Thermage® FLX Body

Common treatment areas include the abdomen, thighs, and areas around the buttocks. Thermage® is mainly used to improve mild to moderate skin laxity, reduced elasticity, and a loss of firmness in body contours.

The main goal of Thermage® Body is to improve skin firmness. It is not primarily designed to treat pigmentation, scars, or individual lines. It is more suitable for concerns such as mild to moderate skin laxity, reduced elasticity, skin that feels softer than before, and looser body contours caused by aging, pregnancy, or changes in weight.

The abdomen is one of the most common treatment areas. During pregnancy or weight gain, abdominal skin is continuously stretched. Even after body volume decreases, the collagen and elastic structures within the skin may not fully return to their previous state. Some patients may not appear significantly loose when standing, but notice more creasing around the belly button and lower abdomen when sitting or bending forward. The skin may also feel less firm to the touch. This type of overall skin laxity is generally more aligned with what Thermage® is designed to treat.

The thighs are another common area, particularly the inner thighs. With aging, weight loss, or changes in body composition, the skin may gradually become softer. Some patients do not have a large amount of fat but still notice that the skin surface looks less smooth or slightly loose when standing. If there is no significant excess skin, the area may be evaluated from a skin-firming perspective.

The area around the buttocks and the junction between the buttocks and thighs can also become less firm due to aging, weight changes, or collagen loss. The change does not always appear as obvious sagging. Sometimes the contour simply looks less defined, while the skin feels softer. Thermage® can use broader RF heating to support the overall firmness of these areas.

Skin thickness, subcutaneous fat, and tissue structure are not identical across different areas of the body. For this reason, even though they are all considered body treatments, the treatment approach should not necessarily be exactly the same. The abdomen, thighs, and buttocks each have different tissue characteristics, and even the left and right sides of the same patient may show different degrees of laxity.

A proper Thermage® Body treatment should therefore not rely on one fixed approach. The main concern, treatment area, skin thickness, and expected degree of improvement should all be considered when planning the treatment.

If the main concern is mild to moderate skin laxity, Thermage® may be considered. It can help improve firmness, but it cannot remove a large amount of excess skin or correct diastasis recti.

Pregnancy and significant weight loss are two of the most common situations associated with abdominal skin laxity. What they have in common is that the skin has gone through a substantial change in volume.

During pregnancy, abdominal skin must continuously stretch as the uterus and overall abdominal volume increase. After delivery, the abdomen gradually becomes smaller, but the skin does not always return completely to its pre-pregnancy condition. After significant stretching, collagen and elastic structures may have changed. Even after body weight returns to normal, the abdomen may still feel softer, the area around the belly button may show more creasing, and the lower abdominal skin may fold more noticeably when sitting.

A similar situation can occur after weight loss. When body fat volume is higher, the skin remains stretched over time. If fat volume then decreases more quickly than the skin can contract, different degrees of laxity may remain. This is why some people reach their ideal body weight but still feel that their abdomen does not look as firm as expected.

If the remaining concern is mainly mild to moderate skin laxity rather than a large amount of truly excess skin, Thermage® may offer a reasonable treatment option. Monopolar RF can heat deeper tissue, encouraging contraction of existing collagen while also initiating further collagen remodelling. Over time, this may gradually improve skin firmness, how closely the skin sits against the underlying tissue, and some fine creasing.

However, postpartum abdominal concerns in particular need to be evaluated at several different levels. Some patients are mainly concerned about loose skin. Others may actually have more subcutaneous fat, while some have diastasis recti. All three can occur in the same person, but they require very different approaches.

Diastasis recti, for example, is a structural issue of the abdominal wall and is not caused by insufficient collagen in the skin. Thermage® cannot bring separated abdominal muscles back together. If abdominal fullness is mainly caused by fat, skin tightening alone will not directly remove that fat.

Similarly, if major weight loss has resulted in a large amount of hanging excess skin, the degree of improvement achievable with Thermage® will be limited. Even if collagen and skin quality improve, this does not mean a large amount of excess skin can be completely tightened back into place.

For this reason, whether Thermage® is suitable after pregnancy or weight loss depends less on how much weight someone previously gained or how many pregnancies they have had, and more on which tissue layer is currently responsible for the concern and whether the degree of laxity still falls within a range that can reasonably be improved with non-surgical skin tightening.

The primary purpose of Thermage® is skin tightening, not fat reduction. Firmer skin may make the body contour look more defined, but Thermage® should not be considered a weight-loss or fat-reduction treatment.

Abdominal tightening and reducing waist size are two concepts that are often confused when it comes to Thermage® Body. When people look at before-and-after photos and see that the abdomen appears firmer and more defined, it is easy to assume that the stomach has actually become smaller. However, tightening the skin and reducing fat are two different processes.

A protruding abdomen can be influenced by subcutaneous fat, visceral fat, loose skin, the condition of the abdominal wall muscles, diastasis recti, and even posture or pelvic position. Different causes of abdominal contour concerns cannot all be treated in the same way.

The primary focus of Thermage® is collagen remodelling within the skin and supporting tissue. When loose skin becomes firmer, the skin may sit more closely against the underlying structures. Visually, this can make the abdomen look smoother and more defined. In some cases, the overall body contour may appear more streamlined, but this does not mean that a significant amount of fat has been metabolized or removed.

If the main concern is skin laxity, Thermage® may be well matched to the treatment goal. If the main concern is significant fat accumulation, the problem should instead be evaluated from a fat-management perspective. When both concerns are present, it is important to determine which should be treated first.

A more accurate way to describe Thermage® is that it improves skin firmness and support, helping the abdomen and body contours appear smoother and more toned.

Thermage® FLX offers treatment tips designed for different treatment areas. The body tip covers a larger surface area, making it more suitable for larger areas such as the abdomen and thighs.

One of the important features of Thermage® is that different treatment areas are treated with tips designed for their specific needs. This is not simply a matter of making the tips different sizes. The face, body, and eye area differ significantly in treatment surface area, skin thickness, tissue structure, and treatment goals.

Body treatments generally involve a much larger area than facial treatments. On the abdomen, for example, the goal is usually not to improve one small area beside the belly button, but rather to address a broader region extending across the upper abdomen, around the navel, and into the lower abdomen. Using a very small treatment tip would require more individual energy deliveries and could reduce efficiency when treating such a large area.

The Thermage® FLX body treatment tip can cover an area of approximately 16.0 cm². Its larger surface area allows each energy delivery to treat a broader section of skin, making it particularly suitable for larger areas such as the abdomen and thighs.

However, the value of a larger tip is not simply that it can shorten treatment time. More importantly, it allows body treatments to be performed in a way that is better suited to large-area skin tightening. When treating the abdomen, the practitioner needs to consider overall skin firmness, symmetry between the two sides, which areas are more lax, and how energy should be distributed across different zones, rather than simply focusing on a few individual points.

Thermage® FLX also incorporates cooling technology with each energy delivery. Surface cooling helps protect the epidermis and can also improve comfort during treatment. Vibration may also be used to reduce some of the discomfort associated with deeper heating.

Even with a body-specific treatment tip, a larger tip does not mean the treatment becomes simpler. Tissue thickness differs between the center of the abdomen, areas near the ribs, the waist, and the lower abdomen. Treatment therefore still needs to be adjusted according to the individual area. The inner and outer thighs can also differ in skin and fat thickness, so the entire treatment should not necessarily be performed in exactly the same way.

The design of the Thermage® treatment tips reflects an important treatment principle: different areas require different approaches.

In addition to the body tip, Thermage® also has a dedicated eye treatment tip designed specifically for the eye area. The skin around the eyes is thinner, the treatment area is much smaller, and the procedure requires a more precise approach than large-area treatment of the abdomen. Eye treatments are designed to provide more targeted energy delivery for concerns related to the delicate skin around the eyes.

The use of different tips for the eye area, face, abdomen, and thighs also shows that Thermage® is not simply one RF device using the same tip everywhere. The treatment approach is selected according to the anatomy, tissue characteristics, and treatment goals of each area.

Thermage® is usually performed as one complete treatment initially. Some firmness may be noticeable earlier, while more complete improvement develops gradually over the following weeks to months.

Thermage® is different from treatments that are typically repeated every few weeks. In most cases, one more comprehensive treatment is performed first, followed by time for collagen remodelling to develop over the following months.

The RF heat generated during treatment can initially cause some existing collagen fibres to contract. Because of this, some patients may notice an earlier improvement in firmness after treatment. However, this early change should not be considered the final result, as the more complete improvement depends on ongoing new collagen formation and tissue remodelling.

Collagen production and maturation take time. The skin does not simply stop responding once the treatment session is over. Instead, it enters an ongoing repair and remodelling process. For this reason, skin firmness and overall texture may continue to change over the following weeks and months.

This is also why it is not accurate to judge the treatment only a few days afterward and conclude that there has been “no change.” On the other hand, if the skin feels particularly tight immediately after treatment, that early appearance should not automatically be considered the final result either.

Before-and-after photography is especially important with body treatments. The abdomen is highly affected by posture, whether the patient is holding in the stomach, pelvic position, breathing, camera angle, and lighting. Even without any treatment, a difference in positioning alone can create a noticeable visual change.

There is also no need to set a fixed schedule for the next treatment in advance. It is generally more reasonable to complete the first treatment, allow the result to develop and stabilize, and then reassess based on the condition of the skin, the rate of natural aging, and the patient’s individual needs.

There is no completely fixed duration. Improvement from collagen remodelling can last for a period of time, but natural aging, changes in body weight, and future pregnancy can all affect the skin.

Thermage® does not behave like a filler treatment. It does not involve placing a foreign material into the skin and then waiting for that material to gradually be metabolized. Instead, Thermage® uses RF heat to encourage contraction and remodelling of the patient’s own collagen. The improvement in firmness therefore comes primarily from changes within the patient’s own tissue.

As new collagen gradually develops, the structure and support of the skin may improve. This type of change does not simply disappear at one specific point in time in the way some metabolized products eventually do.

However, the skin continues to age. As we get older, collagen production slows and existing collagen continues to decline. Even if treatment improves the skin’s current condition, it does not stop the natural aging process.

For body treatments, the longevity of the result can also be strongly affected by weight changes and pregnancy. Rapid weight gain can stretch the skin again, while significant weight loss can alter the relationship between the skin and underlying tissue. A future pregnancy can once again create a major change in abdominal volume.

For example, a patient may undergo Thermage® after pregnancy once her body shape has stabilized and notice an improvement in abdominal firmness. If she becomes pregnant again several years later and the abdomen is stretched significantly once more, any new laxity that appears afterward does not necessarily mean the previous treatment has “rebounded.” It means the skin has gone through another major structural change.

For this reason, rather than promising that results will last for one fixed number of years, it is more accurate to explain that the collagen-remodelling effects of Thermage® can last for a period of time, while the actual longevity will depend on natural aging, baseline skin condition, changes in body weight, and future pregnancy.

Treatment usually involves a brief sensation of deep heat, but more pain does not mean a better result. What matters is achieving appropriate tissue heating within a safe treatment range.

Thermage® works by heating deeper tissue with radiofrequency, so some degree of sensation during treatment is expected. With each energy delivery, some patients may feel a brief but noticeable deep heating sensation. Some describe it as alternating warmth and cooling, or as a short burst of heat coming from deeper within the skin.

The sensation can vary significantly between different areas of the body. Areas with relatively thicker fat may feel very different from areas close to the ribs, hip bones, or other bony structures. Even within the same patient’s abdomen, the center and the sides of the waist may feel different.

Thermage® FLX uses surface cooling to help protect the skin and improve treatment comfort. Vibration can also be used during treatment to reduce some of the discomfort associated with the heating sensation.

However, a stronger sensation and a more effective treatment are not the same thing. The real goal is to deliver sufficient, controlled thermal stimulation to the tissue that needs treatment, rather than simply pursuing the highest possible energy or the most intense level of discomfort.

If the energy is too low, it may not provide sufficient tissue stimulation. On the other hand, higher energy does not automatically mean more collagen will be produced. Treatment results also depend on factors such as treatment coverage, treatment density, tissue thickness, and the patient’s individual collagen response.

A properly planned treatment is therefore not about pushing the patient to the limit of what they can tolerate. It is about finding an appropriate balance between safety, comfort, and adequate tissue stimulation. If the patient experiences unusually sharp, persistent, or localized discomfort that feels significantly different from the expected heating sensation, the practitioner should be informed immediately.

Pain is not an indicator of treatment effectiveness, and patients should not feel that they need to tolerate abnormal pain out of concern that lowering the energy will reduce the result.

Thermage® is non-invasive and generally involves minimal downtime. Some patients may experience temporary redness, mild swelling, or sensitivity.

Thermage® is a non-invasive treatment. It does not require microneedles to penetrate the skin and does not create multiple surface wounds in the way an ablative laser does. Compared with treatments that require the skin barrier to heal, Thermage® generally does not involve significant surface downtime.

After treatment, some patients may experience temporary redness, localized warmth, mild swelling, or sensitivity. Most normal reactions gradually settle. Because the treatment does not create multiple needle channels or significant crusting, the impact on everyday activities is usually limited.

This is one reason many patients choose Thermage® Body. For example, someone who wants to improve laxity of the abdomen or thighs but cannot set aside several days for visible recovery because of work, travel, or other commitments may place particular value on this aspect of the treatment.

However, “minimal downtime” and “no risk” are not the same thing. Thermage® is still an energy-based treatment, and the tissue is exposed to heat. Appropriate energy control and proper treatment technique therefore remain very important.

If the only post-treatment reactions are mild temporary redness, swelling, or sensitivity, they can generally be monitored according to the aftercare instructions provided. However, increasing pain, blistering, obvious changes in skin colour, localized indentation, or other unusual reactions should not simply be considered part of normal recovery and should be assessed by the treatment provider.

Thermage® RF energy does not primarily target melanin, so it can generally be used across different skin tones. The risk of significant post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is relatively low.

Many Asian patients ask about the risk of post-treatment darkening before considering an energy-based treatment. This concern is particularly common with laser and light-based treatments because some of these technologies interact with melanin in the skin.

Thermage® works differently. Monopolar radiofrequency does not primarily target melanin. Instead, RF energy creates heat within the tissue. For this reason, skin tone is generally not a major limitation in the same way it can be with certain laser or light-based treatments.

Thermage® also does not require the creation of multiple surface injuries or an ablative skin-renewal process. Under normal treatment conditions, significant post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is therefore not usually one of the main recovery concerns.

This can be particularly relevant for Asian patients who are prone to developing darker marks after acne, insect bites, or previous aesthetic treatments.

However, this should not be interpreted to mean that Thermage® carries absolutely no skin-related risk for deeper skin tones. RF still generates heat, and inappropriate localized overheating can still lead to skin or deeper tissue reactions.

For this reason, regardless of skin tone, the most important considerations remain a proper pre-treatment assessment, appropriate energy settings, correct technique, and careful monitoring for any unusual post-treatment reactions. The fact that RF does not primarily target melanin does not mean treatment safety can be overlooked.

Thermage® is a non-surgical treatment that is better suited for mild to moderate skin laxity. If there is a large amount of hanging or clearly excess skin, Thermage® cannot replace surgery.

This may be one of the most important questions when deciding whether someone is a good candidate for Thermage®. Many people describe their skin simply as “loose,” but mild skin laxity and a large amount of excess skin are not the same thing.

If the skin simply feels softer than before, elasticity has decreased, more folds appear when sitting, or mild to moderate loose skin remains after weight loss, the concern is still largely related to reduced skin firmness and collagen support. Thermage® can use deep RF heating to stimulate collagen contraction and remodelling, gradually improving the skin from this perspective.

However, when laxity reaches a different level, such as obvious lower-abdominal skin hanging while standing, large skin folds, or significant excess skin after major weight loss, the problem is no longer simply reduced collagen support. There is actual excess skin tissue present.

In these cases, a non-surgical treatment can encourage the remaining skin to become firmer, but it cannot physically remove excess tissue the way surgery can. The degree of improvement is therefore naturally limited.

A tummy tuck and Thermage® are fundamentally different types of treatment. A tummy tuck is a surgical procedure that can directly remove significant excess skin and, depending on the individual case, address related abdominal wall concerns. Thermage®, on the other hand, is a non-invasive skin-tightening treatment focused on improving the firmness of the existing skin.

For this reason, Thermage® should not be evaluated based on whether it can reproduce a surgical result. For someone with mild postpartum laxity who does not want surgery and whose skin still has a reasonable degree of elasticity, Thermage® may be well suited to the treatment goal. For someone with a large amount of hanging skin, even if the treatment is performed correctly, it would not be realistic to expect a non-surgical procedure to create the same result as surgically removing excess skin.

The key question is whether the current degree of laxity still falls within a range that can reasonably be improved with non-surgical collagen-based skin tightening.

Thermage® results are influenced by the degree of laxity, skin thickness, age, baseline collagen condition, and individual healing response. For this reason, the degree of improvement will not be the same for everyone.

Even when the same Thermage® device is used, final results can vary noticeably from one patient to another. This is not simply a matter of treatment energy. More importantly, each patient begins with a different skin condition, cause of laxity, and individual collagen response.

The first factor is the degree of laxity before treatment. Mild to moderate skin laxity is generally more suitable for non-surgical tightening. If the skin still has reasonable thickness and structure but has simply lost firmness, the visual improvement after collagen remodelling may be easier to appreciate. In contrast, if there is already a large amount of excess skin, the potential for improvement is naturally more limited.

Skin thickness and baseline collagen structure also matter. Some people naturally have thicker skin with relatively strong support, while others have thinner skin combined with age-related and long-term collagen loss. Even with similar stimulation, the degree of improvement may therefore differ.

Age can also affect tissue response. Thermage® provides a thermal stimulus, but the patient’s own body is ultimately responsible for tissue repair, new collagen formation, and remodelling. Collagen production and healing capacity vary between individuals.

Another factor that is easily overlooked is incorrectly identifying the main source of the concern. Some people see a loose-looking abdomen and assume the problem is entirely the skin. In reality, the contour may be influenced more strongly by fat, diastasis recti, or other abdominal wall factors. In these cases, even if the skin itself becomes firmer, the overall abdominal appearance may not change as dramatically as expected.

The timing of assessment is also important. Thermage® does not reach its final result one week after treatment. Collagen remodelling takes time, so evaluating the outcome too early can underestimate the actual change.

Before-and-after photography should also be carefully controlled. If one image is taken with the abdomen held in and the other completely relaxed, or if the lighting and camera angle differ, the visual difference can be greater than the treatment effect itself. A professional assessment should therefore compare the skin under conditions that are as consistent as possible.

For this reason, the question “Why did someone else see a much bigger result than I did?” cannot simply be explained by saying the other person was treated at a higher energy. The final result is influenced by baseline skin condition, degree of laxity, the source of the concern, treatment planning, individual collagen response, and the timing of evaluation.

Thermage® is mainly used to improve overall skin laxity and is not primarily designed to treat stretch marks themselves.

Many postpartum patients have two concerns at the same time: loose abdominal skin and stretch marks. Because of this, it is easy to assume that if a treatment stimulates collagen, both problems should improve in exactly the same way.

In reality, although both concerns involve changes in the skin, their primary treatment targets are different.

The main strength of Thermage® is its ability to use monopolar RF to heat a relatively large area of deeper tissue. This makes it particularly suitable for improving general abdominal softness, reduced elasticity, and loss of firmness. In other words, it is designed to address a broader area of skin laxity.

Stretch marks are more localized. Once stretch marks form, the affected areas may show thinning within the dermis, changes in the arrangement of collagen and elastic fibres, and varying degrees of indentation and textural difference. When the goal is to improve the stretch marks themselves, treatment generally needs to focus more specifically on dermal texture and localized tissue remodelling.

For example, one postpartum patient may have generally loose abdominal skin but only a small number of very faint stretch marks. Her main concern may be overall firmness, in which case Thermage® would be more closely aligned with her treatment goal.

Another patient may have very little overall abdominal laxity but extensive, deeper, wider white stretch marks with noticeable indentation. In that situation, the priority is not overall tightening but localized dermal structure.

Thermage® may make the surrounding skin appear smoother by improving overall firmness, but it should not therefore be positioned as a treatment specifically designed to remove stretch marks. A more appropriate approach is to first determine whether the main concern is laxity or texture, and then choose the treatment that best matches that concern.

Both treatments use RF energy to stimulate collagen remodelling, but their treatment methods and primary goals are different. Thermage® is more focused on non-invasive, large-area skin tightening, while Genius® is more focused on stretch marks, other striae, and dermal texture remodelling.

If the main concern is loose abdominal skin, Thermage® is generally more aligned with that goal. If the main concern is stretch marks or other textural changes, Genius® is generally more suitable.

Thermage® and Genius® both use RF energy and both involve collagen remodelling, so they may initially seem very similar. In practice, however, there are clear differences in the way energy is delivered, the tissue layers being treated, the main treatment goals, and the recovery process.

Thermage® is more focused on large-area skin tightening

Thermage® uses monopolar radiofrequency. The treatment does not require microneedles to penetrate the skin. RF energy is delivered from the skin surface into deeper tissue, while a cooling system helps protect the surface of the skin.

A larger treatment tip can be used for body treatments, making Thermage® particularly suitable for areas such as the abdomen and thighs where broader coverage is needed. Its primary goal is to improve overall skin firmness rather than concentrating on individual lines or areas of texture.

If the main postpartum abdominal concern is generally loose skin, reduced elasticity, and more creasing when sitting, while stretch marks are not the main issue, Thermage® will usually provide a more direct treatment approach.

Genius® is more focused on dermal texture remodelling

Genius® RF Microneedling works differently. Microneedles first enter the skin at a selected depth, and RF energy is then released directly into the targeted dermal layer. This allows controlled micro-injury and thermal stimulation to be created at specific depths within the dermis, providing a more focused form of tissue remodelling.

For this reason, Genius® is more suitable for stretch marks, other striae, localized uneven texture, fine creasing, and mild skin laxity that may be present at the same time.

For example, a postpartum patient may not have significant overall abdominal laxity but may have a large number of mature white stretch marks that are relatively deep and noticeably uneven in texture. In this situation, the priority is localized dermal remodelling, making Genius® more closely aligned with the treatment goal.

The recovery process is different

Thermage® does not require microneedles to penetrate the skin, so there is generally no visible pattern of needle channels or crusting. Most patients can return to normal activities relatively quickly.

Genius® is a minimally invasive RF treatment. The microneedles physically enter the skin, so temporary redness, swelling, sensitivity, dryness, or roughness are more common afterward, and some skin-recovery time should be expected.

The treatment schedule is also different

Thermage® is usually performed as one complete treatment initially, followed by several months of gradual collagen remodelling.

Genius® is more commonly performed as a series of treatments, allowing each round of dermal stimulation and repair to build progressively.

So which one should you choose?

The simplest starting point is to determine whether the main concern is laxity or texture.

If the main issue is large-area abdominal skin laxity, Thermage® is generally more aligned with the treatment goal. If the primary concerns are extensive stretch marks, indentation, fine textural changes, and some associated mild laxity, Genius® is usually more suitable.

If both concerns are significant, it does not necessarily have to be an either-or decision. A staged treatment plan can be developed based on the degree of laxity, depth of the stretch marks, skin thickness, acceptable downtime, and which concern the patient wants to prioritize.

What matters most is not which device is “stronger,” but which treatment method is better matched to the tissue concern that actually needs to be addressed.

Patients who are pregnant, have certain implanted electronic medical devices, have an active infection in the treatment area, or have certain health conditions should undergo a complete professional assessment before treatment.

Although Thermage® is a non-invasive treatment, it is still a medical aesthetic procedure that uses RF energy to generate heat within tissue. This means it should not be performed without an appropriate assessment.

Elective cosmetic treatments of this type are generally not performed during pregnancy. Patients with pacemakers, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, or other electronic medical devices should also inform their medical provider before treatment so that any potential restrictions related to RF energy can be evaluated.

The condition of the treatment area is equally important. If there is an active infection, open wound, significant skin inflammation, or another abnormal skin condition, the underlying issue should generally be addressed before considering an energy-based treatment.

Previous treatments, implants within the body, and relevant medical history should also be discussed during the consultation. If the treatment area has previously undergone another medical or aesthetic procedure, it may be particularly important to confirm whether the current tissue condition is appropriate for additional RF heating.

In addition to asking whether the treatment can be performed safely, it is equally important to ask whether it can realistically address the patient’s concern.

For example, a patient may have no medical contraindication but have a very large amount of hanging abdominal skin. If the expectation is that Thermage® will create the same result as a tummy tuck that surgically removes excess skin, then even if the treatment can be performed safely, it may not be the most appropriate option.

Likewise, if the main concern is actually a large amount of fat, diastasis recti, or another abdominal wall issue rather than skin laxity, Thermage® alone may not produce the expected visual improvement.

A complete Thermage® Body consultation should therefore answer more than simply, “Can you have this treatment?” It should also answer the more important question: Can this treatment realistically improve the concern that matters most to you?

Treatment is most appropriate when both safety and treatment suitability have been properly evaluated.