-10-09
recently lost 30+ lbs The skin on my thighs is a bit saggy. Will thermage help?
Radiofrequency treatment is currently the best answer to non-surgical skin tightening. However, the radiofrequency energy needs to be delivered directly to area where tightening is needed, the second layer of the skin (dermis). This can be achieved with a number of devices that are now available in the US and many more in Canada and Europe. Infini, for example, delivers radiofrequency through insulated probes to the target layer (dermis) where old collagen and elastin is replaced by new collagen and elastin. Thermage, however, is one of the first generation radiofrequency devices that transmits radiofrequency on the surface of the skin and subsequent penetration into the layers where tightening needs to be achieved. Its limitation is the amount of energy that can safely be used not to burn the top layer of skin. In my opinion and experience, it achieve reproducible results in less than 50% of people who are treated.
I have voluma that I do not like. It is like a bubble on my check. I saw my dermatologist about it and she didn’t want to dissolve it. My question is will RF help dissolve it?
Volume is a fast setting hyaluronic acid based filler. On the cheek it is typically injected over bone. Even if it was “changeable” by heat, I would not count on radiofrequency. There is no external radiofrequency device that reaches to bone safely unless a probe is inserted in that area.
Voluma can be dissolved with hyaluronidase that is injected with a needle where it was placed. The effects are almost immediate.