PALM DESERT, CALIF.—Thermage radiofrequency treatment can be combined with liposuction to shrink loose skin in the abdomen, Dr. Victoria G. Belo said at the annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.
"By virtue of its noninvasive nature combined with its excellent safety profile, this complementary use of Thermage and liposuction provides an attractive alternative to surgical procedures for patients who want to treat skin laxity," said Dr. Belo, who practices in Manila.
Dr. Belo presented an investigation of 30 patients undergoing liposuction: Ten underwent a Thermage procedure at the time of their liposuction, 10 received a Thermage treatment 1 month after liposuction, and 10 served as controls.
Dr. Belo said that she treated an area of the abdomen that was 20 cm by 14 cm in all the patients, using a 50% overlapping technique, and followed the patients once a month for 6 months.
In all the patients, the area marked out but not treated measured an average of 280 cm
In the group treated immediately with Thermage, however, the area began to contract at about 3 months, and by the fourth month the average size of the area was about 200 cm
The group treated 1 month after liposuction had about half the improvement of the immediate-treatment group. "It is really not until the fourth to sixth month that you can see a difference," Dr. Belo said.
Dr. Belo speculated that those who were treated 1 month after their liposuction might not have had a response because fibrotic tissue from the liposuction procedure had already formed. Alternatively, there may have been a positive interplay between the inflammation stimulated by the liposuction procedure and the Thermage treatment, enhancing the effect, she said.
"It is possible that you have some scar tissue from liposuction at 1 month that is unresponsive to Thermage," she said.
Dr. Belo indicated that she has no financial ties to Thermage Inc.