HOUSTON – Most people likely have heard of Botox as a method for smoothing away wrinkles, but the effects are temporary.
Now, a new treatment using heat promises to get rid of those frown lines permanently.
“People have the tendency to tell me that I’m mad when I’m not,” said Elizabeth Sanzone, referring to the wrinkles that pop up when she furrows her brow.
Plastic surgeon Adam Rubinstein said most people develop frown lines over time.
“People call them the 11s,” Rubinstein said.
But ThermiRase, an FDA-approved treatment that uses radio frequency energy to destroy the nerve, gets rid of those wrinkles for good, Rubinstein said.
“If you are able to knock the nerves out that make the muscle do that, then you won't be able to get those lines anymore,” he said.
First, a probe is used to locate the nerves to be treated. Local anesthesia is injected to numb the area. Then the heat goes to work.
“The energy gets into the tissue through this little metal tip on the cannula and raises the temperature,” Rubinstein said.
The temperature goes to 85 degrees Celsius.
“The temperature is enough to damage the nerve and stop it from working,” Rubenstein said.
The heat is kept in a safe range, so there’s no risk of burns. Unlike Botox, which paralyzes the nerve and lasts for about three months, ThermiRase can last a lifetime.
“Once this works, it works forever,” Rubinstein said.
ThermiRase is erasing Sanzone’s frown lines and giving her something to smile about.
The treatment takes about an hour and swelling usually lasts about two weeks. It can be costly, at around $2,500, and experts recommend you make sure it’s done by a board-certified plastic surgeon.