Patent ID: 7613523

Claim:
The method for effecting a controlled shrinkage of collagen within the dermis of skin comprising the steps: (a) determining a skin region for shrinkage; (b) providing one or more heater implants controllable to provide a heating output and dimensioned for location at dermis substantially only between epidermis and subcutaneous tissue; (c) determining the extent of collagen shrinkage to be effected at said skin region; (d) determining one or more heating channel locations along said skin region; (e) determining a target temperature to be developed within the dermis at said heating channels to achieve said extent of collagen shrinkage with a developed collagen matrix having tensile strength integrity effective to support neocollagenisis; (f) locating said one or more heater implants in thermal treatment relationship with dermis along said one or more heating channel locations; (g) controllably effecting a heating of said one or more heater implants to said target temperature or temperatures; and (h) monitoring the extent of collagen shrinkage.