How Long Does It Take Before You See Radiofrequency Tightening of Neck Results?

Question

I had radiofrequency of neck along with mini neck lift, 2 months ago and my doctor says it is still swollen and wants to see me in 2 months. He is happy with the neck lift (says it's "tight"). Personally, I cannot see that it is swollen. I know doctors have said the results are immediate, but in my case, they are not. What is your take on this? Thank you!

Sheila S. Nazarian, MD · Answer

Radiofrequency treatmetns to the neck vary in the amount of treatments necessary to the time in which you will see results.  Machines like Pelleve require 6-8 treatments on the neck and you will start seeing some results around the fourth treatment.. Vivace is microneedling combined with radiofrequency and this is better for patients with textural issues as well as laxity.  Usually 4 treatments are best of this.  More invasive treatments like FaceTite are one and done and you will see some results as early as 6 weeks but continued improvement up to one year.My best,Sheila Nazarian

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Morpheus 8 is a non-invasive skin and soft tissue tightening treatment that is consistently amazing in our patients. We use the Morpheus to exact fractional induced RF into the skin or tissue in order to tighten collagen and stimulate contraction of the tissue. For acne scars, it is quite useful to build collagen in patients who have atrophic scars but is not very productive for ice-pick scars which require TCA Cross. For tissue tightening, Morpheus is ideal for the face and neck and we often combine it with CO2 laser or Ultherapy to further enhance results. Chemical peels and skin resurfacing should be done at least 5 to 7 days after, but can be performed earlier, depending on treatment severity. Avoid exfoliating skin treatments before Morpheus and expect a period of 2-4 weeks for skin contraction to set in.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

Thomas A. Pane, MD · Answer

Your main result is going to come from the neck lift.  Though I am not sure what type of procedure was done and how 'mini' the lift was.  RF skin tightening does work but the results aren't the same as surgery, and it helps to do a series of treatments and then maintain them to improve the result.  It is a good option when there is not a lot of neck sagging and in patients who do not wish to undergo surgery.

David Shafer, MD, FACS · Answer

Don't hold your breath.  You are not going to see a significant result.  The result you received from the actual surgical procedure is likely the result that you are going to have.  The current radio-frequency skin tightening procedures produce mild, if any, and only temporary skin tightening.  If any of the "swelling" that your doctor says you have goes away, you may actually end up with looser appearing skin than you do now.

	 

	Good Luck.

Robert F. Centeno, MD, FACS · Answer

With non-surgical tightening of the skin there is usually an immediate temporary effect from the heating of the collagen fibers.  This usually goes away shortly after the treatment. The more long term effect tends to take 3-6 for the collagen to remodel.  This is about the amount of time it takes for the swelling to fully resolve.  Discuss this matter further with your surgeon. Best wishes.

Chaitali Nangrani, MD · Answer

Usually after 2 to 3 treatments you can see a good difference, even after one treatment, the measurements do change, however it varies on the individual.

Robert Applebaum, MD · Answer

Radiofrequency results take up to 1 year to see results. At 2 months I would anticipate very little difference. At 3-4 months you start to see the results.

Douglas McManamny, MBBS, FRACS (retired) · Answer

Neither of these procedures are likely to produce dramatic results.

	The combination of the two procedures performed simultaneously or very close to each other may lead to swelling that lasts longer than if they are performed separately but I would expect that the swelling should settle by two to three months.

	The results of RF skin tightening may take a good three months to become apparent because the results depend on collagen remodeling but the neck lift results should be noticeable pretty much straight away after surgery.

	I usually tell my patients that RF skin tightening is likely to lead to an improvement of 10 to 20 percent and a mini neck lift probably a little bit more

	(but not necessarily additive).

How Long Does It Take Before You See Radiofrequency Tightening of Neck Results?

Answers (8)

More Skin Tightening Questions

Half of my Face is Sagging, but Fully Functional. Is Cosmetic Surgery the Answer to Fix This? (photo)

I Am a Young Man Who Has Severely Soft Cheeks and an Overall Saggy Appearance. I Am Extremely Embarrassed to Get a Consultation?

What to Do About Crepe Paper Skin on Legs?

Refit by Viora for Jawline and Jowls?

Wrinkley Skin on Upper Arms? (photo)

Age 30. Sagging Cheeks Causing Prominent Nasolabial Creases and Jowls. Not Interested in Fillers?

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS