FaceTite™ face and neck lift

Radio-frequency is an established energy-based treatment for skin tightening. Most RF systems, however, have been limited by their ability to deliver the RF energy effectively and safely to the target area resulting in inconsistent and often disappointing results.

Heated skin and soft tissue contract: how much they contract depends on the amount of energy (or heat) delivered. Unlike FaceTite™, other RF systems heat the skin externally (from the surface) instead of internally (sub-dermal). Since the skin is less able to withstand heat than the deeper fat and connective tissue layers, these external RF systems can only safely deliver lower levels of heat to the soft tissue and with much more limited penetration to reduce the risk of burns and scarring. This results in less effective heat delivery and consequently, less skin contraction.

With FaceTite™, RF bipolar energy is carefully directed to the area being treated, heating the site from the inside-out allowing the deeper layers to be heated to a higher temperature than the skin across a temperature gradient. This, in turn, allows for more precise treatment with results that compare to a surgical mini-facelift.

There are many devices and technologies that claim to tighten skin and treat facial sagging—these work by delivering some form of energy to heat the tissue to stimulate the contraction process. Ulthera™ (‘Ultherapy’), for example, uses ultrasound energy rather than radio-frequency and is one of several HIFU (high intensity focused ultrasound) devices. Other systems, such as ULTRAcel™, combine both ultrasound and radio-frequency to achieve a similar heating effect. However, a common problem with all of these devices is that they are less effective at delivering the optimum amount of heat energy to the deeper soft tissue layers as the heat also has to pass through the skin (i.e. outside-in), with limiting the effectiveness of the skin tightening process. Consequently, the results produced by these devices are inconsistent with most patients seeing only a mild to moderate improvement and some seeing minimal improvement, if at all. In contrast, FaceTite™ delivers optimal heat directly in the deeper tissue layers (inside-out) and produces a far more substantial skin tightening effect with much more consistent results that are also longer lasting. Consequently, although there any be a role for both Ulthera™ or ULTRAcel™ for certain patients, at present, FaceTite™ is the most effective minimally invasive technology for skin tightening, delivering superior results.

FaceTite™ is suitable for most people with moderate sagging and drooping and can achieve impressive facial rejuvenation results. However, as with all elective invasive or minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures, this procedure should be avoided during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Both male and female patients with certain pre-existing medical conditions or taking specific medications may also not be good candidates for FaceTite™, but this will be assessed during the consultation. Your safety is paramount, and you will therefore not be offered this procedure if medically or psychologically unsuitable.

FaceTite™ can restore a more youthful appearance to various areas of the face:

• The brow line
• The periorbital region
• Nasolabial folds
• Sagging jowls
• Double chin and neck area
• Lifting cheeks
• Jawline contouring
• Tightening the neck skin for neck wrinkles and turkey neck
• Improving fine lines and wrinkles

AccuTite™ can effectively reduce fat and tighten the skin in harder-to-reach areas such as:

• The brow line
• The periorbital region
• Nasolabial folds
• Sagging jawline (jowls)
• Double chins and neck area

FaceTite™ is one of the most advanced and effective minimally-invasive skin tightening available. It is both approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States, and CE marked in Europe.

The system has powerful and effective built-in safeguards, such as real-time measurements of skin temperature so that only the correct amount of energy is delivered, impedance monitoring, and power cut-off with audible feedback for complete patient safety and comfort. Once the desired cut-off temperature is achieved for maximum contraction of the skin, the energy is switched off.

Common side effects include redness and swelling in the treated area. This will soon disappear, and all side effects should be completely gone after a week to ten days.

Patients may experience some numbness which is a temporary effect of the heating of the skin nerves during treatment; this usually resolves completely within 2-3 months. Occasionally, nerve branches that supply facial muscles may be temporarily affected, leading to some muscle weakness and a minor degree of facial asymmetry (such as on smiling). However, this is a short-lived effect and resolves within a few weeks. Patients may also feel small dense lumps under the skin, but they aren’t normally visible. These are due to subcutaneous tissue heating and will keep contracting 2-3 months after treatment.

Infection is rare but can happen; therefore, the procedure is conducted in a clean, operating theatre environment with antibiotics prescribed post-treatment.

Permanent nerve damage (particularly of the lower facial nerve branches) is a risk, but rare. With the correct technique, caution and experience, the risk is minimal. Burns and scarring are possible as with any treatment that involves heating the tissues, but again the in-built safety mechanisms almost entirely prevent this risk.