If you\u2019re looking into non-surgical skin tightening, you\u2019ve probably already come across Thermage. It\u2019s been on the market for over twenty years and is one of the best-known names in monopolar radiofrequency lifting. Volnewmer is newer \u2013 it uses the same family of technology but is a generation ahead, particularly in terms of comfort. Here at alestetics\u00ae in Zurich, we use Volnewmer and are the first clinic in Switzerland to do so. Here, you\u2019ll find honest information on what both devices can do, where the differences lie, and for whom Volnewmer is the right choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Monopolar radiofrequency lifting delivers heat in a controlled manner to the deeper layers of the skin. The energy heats the tissue with pinpoint accuracy, causing the existing collagen to contract, and over the following weeks the skin produces new collagen. The results build up gradually: firmer skin, without incisions and without a long recovery period. Unlike RF microneedling, no needles are used \u2013 the energy is delivered externally via an applicator. Both devices we are comparing here work on precisely this principle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First things first: both are reputable, effective treatments. Volnewmer and Thermage use monopolar radiofrequency; neither requires surgery; and both rely on the body\u2019s own collagen production rather than fillers. With both, the results are not immediate but become apparent over a period of weeks to months. Thermage has a clear advantage in one respect: experience. It has been on the market since 2002 and has the most extensive body of clinical studies of any monopolar RF device. Anyone wishing to know whether monopolar RF works in principle will find the most clinical data here. It is precisely on this foundation of over twenty years of experience that the newer generation of devices is built.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the underlying technology is the same, how do the two differ? In three ways that you\u2019ll actually notice during the session and afterwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both devices cool the skin so that only the deeper layers are heated whilst the surface remains protected \u2013 they simply do so in different ways. Thermage uses bursts of cryogen between energy pulses. Volnewmer cools continuously using water at a controlled temperature and also features several vibration modes. Earlier generations of Thermage were considered noticeable, and in some cases uncomfortable; this has improved over the years. Volnewmer is designed from the ground up for comfort \u2013 the treatment is carried out without anaesthetic, and most people find it quite tolerable, feeling more warm than painful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second difference lies in the objective. Thermage is traditionally designed to tighten the skin: the skin becomes firmer and contours appear more defined. Volnewmer goes one step further and also restores volume. At first glance, this may sound similar, but it is not. With age, the face loses not only elasticity but also volume in the cheeks, midface and temples \u2013 from the inside out. Volnewmer stimulates new collagen precisely in these areas and restores some of this fullness to the face, entirely without fillers. For us, that is the real reason why we chose it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Volnewmer usually requires just one session. After that, a touch-up once or twice a year is usually sufficient. The results don\u2019t appear overnight: over a period of around three to six months, your skin gradually builds up new collagen, and the change becomes visible during this time. This is normal for any collagen-based treatment and a good sign \u2013 it means the result comes from your own skin and isn\u2019t just a filler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n