Thermitight to thighs downtime?

Question

I had Cellulaze done almost a year ago on my thighs and buttocks. Now my doctor would like to schedule me for Thermitight to my thigh area. What will the downtime be for this procedure? Is there a lot of swelling and bruising? I had quite a bit of swelling and bruising with the Cellulaze and had to wear a compression garment for weeks.

William Groff, DO · Answer

Thank you for your question. ThermiTight is not quite as extensive as Cellulaze, but it does require some recovery time since the probes penetrate the skin into the lower dermal layers. You will likely see some swelling and bruising after ThermiTight, although the side effects typically don’t last longer than about one week. I usually recommend a compression garment for about a week to help minimize those side effects. Your doctor may also provide post-treatment instructions like avoiding aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories that can increase bruising or bleeding for that first week. If you choose an experienced, board-certified dermatologist with extensive experience in this procedure, and you follow pre- and post-treatment plans carefully, you should see minimal side effects and the best possible results.

Kimberly Butterwick, MD · Answer

Unlike
the face and neck, which ThermiTight can also treat, the thighs are
weight-bearing and thus more prone to swelling and bruising. Usually
there is mild to moderate bruising and much less swelling with
ThermiTight than with Cellulaze. While ThermiTight has little
downtime, it is still an invasive procedure, as a probe must be
inserted into the skin to deliver radiofrequency energy to the
collagen layer in the dermis. To aid in healing and minimize swelling
or bruising, we advise our patients to wear a compression garment or
Spanx for about a week, to avoid medication such as aspirin and
Advil, and to take arnica as a supplement to minimize bruising and
swelling. You should also avoid vigorous exercising during that time.
However, this will vary by patient. It's always important to listen
to your body. Please talk to your board-certified dermatologist if
you have more questions about ThermiTight; we always want to be sure
our patients feel comfortable and informed about any procedure they
are considering.

Ron Shelton, MD · Answer

The response I have seen in my NYC practice to ThermiTight on the legs and buttocks for cellulite treatment and fat reduction and skin tightening has been variable but every patient swells to some degree. Bruising is expected. Both swelling and bruising lasts a few weeks and compression garments are indeed worn for a couple or more weeks post operatively.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

There is very little downtime when ThermiRF is done right, we typically have people wait 1-7 days before going back to gym.  Compression can be light like spanx.  Best, Dr. Emer.

W. John Bullis, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question.  The answer is not totally straightforward, because everyone experiences pain differently and it can also depend upon how much surface area of your leg is being treated.  "Most" patients experience very little downtime after ThermiTight - meaning the very next day they can engage in "activities of daily living" and have only very minimal pain.  I have had 1 patient who complained for weeks about the pain afterwards, but the vast majority of my patients have had only minimal pain.  Bruising after ThermiTight is rare, but can happen.  The amount of postoperative pain depends upon (1) how much surface area was treated - the more area, the more pain; and (2) how aggressively you are treated.  For example, when both superficial and deep layers are treated with high temperatures, postoperative pain will be a little more than if only the superficial layer (skin) is treated.  In any case, the postoperative pain from ThermiTight should not even be in the same ballpark as that from Cellulaze.

Renata Wix-Harris, MD · Answer

The downtime for ThermiTight is usually not bad. Most patient will experience some mild bruising and swelling that last about 1 week. I recommend my patients to wear spanx for 1 week and avoid strenuous activity for 1 week to minimize the swelling. The thighs tend to swell a little worse than other areas, but still not bad compared to Cellulaze. Good luck!

George Davis, MD · Answer

There should be minimal to no downtime with ThermiTight.  With any procedure there can be swelling and bruising.  Depending on what your physician requests you may have to wear compression for a few days.

Dean L. Johnston, MD (retired) · Answer

Thermitight requires some local anesthesia so there will be a small amount of swelling immediately after & very little bruising.  The wearing of garments is optional but I find that patients feel more comfortable wearing them for a week or so afterwards.  I give the go ahead to full activities after 4-5 days.  Ask your treating Physician about steps  to take specific to your situation to reduce bruising and swelling to a minimum.