Body By Thermage in San Diego, CA
Thermage® uses radiofrequency energy to break down fat cells and tighten skin. La Jolla Cosmetic Laser Clinic offers Body by Thermage® treatments for men and women in San Diego, Encinitas, La Mesa, El Cajon, and surrounding areas of California.
You may have heard of Thermage, the non-invasive radiofrequency therapy that can smooth, tighten, and contour skin for an overall younger-looking appearance. You may have even had Thermage treatments for your face here is La Jolla Cosmetic Laser. These have been colloquially referred to as “facelifts without surgery;” that’s how dramatic their skin-tightening effects are.

At La Jolla, we now offer the expansion of the revolutionary Thermage system to address areas beyond the face. It’s Body by Thermage with CPT pulse technology.
Body treatments by Thermage offer a single-treatment, nonsurgical method of smoothing, tightening and contouring areas such as the:
- Abdomen
- Waist
- Hips
- Thighs
- Arms
Your results will be dependent upon your skin condition, age and your body’s individual response to the heat application. Most patients see some level of tightening right away, but the process is not complete for 6 months.
What is Body by Thermage?
Body by Thermage takes the impressive results achieved with Thermage facial treatments and delivers them to sagging skin across the body. Thermage delivers radiofrequency energy into the dermis layer of the skin. There the RF energy converts to heat and triggers a wound response in the body. The body responds by contracting existing collagen across the treatment areas, and then it initiates new collagen production. The result is firmer, younger-looking skin on problem areas such as the lower abdomen, thighs, anywhere you’re not happy with your sagging skin.
Who is a candidate for Body by Thermage?
These are completely non-invasive treatments at La Jolla Cosmetic Laser, and they don’t require any recovery or downtime. And who doesn’t have some loose skin on areas across their body? If you’re over 40, the answer is no one.
That makes just about anyone perfect for these easy-to-take Body by Thermage treatments in our beautiful La Jolla offices.
What Are The Benefits Of The Thermage With CPT System?
Comfort pulse technology provides the following benefits:
- Faster treatment
- Superior tightening with increased energy dispersion
- Vibrational delivery (vibrating handpiece offsets heat sensation making your treatment more like a massage than a medical procedure)
For women who’ve just had a baby, lost weight or simply want firmer, tighter and smoother skin, Body by Thermage delivers results other noninvasive procedures can’t match.
What areas can be treated with Thermage?
This skin tightening laser treatment is safe for most areas of your body. This includes the abdomen, upper arms, backs of the hands, thighs, areas around the knees, and the buttocks.
How Does Body By Thermage Work?
Thermage technology utilizes several “tips” – each one with a unique purpose and ability to treat the skin on different body and face locations. The original Thermatip for the face is a smaller tip with a shallower heat penetration. The DC tip (Deep Contour Tip) was developed for areas of the body such as the tummy, arms, knees, and thighs which has thicker fat layers. The latest tip, the Thermage Tip 16, is a large size tip that evenly treats large areas much faster and more comfortably. With the newest Comfort Pulse Technology treatment is considerably easier to undergo and results are increasingly even.
Women who find it difficult following pregnancy to regain taut skin on the abdomen will appreciate the effects Tummy Thermage has on restoring a smoother firmer stomach. Exercise may improve muscle tone but often skin stretched by one or multiple pregnancies can’t be helped by exercise.
How are these skin tightening laser treatments done?
This skin tightening laser treatment now uses the new Comfort Pulse Technology™, adding subtle vibrations down into the treated areas. CPT technology increases patient comfort, so higher levels of energy can be delivered for increased effectiveness.
These are simple procedures. The skin tightening laser treatment tip is larger, making for faster, more comfortable treatments. Patients report a brief, heat sensation every time energy is delivered to the deeper layers of the skin with the ThermaTip. The system delivers a cooling sensation immediately following the RF pulses, to protect the skin and minimize any discomfort. Our La Jolla patients find these treatments to be comfortable.
How long does Body by Thermage treatments take?
This depends on the areas we are treating. For instance, the backs of the hands would require maybe 30 minutes, while the entire abdomen or the thighs could need 45 minutes. The larger tip with the Body by Thermage system speeds these treatments.
Weight Loss And Loss Of Skin Firmness
Often the negative of weight loss is the loose skin that’s left behind. Although Thermage is not a fat reduction treatment, it does have the effect of tightening loose skin. Dr. Mani or our Physician Assistant Thermage Specialist will be able to let you know if you are a candidate for Thermage to help restore firmer skin in your abdominal area.
New Thermage Body Shape 16 Tip
Thermage Body Tip – now with Comfort Pulse Technology™ provides an increased comfort level along with increased penetration depth of the RF energy. The extra-large tip means treatments are much faster. The CPT technology radically increases comfort levels so that even more energy delivery can be used resulting in increased effectiveness. Change the contours of your hips, waist, thighs, and buttocks in a single treatment session.
Treatment with the new Thermage Body 16.0cm2 tip will take about 45 minutes and will mean less discomfort for patients. Available in our office NOW. The Body Shape 16 tip is still in pre-release across the country and is not available widely. Our office is among the first to have access and results thus far have been beyond expectations.
Are skin tightening laser treatments permanent?
The RF energy in Thermage penetrates the epidermis and enters the dermis layer of the skin. That’s where the RF energy converts to heat. Heat in the dermis layer is perceived by the body as a wound, and it initiates a wound response. This involves instant remodeling of existing collagen in the treatment area, followed by a long-term boost in the production of new collagen. This collagen doesn’t go anywhere. It is permanently in place firming the skin.
The problem is aging and declining collagen production. Every year after our 20th birthday, our bodies produce one additional percentage point less collagen than the prior year. By the time we hit 50, our bodies are producing one third less collagen than in our youth. That’s why our skin sags, forms wrinkles and becomes looser. This process will continue. That’s why we recommend future maintenance every year or two to keep pace with your declining collagen.
What will my results be and how long will they last?
Just as with our facial Thermage treatments at La Jolla Cosmetic Laser, results are not immediate with this skin tightening laser treatment. There is an initial contraction of collagen, but the real results come with the increase in collagen production over time. Your skin tightens gradually as the new collagen builds over the treatment areas. This will occur starting in 6-8 weeks and will continue for about six months. From there, the results of a single Thermage session can last for 1-2 years, depending on the condition of your skin and your individual aging.
Is there recovery after a Body by Thermage treatment?
There isn’t any recovery after these treatments. You can get right back to your normal activities as soon as you leave our offices.
Are there any side effects with this skin tightening laser treatment?
This is a non-invasive, easy to take procedure. Some patients have temporary redness or minor swelling on treatment areas, but this usually resolves within 24 hours. Radiofrequency energy is well-tolerated by the body.
If you have heard about Body by Thermage® and want to know if it really works, just ask the men and women in San Diego, Encinitas, La Mesa, El Cajon, and surrounding areas of California, who have received the treatment at La Jolla Cosmetic Laser Clinic. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.