Facetite is a non-surgical cosmetic skin tightening procedure that is done to rejuvenate the face by reducing the fat on the chin, jowls, cheeks, and neck thereby giving the face a more toned, contoured, and a youthful appearance. With aging comes sagging skin, wrinkles, and the loss of natural contours of the face. You may have thought of getting a facelift or any other cosmetic surgery, however, consider this minimally invasive procedure, but before signing up for this innovative cosmetic procedure, speak first with your doctor about its benefits, efficacy, and potential risks.
If you are suffering from sagging skin around your face and neck, and you would like to rejuvenate your appearance, this article just might be right for you as it provides knowledgeable information about what you can expect from a Facetite procedure, cost, how it works, and everything else you should know about the procedure.
HOW FACETITE WORKS
As the skin ages, it is natural that it loses elastin and collagen, and the muscles beneath its surface stretch, resulting in loose skin and a droopy appearance. However, Facetite uses a radiofrequency device called Embrace(RF) to heat the lower dermis layer of the skin, which is composed primarily of collagen. The heat tightens existing collagen fibers, melts fat, and stimulates collagen production, hence enhancing the natural contours of the face
Facetite is considered a next-generation RF treatment with heat and energy delivered directly to where it is needed. The radio frequency device used penetrates deeply into the skin, unlike RF devices previously used which makes their results limited, and the procedure lasts for only an hour or so. Here, a long-lasting results are often seen immediately.
WHO IS AN ELIGIBLE CANDIDATE
Facetite is an effective procedure that is effective in treating sagging jowls, wrinkles around the eyes, drooping brows or eyelids, smile lines around the mouth, loose skin and excess fat in the cheeks or under the chin. So if you are looking to tighten your skin or treat any of the listed things without undergoing any surgical procedure, then you may be an eligible candidate. Facetite is beneficial to both men and women in their 30s-50s with mild to moderate skin laxity but good elasticity, and can be effective for almost all skin types.
FACETITE PROCEDURE
First, your doctor will put you under local anesthesia to help numb the pain from a mini-incision he will make with a medium-size needle in the treatment area. A slender probe called a cannula which has an electrode that delivers RF waves that can liquefy fat cells is inserted into the medium-size needle, which is then inserted into the mini-incision that was made, to heat the tissue below the surface of the skin and also stimulate collagen fibers beneath the skin. Your doctor regulates the amount of heat delivered, bringing the undersurface of the skin to 69 degrees Celsius, or approximately 156 degrees Fahrenheit.
At the same time, the electrode is passed over the surface of the skin to generate an electrical field of RF energy, and when the RF waves are emitted, a separate tube suctions out of the now-liquefied fat. The heat generated creates skin contraction, shrinking the existing collagen fibers, and triggering the body’s natural healing process which results in tighter skin, and a younger appearance as new collagen production is stimulated and continues to firm your skin over the coming months.
FACETITE BEFORE AND AFTER
Here are some pictures of real people who have had a FaceTite procedure to help you decide if this is a procedure you would like to undergo.
HOW LONG DOES FACETITE RECOVERY TAKE
Due to the anesthesia that was injected, you will experience minor swelling right after the procedure. You may also experience some bruising some days after the procedure, although this is very unlikely. 3-4 after your treatment, you should notice the swelling recede, and after a week, there should be no swelling anymore. Recovering from a facetite is completely pain-free, so you can resume your normal daily routine almost immediately after the treatment.
No long incision is made during the procedure, so no stitches are required, and scarring is rarely experienced. Although recovery takes a shorter time compared to other cosmetic surgeries, it is recommended that you stay away from doing anything physically strenuous for at least 2 weeks after the treatment, to ensure speedy and uninterrupted recovery.
POSSIBLE RISKS AND COMPLICATIONS
Facetite is less likely to cause any complications compared to other cosmetic treatments because only a small incision is made, but less common complications that could occur after the treatment are scarring and infection. Skin burns or discoloration is also a common risk associated with any procedure involving the use of heat.
When you experience any of the following, be sure to seek medical help:
- Persistent bleeding
- Oozing or pus at the site of incision
- Swelling that won’t subside after several days
- Nerve damage (loss of sensitivity on your face)
- Fever
If treated by an inexperienced provider, you could end up with asymmetry and contour irregularities, so be sure to run a check on your provider, and ask to see pictures of patients that were treated by him/her.
HOW MUCH DOES FACETITE COST
Facetite is a cosmetic procedure, so it isn’t covered by insurance, but is usually more cost-effective compared to other cosmetic surgeries, although cost often depends on your doctor’s level of experience, practice location, number of areas treated, and whether the treatment was done along with a complimentary one such as Fractora RF. Some providers offer financing plans and discount programs, you could ask about this, as well as any other fees associated with the procedure. However, patients have reported the procedure had cost them between $1,500 and $7,000.
HOW LONG DOES FACETITE LAST
The treatment is FDA-approved to last for a year, however, many doctors and patients report results lasting up to 5 years. With the deep penetration of the RF wave, it is not a surprise that the treatment could last for several years, and you only need one treatment at a time. However, several factors such as the natural aging process, lifestyle habits like smoking, exposure to sunlight, and skin care can affect the longevity of the result from facetite. In the future, to maintain a youthful appearance, you could talk to your doctor about getting fillers or dermabrasion treatments.
Doctors sometimes combine facetite with liposuction on the neck and jowls to achieve more defined contouring results and a finer jawline. They refer to this as radiofrequency-assisted liposuction (RFAL).
ALTERNATIVES TO FACETITE
1. Mini Facelift
This is another cosmetic surgery that could give the same result as a facetite, as it also targets lax skin around the cheeks and jowls. It is a less invasive procedure compared to the full Facelift, and although it is more expensive than FaceTite, results can last for 8-10 years.
2. Thermage
Thermage has been in existence for over a decade longer than facetite, and although it is also an RF facial contouring procedure, the results are often less impressive and less intense, they last only about 2 years. The procedure involves the use of an external probe to deliver heat through one contact point externally, while facetite uses both an internal and external probe, so treatment is on both sides of the skin, which is why results are usually long-lasting and impressive.
However, thermage is a less expensive procedure, partly because it is performed by a dermatologist, nurse, or a physician’s assistant, while facetite is performed by an experienced surgeon.
3. Skintyte
This procedure involves the use of infrared-light technology to direct heat to the deep dermal layers of the skin, triggering the body to produce more collagen. Like facetite, there is no downtime, no potential risk of scarring, bruising, or swelling, and it targets areas of the body with mild skin laxities like the jawline, neck, abdomen, arms, and thighs.
However, results last up to 2 years and you may need up to 6 treatment sessions. The result becomes visible 4 months after the treatment.
5. Morpheus8
Morpheus8 is another FDA-approved RF cosmetic treatment that uses radiofrequency energy together with micro-needling to remodel the collagen beneath the skin. The purpose of this procedure is to smoothen fine lines, wrinkles, and scars and also to remove facial fat, sagging jowls, and double chin. The result of this treatment however lasts for approximately 1 year.
FACETITE VS ULTHERAPY
Ultherapy is a non-invasive procedure that also stimulates collagen production and is done to tighten loose skin, but unlike facetite where a mini-incision is made, ultherapy does not need an incision as it uses ultrasound energy through a small device applied to the face or neck, depending on the area that requires treatment. Results from ultherapy wear off, so to maintain the results, you will need annual ultherapy sessions over time, whereas with faceite, there is no downtime needed.
CONCLUSION
Facetite is a minimally invasive anti-aging procedure that can take care of the wrinkles, sagging jowls, and loose skin caused as a result of aging. The procedure uses RF heat energy to penetrate deeply into the dermis layer of the skin, stimulating collagen production and melting excess fat. This procedure is beneficial to men and women who are in their 30s or 50s and experiencing signs of aging.
There are little or no risks associated with this procedure. Ensure to discuss with your provider the cost and what to expect from the procedure before signing up for a FaceTite.