Does ThermiSmooth shrink the fat underneath facial skin?

Thank you for your question.  I recommend a combination of procedures for optimal results.  Thermismooth is noninvasive and is good for resurfacing fine lines, but ThermiTight can actually lift and tighten your neck and lower face.

ThermiTight utilizes a small electrode inserted under the skin to heat tissue to a selected therapeutic temperature.  Literature has shown that elevating skin to a therapeutic temperature level can contract collagen molecules and stimulate collagen production, which may give the appearance of lifting or tightening.   Fat reduction is rare, unless set to high temperatures and kept at high temperatures for a significant amount of time .

To best answer your question,  it  depends on how much skin laxity you have.   ThermiTight can work well in the thigh area to tighten skin that is mild to moderately laxity.  Surgery may be a better option, if you have excessive laxity.   Results with ThermiTight vary from patient to patient.  You should experience some overall improvement.  In our center, I offer a procedure that we call ThermiSculpture. This combines some liposuction fat removal with ThermiTight. The radiofrequency probe is inserted into the same incisions that are used for the liposculpture. This combination removes fat, stimulates collagen, and tightens and lifts the skin. Consulting a board-certified plastic surgeon who knows how to effectively combine ThermiTight with liposuction will give you the most dramatic and long-lasting results

The best way to assess and give true advice would be an in-person exam.

Please see a board-certified plastic surgeon that specializes in aesthetic and restorative plastic surgery.

Best of luck!

Dr. Schwartz

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

#RealSelf100Surgeon

#RealSelfCORESurgeon

Hi Noor! I would check to see which version of the Thermi device your physician has. The Thermi250 has different hand pieces that allow the radiofrequency energy to travel different depths of the skin. The smaller spot sizes are great for skin laxity treatment. The radiofrequency energy stimulates collagen repair and regeneration, which help to tighten the skin. The larger spot sizes penetrate more deeply to heat and reduce fat cells.I hope this helps!

ThermiSmooth is external radiofrequency energy designed to tighten skin. It can't reduce fat volume as it does not penetrate deeply enough nor does it heat enough to melt or kill fat cells.

Good question!  Thermi Smooth alone does not shrink fat.  The Thermi 250, however, has the ability to shrink fat.  It is all a matter of understanding the physics of the machine.  Thermi 250 has 10 times the power of the Thermi Smooth and depending on what hand piece the physician chooses, you can target different depths beneath the skin (ie targeting skin/dermis for skin tightening, superficial fat for cellulite or deeper fat layers). That's why it is so important to have a face to face consultation and exam with a Board Certified plastic surgeon who understands and has the tools to potentially treat unwanted fat either invasively (liposuction), minimally invasively (Thermi Tight), or non invasively ( Thermi 250, CoolSculpt, etc). That way you have a unique treatment plan developed specifically for your own body issues.

Thank you for a great question.  Unfortunately, there is not a cut-and-dry answer to this one, since there are no studies I am aware of to address this.  I rely on ThermiSmooth and their new device Thermi250 for many applications in my office.  For patients who are concerned about the theoretical risk of loss of facial fat, I ONLY use the smallest head or the bipolar attachment, as I know those heads will not penetrate deeper than the skin or dermis.  The larger the diameter of the head, the deeper the penetration into tissue and the larger heads do cause some shrinkage of the fatty layer.  To date, I have not had a patient lose facial fat volume as a result of using the more superficial ThermiSmooth or Thermi250 treatments, so my gut feeling is that you should experience facial fat reduction if the smallest head or the bipolar head are used, but, again, this is not based on a formal study, but only my own clinical experience.