Thank you for the question.
You are 33-years-old
and you had one Pelleve treatment.
And you also state in your question that your face feels firm but then you did some research
and you learned that Pelleve or Thermage could potentially cause loss of fat and so now you
are concerned that you may have done something harmful.
Well, certainly I can assist you with this question.
I’m a board certified cosmetic surgeon and fellowship trained oculofacial plastic and
reconstructive surgeon practicing in Manhattan and Long Island for over 20 years and I’ve
had many different devices in my practice both laser and radiofrequency.
And I do a lot of experience in dealing with the challenges that comes with radiofrequency
technology particularly some more recent popular devices.
And in full disclosure, I also have a laser device that does perform non-surgical fat
production and as well as skin tightening so I can share with you a little bit about
how we approach patients to help guide them as to what to do, what one device does versus
the other.
So, I think that one of the things that you are naturally concerned about is that there
is a growing awareness that certain devices that were very aggressively promoted were
being promoted to do non-surgical skin tightening.
And it has been no secret, from my perspective, as I look at the science of this how limited
a non-surgical device can be for skin tightening.
The reality is ultimately is there is a science behind the principles of non-surgical skin
tightening, non-surgical collagen stimulation as well as non-surgical fat reduction.
Patient selection is critically important.
The judgment of the practitioner is critically important.
One thing that I have tremendous issue with is when any procedure is done by a non-physician
or a physician’s assessment has not been done in person.
I think that there is always going to be risk for problems.
When it comes to radiofrequency devices, the question is it possible, the answer is always
yes in medicine.
If it’s possible, if it has occurred then it is possible.
However, in my experience, the use of Pelleve which is a very slow progressive elevation
of skin temperature to a critical level is likely to cause this type of fat loss, this
undesirable fat loss, when compared to type of device which suddenly heats up the skin
at a very high level.
We have a particular device, a Fotona laser that we are able to use and do a non-surgical
skin tightening.
And there is a protocol in which a certain amount of time and temperature is achieved
with the goal of skin tightening versus the application with the goal of fat reduction.
Which means that if you are considering any of this treatment, if a doctor evaluates you
and decides well let’s say for arguments sake under the neck and if you have extra
fat then you would want to do something that has fat reduction and if you have loose skin
want something that tightens the skin.
Customization is critical.
I think that at 33-year-old woman with one Pelleve treatment, the chances of any significant
fat loss is unlikely.
It takes a while to achieve a critical temperature and it is not likely, in my experience, that
Pelleve would cause you to lose fat.
It is very important you discuss this with your provider and hopefully it is a physician
to learn about the risk of fat loss.
We are helping a lot of patients who had fat loss, who had various types of thermal devices
elsewhere by using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and other regenerative medicine techniques
to try stimulate the collagen and stimulate the fat because fat is an important part of
a youthful skin quality.
So again, I think it is important not to panic.
Speak to the provider, hopefully it is a physician.
Ask about the science.
Ask about how to distinguish the methodologies to ensure you get the benefit with minimal
risk of the loss of fat.
So I hope that was helpful, I wish you the best of luck and thank you for your question!