FaceTite: Everything You Need to Know

Research shows that FaceTite can be an effective facial rejuvenation treatment for the right candidate. A 2022 study of FaceTite and AccuTite results determined that ideal candidates have early jowling, mild to moderate skin laxity, and submental fullness (a double chin). 

The study also claimed that the treatments can offer this group of patients a less invasive and expensive alternative to face and neck lifts, but it’s still important to keep your expectations realistic: while it can visibly tighten lax skin, FaceTite results will never be as long-lasting or dramatic as a surgical facelift.

To achieve a more dramatic fat removal and contouring, doctors often combine this skin tightening procedure with liposuction to remove the liquified fat—a pairing known as radiofrequency-assisted lipolysis (RFAL). 

“The advantage of liposuction with FaceTite, over traditional liposuction alone, is that the RF energy helps to break down or melt the pockets of fat under the skin, making the liposuction more effective,” explains Dr. Ho.

A study published in the journal Plastic Reconstructive Surgery Global Open in 2016 showed that 85% percent of patients were satisfied with their contouring and skin-tightening results from RFAL. 

A 2023 study in the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery comparing RFAL to traditional facial lipo found RFAL results to be superior, describing it as “a safe and effective treatment that can achieve significant improvement of the fat accumulation and skin laxity of the lower face and neck under local anesthesia.”

FaceTite results can also be enhanced by pairing it with RF microneedling procedures like Morpheus8, which punctures tiny holes in the surface of skin and deliver RF energy into the dermis (the deeper layer of skin), to further stimulate collagen remodeling. “One of my favorite treatment combinations is to utilize FaceTite with Morpheus8, to maximize results without adding a lot more cost and downtime for my patients,” says Dr. Ho.

A retrospective study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open in 2020 paired FaceTite with Morpheus8 and found the combination filled a “treatment gap” for patients with moderate laxity who weren’t yet ready for surgery. “Ninety-three percent of patients indicated that they were pleased with their results and would undergo the procedure again,” according to the study’s authors.

Pros

• FaceTite comes with less downtime than a surgical facelift.
• This minimally invasive outpatient procedure is often done in a doctor’s office, under local anesthesia only. “Sometimes a sedative, such as Valium, is added for a more comfortable experience,” according to Dr. Ho.
• Pain is minimal, both during and after treatment. 
• It penetrates more deeply than some other RF and ultrasound energy treatments, so the results can be more significant and last up to five years.
• You should see some firming within the first week (sometimes even immediately), as existing collagen fibers contract.
• While it does require tiny incisions, it leaves no significantly visible scars for most patients.
• It’s less expensive and much less invasive than a surgical facelift. Several FaceTite reviewers who rated the procedure “Worth It” on RealSelf said that the minimal downtime and discomfort were major reasons they chose this procedure, instead of traditional facial plastic surgery.

Cons

• Results can be inconsistent. Some FaceTite procedure reviews from RealSelf members who rated the procedure “Not Worth It” say they have more sagging now than before.
• It’s possible to have swelling and bruising for a week or longer after the procedure.
• Patients with more advanced aging changes, such as significantly loose skin and poor skin elasticity, usually aren't good candidates. For these patients, facial plastic surgery options like a facelift or neck lift (which removes excess skin, lifts the underlying muscle layer, and smoothes the skin that remains) are usually a better option.
• Since FaceTite liquifies fat cells, those who are worried about hollowing or aging along the face due to fat loss might not be a good candidate for this treatment.
• As with any treatment that involves heat, there’s a risk of skin burns or discoloration.
• Rarely, nerve injury can cause facial muscle weakness for 6 months or more.
• You also could end up with asymmetry and contour irregularities, especially if you're treated too aggressively.
• Like other skin tightening treatments, this one won't tackle all signs of aging, like hyperpigmentation or textural issues. If those are your primary concerns, a laser treatment or chemical peel can treat hyperpigmentation, while a microneedling treatment, such as Morpheus8, can improve skin texture.

• Average Cost:
• $4,975

• Range:
• $2,000 - $10,000

Your FaceTite cost will depend on your provider’s level of experience, their practice location, the number of areas you have treated, whether or not it’s combined with other procedures, and a few other key factors.

Insurance doesn’t cover cosmetic procedures like this one, but most providers accept third-party financing options, such as CareCredit.

See our complete guide to FaceTite costs

The FaceTite photos in our gallery have been shared by the provider who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.

Ideal candidates are in their 30s to 50s, with mild to moderate skin laxity but good elasticity. 

Patients who have excess fat along the jawline and under the chin can also benefit from a combination of FaceTite and liposuction.

“I tell my patients that I can consistently produce a 30–40% improvement in neck and jawline tightness,” says Dr. Jason Bloom, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. This level of improvement may not be enough for a 60-year-old with significant sagging, but it's a solid option for younger patients who aren't ready yet for a more aggressive procedure.

Another factor is the quality of your skin. “Patients with very thin skin can potentially have more complications with this type of procedure and need to proceed cautiously,” warns Dr. Ho.

Good bone structure to provide support for the tightened skin is also vital. If the face needs more support, facial implants or injectable dermal fillers are sometimes recommended, says Dr. Westreich.

Related: The Best Skin-Tightening Procedures for Every Trouble Spot

A FaceTite procedure takes about an hour, from start to finish. Here’s what to expect.

• Most doctors perform FaceTite in-office, under local anesthesia. “A small dose of anti-anxiety medication can be given, which helps the patient feel more comfortable during the initial numbing process,” says Dr. Westreich. This numbing process, called tumescent anesthesia, involves injecting anesthetic solution into the subcutaneous fat. It’s the same prep that’s done before liposuction. Once it’s complete, you should not feel pain.
• Your provider then makes a tiny incision in the treatment area—so small it oftentimes doesn’t require stitches or leave a noticeable scar. 
• A cannula or thin metal probe is inserted through the incision to heat the tissue below the skin’s surface. The provider determines the appropriate temperature setting, just one of the reasons you want to be in experienced hands. “I typically heat the undersurface of the skin to 69ºC [over 156ºF], which is quite hot,” says Dr. Westreich. 
• Simultaneously, an electrode connected to the same handpiece is passed over the skin’s surface to generate an electrical field of RF energy. The heat that results creates skin contraction, shrinking the existing collagen and triggering the body’s natural healing response. 

If you’ve taken an oral sedation medication (such as Valium or Ativan) or narcotic pain pills, you'll need to have a trustworthy adult drive you home post-treatment.

Most patients need about four to five days of downtime for their initial recovery, but each person heals differently, so you may want more time if you can take it. Swelling tends to peak about three days into your recovery, but you can expect bruising and swelling for at least a week—and possibly even longer. 

“Sometimes people can be swollen to some degree for up to two weeks, depending on the extent or aggressiveness of the treatment, as well as the patient's personal factors,” says Dr. Ho.

Each provider has different post-procedure instructions, so it’s best to follow their specific recommendations, but doctors on RealSelf recommend a few ways to shorten your recovery timeline and reduce swelling after FaceTite:

• Your surgeon should send you home with a compression garment to wear 24 hours a day for the first three days, and continue wearing for a recommended period of time for a few weeks, to give the skin extra support as it heals. 
• Dr. Sanjay Keni, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, says that FaceTite swelling “often responds to a tapered course of steroids, so if you have an event coming up or need to be in front of people, ask your surgeon about this.”
• Light ice packs can also help. Follow your provider’s instructions for how often you should ice during your initial recovery.
• Avoid showering for the first two days, and use a mild cleanser to wash your face, rinsing with lukewarm water.
• After about one week, you can resume regular activities, including exercise. If your swelling hasn’t improved at that point or seems to be getting worse, alert your surgeon. 

The treatment area may continue to feel numb for several weeks, so most patients don't feel a lot of pain during FaceTite recovery. If you do feel discomfort, ask your provider for recommendations on over-the-counter pain medications.

Some patients see a subtle improvement in skin laxity in one week, but it takes longer for new collagen to form and optimal results to develop. 

• Up to 70% of your results will be apparent within six to eight weeks. 
• Most of the additional tightening and contouring will happen within four months.
• You may see some continued improvement for up to a year post-treatment.

See FaceTite before and after photos

The skin tightening effects of a FaceTite procedure last for at least a year, but some patients and doctors say results can last up to five years.

“This doesn’t mean that in five years, you’ll suddenly go back to your pre-procedure look,” says Dr. Ho. “But you may begin to see a gradual reduction in overall tightness, similar to what happens during the natural aging process,” he says. 

You can help extend your results by using a good skin care regimen, wearing a high-SPF sunscreen daily, and not smoking.

Doctors on RealSelf say FaceTite procedures are generally safe. Dr. Michael Somenek, a facial plastic surgeon in Washington, DC, explains that the device “uses the same kind of radiofrequency technology used in MRIs, Thermage, and other medical treatments that have been safely performed for years. FaceTite was developed to treat delicate areas of skin without causing cellular damage to tissues.”

The most common side effects include: 

• bruising
• swelling 
• temporary numbness in the treated area

Swelling can take up to two weeks to fully resolve, and numbness can also linger for a few weeks. 

There’s also a possibility of experiencing these FaceTite complications. 

• Burns are possible, but the device has a dual temperature sensor to help prevent them. With an experienced, alert provider, this risk should be minimal. 
• Nerve injuries  that affect facial movement and create asymmetry usually resolve on their own within 3-6 months, but in rare cases, the damage can become chronic. Dr. Robert Whitfield, a plastic surgeon in Austin, Texas, explains that many “nerve issues are directly related to the inflammation and swelling around the nerve. Once the swelling and inflammation resolve, this should improve.” He recommends arnica and anti-inflammatories to reduce these symptoms.
• Contour irregularity from uneven fat reduction can require a second procedure (like a surgical touch-up or revision, facelift, facial fat transfer, or injectable fillers) to correct. Doctors recommend waiting at least six months before a corrective procedure, to allow time for healing to be completed and for most of the collagen remodeling from FaceTite.

“Risks are always minimized by having a skilled and experienced surgeon perform the procedure,” says Dr. Westreich. To give yourself the best chance of an effective result while avoiding problems, make sure your FaceTite procedure is performed by a board-certified plastic or dermatologic surgeon who has performed the treatment dozens of times. “Furthermore, experienced providers should be able to manage potential complications,” notes Dr. Ho.

	FaceTite nonsurgical	Mini Facelift surgical	Thermage FLX nonsurgical	SkinTyte nonsurgical	Morpheus8 nonsurgical
Worth It Rating	72%	93%	90%	76%	65%
Average Cost	$4975	$7525	$2250	$1125	$1825
Downtime	3–7 days of downtime	1 week of downtime	No downtime	No downtime	Little to no downtime
Anesthesia	Local anesthesia	Local anesthesia	No anesthesia	No anesthesia	Numbing cream or local anesthesia

Mini Facelift

• The procedure that delivers the most similar facial contouring results is a mini facelift, a cosmetic surgery that addresses lax skin on the neck, cheeks and jowls. 
• It costs more than FaceTite, but results typically last longer.

Thermage FLX

• Thermage FLX is the latest version of a RF facial contouring procedure that has been on the market for over a decade longer than FaceTite. 
• Dr. Phillip Dauwe, a plastic surgeon in Dallas, Texas, explains that “Thermage has an external probe that delivers energy through one contact point externally. FaceTite has an internal probe and an external probe, so the skin is treated from both sides. This allows thermal contraction of the skin's full thickness and the connective tissue in the fat layer below the skin.” 
• Thermage FLX is less expensive, partly due to the fact that it can be performed by a dermatologist, nurse, or physician’s assistant, while a FaceTite procedure must be done by a surgeon.

SkinTyte 

• SkinTyte uses pulses of infrared-light technology to heat deep dermal layers within the skin. This triggers the body's collagen production process.
• This treatment works on any area of the body with mild skin laxity, but it’s most commonly used on the face, jawline, neck, abdomen, arms, and thighs. 
• There’s no downtime and no potential of scarring, swelling, or bruising.  
• Most people need up to six treatment sessions, every other week, and full results become apparent about four months post-treatment. 
• Results last up to two years.

Morpheus8

• This radiofrequency microneedling device (from InMode, the maker of FaceTite) emits RF energy from the tips of tiny pins, delivering heat into the dermis and deeper layers of the face or body, to ramp up collagen production.
• The device can be adjusted to variable depths, depending on the area being treated and the desired effect.
• When tuned to greater depths and intensities, the Morpheus8 can melt fat.
• While some medspas are marketing the Morpheus8 as a nonsurgical facelift, the results are nowhere near surgical. Doctors say the tool actually excels at refining the skin’s texture—improving large pores and acne scars, in particular—by gradually building fresh collagen for a subtle thickening and firming of the skin.
• A series of treatments is usually needed for best results, and yearly maintenance treatments are recommended to maintain the benefits.
• “Morpheus8 can be combined with FaceTite to achieve better overall results,” says Dr. Ho.