The Collagen Solution Chosen by Hollywood’s Top Stars – Thermage FLX
VOGUE | July 2025 | Skin | Thermage FLX
An in-office treatment that stimulates long-lasting collagen

By Violeta Valdes | July 5, 2025 | VOGUE

I’ve always adhered to the “sacred three pillars” of skincare: a balanced diet, enough sleep, and strict sun protection. But when I turned 35, I started noticing issues I had never worried about before—specifically, a loss of skin elasticity. I found myself examining my face more closely in the mirror.

“Were these wrinkles always here?”
“Has my jawline started to sag?”

I realized that my daily collagen drinks alone were no longer enough.

Last week, I finally decided to try my first in-office treatment. It wasn’t Botox or fillers. Instead, I chose a non-invasive procedure that specifically addressed the collagen loss I was concerned about.

My choice was Thermage FLX. An FDA-approved radiofrequency treatment, it is currently one of the most powerful in-office RF devices. According to a recent scientific analysis of 52 dermatologists, Thermage FLX was evaluated as 57.4% more effective than previous Thermage devices. If Jennifer Aniston and Gwyneth Paltrow have chosen it, I felt it was worth trying for myself.

What is Thermage FLX?

Thermage FLX is a monopolar radiofrequency (RF) non-invasive procedure. Dr. Oscar Suarez, founder and medical director of the Barcelona MD Clinic, explains that it “stimulates collagen production in the body with just one session.” In most cases, he says, a single treatment per year is sufficient.

What makes Thermage FLX so effective?
Dr. Maria Dolores Anton, medical director of Valencia Anton Clinic and a cosmetic medicine specialist, explains:
“Thermage FLX is specially designed to reverse skin sagging and improve wrinkles and expression lines. It delivers energy very precisely to tighten and firm the skin.”

This device can be used on any area showing signs of sagging, including the cheeks, under-eye area, jawline, arms, abdomen, knees, and thighs.

How Does Thermage FLX Work?

Thermage FLX emits low-frequency electromagnetic energy that generates heat in the deeper layers of the skin. Dr. Tanya Kormeli, clinical instructor at UCLA and dermatologist, explains:
“This heat penetrates deep into the skin to stimulate collagen production, resulting in improved tissue elasticity, regeneration, and firmness. Collagen and elastin are key factors for skin’s youthful resilience, so producing more theoretically makes the skin look younger.”

Thermage FLX heats the deepest layers of the skin to approximately 60°C (140°F), stimulating fibroblasts. Dr. Anton says:
“It contracts old collagen and signals fibroblasts to produce high-quality new collagen.”

In other words, the heat energy causes immediate tightening while gradually improving three-dimensional elasticity and contouring over time. According to Dr. Suarez:
“Immediate skin contraction occurs along with longer-term tightening of the fibrous septa, enhancing facial contours and overall skin rejuvenation.”

A study led by Dr. Jeffrey Dover, Dr. Brian Zelickson, and 14 multidisciplinary specialists found:

• 26% experienced immediate tightening
• 54% reported improved skin elasticity after 6 months
• 68% said the results met expectations

Results and Experience

Like other in-office procedures, results depend on the practitioner’s skill. I received my treatment from Dr. Jaime Tupet at the Pedro Jaen Group in Madrid. Immediately after, my skin appeared firmer, pores looked smaller, and my facial contours were more defined.

Now, I wait 2–3 months for the newly generated collagen to take full effect. Results generally appear gradually over several months and can last 1–2 years.

Downtime and Safety

Unlike RF microneedling, Thermage FLX is non-invasive and does not pierce the skin. Dr. Kormeli notes:
“The advantage of RF treatments is minimal or almost no downtime.”

Temporary redness or swelling may occur immediately after treatment, but “when performed precisely, it is relatively safe with little risk.”

Pain

While downtime is minimal, Thermage FLX is not completely pain-free. In the study mentioned above, 45% reported “considerable pain.”

Personally, it was manageable. I felt intermittent hot pricks on my forehead and jawline, but it was tolerable. The 90-minute treatment allowed me to return to my normal routine immediately. As a bonus, I noticed improvements in acne, eczema, and minor skin issues.

Potential Side Effects

As with any procedure, there are risks. Common side effects include temporary redness, swelling, and mild discomfort. Rarely, burns, blisters, scabs, or scars may occur—typically due to inexperienced practitioners. Thorough research and choosing an experienced provider are crucial. Always consult a professional about your skin condition beforehand and check their credentials and reviews.

好莱坞顶级明星选择的胶原蛋白方案 – Thermage FLX
VOGUE | 2025年7月 | 皮肤 | Thermage FLX
一种能刺激持久胶原蛋白生成的院内治疗

作者：Violeta Valdes | 2025年7月5日 | VOGUE

我一直坚持护肤的“三大圣要素”：均衡饮食、充足睡眠和严格防晒。但到了35岁，我开始注意到以前从未关注过的问题——皮肤弹性下降。我发现自己在镜子前仔细观察脸部。

“这些皱纹一直都有吗？”
“下颌线开始下垂了吗？”

我意识到，每天喝的胶原蛋白饮料已经不再足够。

上周，我终于决定尝试首次院内治疗。这不是肉毒杆菌或填充剂，而是一种非侵入性疗法，可以解决我最担心的胶原蛋白流失问题。

我选择了 Thermage FLX。这是一种FDA认证的射频治疗设备，目前被认为是最强大的院内射频设备之一。根据对52名皮肤科医生的科学分析，Thermage FLX的效果比之前的设备 高出57.4%。既然詹妮弗·安妮斯顿和格温妮丝·帕特洛都选择了它，我觉得对我来说也很值得。

什么是Thermage FLX？

Thermage FLX 是一种单极射频（monopolar RF）非侵入性治疗。巴塞罗那MD诊所创始人兼医疗总监Oscar Suarez博士解释说，它“只需一次治疗就能刺激体内胶原蛋白生成”。他表示，大多数情况下一年一次就足够了。

Thermage FLX如此有效的原因是什么？
瓦伦西亚Anton诊所医疗总监、美容医学专家Maria Dolores Anton博士解释：
“Thermage FLX专为改善皮肤松弛、皱纹和表情线而设计。它将能量精准传递，使皮肤紧致、饱满。”

该设备可用于所有出现弹性下降的部位，包括面颊、眼下、下颌线、手臂、腹部、膝盖和大腿。

Thermage FLX如何作用？

Thermage FLX释放低频电磁能，在皮肤深层产生热量。UCLA临床讲师、皮肤科医生Tanya Kormeli博士解释：
“这种热量深入皮肤刺激胶原蛋白生成，从而改善组织弹性、再生和紧致。胶原蛋白和弹性蛋白是皮肤年轻弹性的关键，生成越多，皮肤理论上就越年轻。”

Thermage FLX将皮肤最深层加热至约 60°C（140°F），刺激成纤维细胞。Anton博士说：
“它收缩旧胶原，并向成纤维细胞发出信号生成高质量的新胶原。”

换句话说，热能既能立即紧致，又能随时间改善皮肤三维弹性和轮廓。Suarez博士指出：
“即时收缩的同时，纤维隔膜随时间收紧，提升面部轮廓并促进整体皮肤再生。”

由Dr. Jeffrey Dover、Dr. Brian Zelickson及14位多学科专家主持的研究显示：

• 26% 即刻体验到紧致效果
• 54% 6个月后感觉皮肤弹性改善
• 68% 认为效果符合预期

效果与体验

如同其他院内治疗，效果依赖操作者的技术。我在马德里的Pedro Jaen集团由Dr. Jaime Tupet操作治疗。治疗后，我的皮肤立刻更紧致，毛孔缩小，脸部轮廓更清晰。

接下来需等待2–3个月，新生成的胶原蛋白发挥效果。通常效果会逐渐显现，可持续1–2年。

恢复期与安全性

不同于射频微针，Thermage FLX不穿透皮肤。Kormeli博士指出：
“射频治疗的优点是几乎没有恢复期或非常短。”

治疗后可能出现暂时红肿，但“操作精准时，相对安全，风险很小。”

疼痛

虽然恢复期几乎没有，但Thermage FLX并非完全无痛。研究中 45% 的人表示“疼痛感较强”。

我个人感觉可控。在额头和下颌线有间歇性热刺感，但能忍受。90分钟的治疗后即可恢复日常生活。顺便感觉痤疮、湿疹和小问题也有所改善。

潜在副作用

与任何治疗一样，存在风险。常见副作用包括暂时性红肿和轻微不适，少数情况下可能出现烧伤、水疱、结痂或疤痕，通常是因操作不熟练造成。选择经验丰富的医生非常重要。治疗前应充分咨询专业人士，并核查医生资质和评价。