Pelleve and Thermage are revolutionary new skin rejuvenation procedures. Both techniques use radiofrequency energy as a way to tighten and smooth the skin, reducing signs of aging such as wrinkles and sagging skin.
During either procedure, your doctor will use a handheld device to heat the facial skin. This causes the tissues to tighten and stimulates the production of collagen, a key structural element within the skin. The procedure itself takes about an hour, followed by a day or two of redness or mild swelling. Both are considered non-invasive techniques because they require no skin incisions and little to no recovery time.
While Thermage requires local anesthesia, many doctors perform Pelleve without topical, local, or general anesthesia of any kind. On the other hand, one of the reasons why this is possible is that the energy waves used for Pelleve treatment do not penetrate as deeply into the skin. While this reduces the need for anesthesia, it also may result in less substantial changes in the skin's appearance. On the other hand, many surgeons have found that the design of the Pelleve system offers more precise control over the strength of the radiofrequency wave and depth of treatments.
Comparisons between Pelleve and Thermage tend to be anecdotal, as there have been no side-by-side medical studies comparing the two procedures. Based on online reviews, it appears that Pelleve may result in higher patient satisfaction, though because both techniques are relatively new, no studies have determined the level of patient satisfaction with either procedure.
