I had FaceTite done 3 days ago and have extreme swelling! Will I be able to return to work on day 6?

Hi Dary,
FaceTite® is a useful technology, and gives nice results, but I've seen some of my patients get significant swelling the first week that gradually gets better over the next few weeks.  This happens because of the inflammatory response happening under the skin.  It does often times respond 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.  Also make sure you use your compression dressing as much as you can, and sleep with your head elevated.  But feel reassured that the swelling will come down. 
Best wishes,
Dr. Jay

Thank you for your question. Facetite is a radio frequency system that works by using heat to stimulate collagen growth. The thermal injury to the tissues can cause a significant amount of swelling. We have our patients wear a compressive garment for 2 weeks to help control swelling. Sleeping on a couple of pillows to keep your head elevated will also help with your swelling and recovery. Good luck!

While it is temporary and not a cause for alarm from a medical standpoint, the swelling that some people experience after FaceTite or NeckTite procedures can be impressive.  This is because there is not only the "mechanical" trauma imposed upon the tissues by inserting the small probe under the skin, or the small liposuction cannula that is normally used to clear away broken cells if not do some actual liposculpting after the FaceTite probe is used, but there is a "thermal" injury, or heating injury, to the tissues that comes from the radiofrequency energy, or electrical current, used in the treatment.  It is this heating of the tissues that is responsible for the properties and results of the treatment.  I think the problem isn't so much with the fact that this swelling happens - in fact, if I told you that I was going to do a facelift or tummy tuck on you, you would probably expect some swelling for a week and it wouldn't bother you.  The problem is in the fact that some people get the impression that because these treatments are "minimally invasive" and non-surgical, that it means nothing is really done or that there is no downtime at all.  Those are clearly not the case.  If you want results, you have to create some injury to the tissues, and when you do that, you will have the effects of that injury - swelling, bruising, pain, numbness, and thus, some downtime.  You probably won't have AS MUCH of those things as you would with a surgical procedure, and you won't have the scars, risk, or cost of a surgical procedure either, but there will be some downtime, that is, if the procedure is done right.  Thus, it is important for people to be properly educated in the most honest way about these treatments, and this starts with the doctor performing it.  Doctors need to be experienced in how these treatments work and what to expect afterward, and then they need to be up front with patients about what to expect.  We can't downplay these treatments and call them things like "lunchtime lift" and give people the wrong impression, just to get them to sign up for the procedure.  That does nobody any good.  I'll bet that if you knew that it was pretty typical to get some pronounced swelling for 72 - 96 hours after such a procedure, you would plan that into your schedule and still go forward with the procedure.  It's just that you would have set realistic expectations and not been scared by what you wound up seeing.  I always have my patients expect the worst and be pleasantly surprised if things are better than that.  We apply neck and chin straps, use ice, and keep heads elevated even while sleeping, for about 4 - 5 days after the procedure.  We expect numbness, some distortion of facial movements, some pain, and sometimes some drainage from the puncture sites for a coule of days or so.  But, again, this is all explained up front, and everybody calmly deals with these things, and in the end they all do great and are happy with their results and having undergone the procedure.  I'm sorry that you got "blindsided" by the swelling after your procedure.  Call your doctor's office just to be sure that there is nothing going wrong and that it is the "normal" swelling I'm talking about, and if so, try those things I noted above, and just wait it out.  It will get better.  Good luck!