Thermage FLX before and after: how to read the change

What Thermage FLX changes in a photo

Thermage FLX delivers radiofrequency energy that heats the dermis and prompts collagen remodelling. That mechanism is different from focused ultrasound, which aims deeper toward the support layer. In practice the RF result reads as tighter, denser skin across a broad area.

In a fair comparison, look at the cheeks and jawline in side view, the fine lines around the lower face, and how light reflects off the skin. A good result makes the surface look smoother and the outline slightly neater. It does not add volume, and it will not produce the lift of a surgical procedure.

Barog has treated more than 10,000 Thermage cases since 2021. No Thermage photo pairs are published by the clinic at present, which is why the outcome is described here in words along with a way to judge any comparison.

How soon you see a difference

Some firmness is felt right after treatment, partly from mild swelling, and it usually fades within a few days. The collagen response continues for several months, so a meaningful comparison is taken well after the session, typically around the three-month mark and later.

Short-term effects are redness, swelling and temporary tenderness for a few days. Less often, small surface irregularities or blisters appear, and burns are rare. Numbing cream is applied before a standard full-face session of 600 shots, which takes roughly 45 to 90 minutes.

The effect generally lasts about one to two years depending on the person, and many choose to repeat it at around yearly intervals.

Does Thermage tighten crepey skin?

Crepey skin, the thin, finely wrinkled texture often seen on the lower face and neck, is one of the concerns where radiofrequency tightening is commonly used, because the heat works in the dermis where that thinning happens. The realistic outcome is a firmer, smoother surface and less fine creasing. It improves texture; deep folds and heavy sagging remain.

Thin, crepey skin with mild laxity usually shows the clearest change. If the concern is mainly deeper sagging along the jaw, focused ultrasound may suit better, and the two are sometimes combined in one plan.

When a clear result is unlikely, and how to photograph it

Heavy, established sagging rarely shows a strong before and after with an energy device alone. Treatment is not performed during pregnancy or with a pacemaker, defibrillator or similar implanted electronic device, and metal implants in the area, active skin infection or a severe skin condition flare need review first.

Take your before photos in the same room, light and angle you will use later, with a relaxed face and hair tied back, then repeat at three months. Pricing on the board starts from ₩1,790,000 for a 600-shot face session.