Pros

• The in-office treatments are quick and virtually pain-free, with no downtime. 
• Skin tightening and wrinkle reduction treatments can be performed almost anywhere on the face or body.
• A 2017 clinical study showed significant improvement in the appearance of cellulite, and 60% of patients in the trial were satisfied with the results.  
• Venus Legacy can be used in combination with other procedures as a finishing treatment. For example, it can help smooth and tighten skin after liposuction. 

Cons

• As with many treatments that use radiofrequency technology, you’ll need a series of 6 to 10 weekly treatment sessions to see results.  
• Because Venus Legacy treatments are nonsurgical, your results won’t be nearly as dramatic as if you’ve had a tummy tuck or facelift. 
• People with Fitzpatrick skin types V and VI (brown or deep skin tones) are not good candidates.
• Results aren’t permanent, so you’ll need touch-up sessions a few times a year in order to maintain them.  
• Not everyone is a good candidate for Venus Legacy. It's best for patients with mild skin laxity and mild to moderate cellulite.
• Many RealSelf members have been disappointed with their results, with only half saying that their treatment was Worth It. Though this nonsurgical body contouring treatment isn't supposed to completely destroy fat cells (like CoolSculpting does), some RealSelf members report a long-term loss of fat that left them with contour irregularities.

The cost of your Venus Legacy treatment will depend on the experience level of your provider, their practice location, the size of the treatment area, and how many treatment sessions you have.

Some practices offer special pricing on a multiple treatment package, and many offer payment plans.

See our complete guide to Venus Legacy treatment costs

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

According to Dr. Josie Tenore, a physician in Highland Park, Illinois, you’re a good candidate if you: 

• Are at or close to your ideal weight. “If you’re 30–40 pounds overweight, the device isn’t going to make you thin and sculpted,” says Dr. Tenore. “If you just have some small pockets of fat and want to look and feel better in your clothes, then you may be a good candidate.” 
• Have only mild to moderately sagging skin, with minimal sun damage. “If you have extremely loose skin, chances are good that you’re not going to get results you’ll be happy with,” Dr. Tenore explains. “If you have leathery skin with severe UV damage, the device will still deliver results, but you may not be able to perceive them.” 

Don’t have an internal defibrillator or pacemaker; silicone implants or injections in the area being treated; or metal implants, like IUDs, in or around the treatment area.

Depending on the size of the treatment area, you can expect your session to take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour. Anesthesia isn’t required because the Venus Legacy isn’t painful. 

Your provider will place the applicator on the skin, and it will slowly get warmer until it hits the right range. If it ever feels too hot, tell your provider immediately.

You’ll also feel some light suction, which helps the radiofrequency waves and magnetic fields penetrate deep into the tissue, and this can be lowered if needed. It should be comfortable; some patients report that it feels like a deep-tissue or hot stone massage.  

The treatment is relatively painless for most patients. “There is a very mild vacuum component, but it doesn’t tug, pull, or hurt,” confirms Dr. Rueckl. “I'd say that it's a one or two on the discomfort scale the first time, but after that, many people nap during their procedures because it's so tolerable.”

There’s no downtime afterward. You’ll be able to resume your normal activities and skin-care routine right away.

Most patients need an initial series of 6 to 10 Venus Legacy treatments for optimal results. You’ll return every week for a session until you've completed your treatment plan. Results rely on the stimulation of fibroblast cells to generate new collagen and elastin fibers, so you won’t see final results until three or four months after your last treatment.

“You should start to see immediate improvement, and it should build from there,” says Dr. Victor F. Rueckl, a plastic surgeon in Las Vegas.

Venus Legacy results from an initial treatment series can last up to 18 months.

After that, you can maintain them indefinitely with quarterly follow-up treatments. “It’s like going to the gym," says Dr. Rueckl. "You don’t go for several months and then stop because you look good. You will need to go for maintenance to keep your results stable once you get there.”

Dr. Robert Tornambe, a New York plastic surgeon, says dramatic results aren’t guaranteed. “The real truth is that noninvasive techniques, like radiofrequency, claim ‘up to’ 30% improvement. However, in most cases, minimal—if any—improvement is realized. Ten sessions later, after significant out-of-pocket expense, most patients have been unhappy with the results.” 

Older people with significant skin laxity will probably be happier with the results of a surgical procedure. “These machines were designed for younger patients with a need for minimal improvement,” says Dr. Tornambe.

Venus Legacy is cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat wrinkles, fine lines, the appearance of cellulite, and stretch marks on Fitzpatrick skin types I–IV. 

However, if the treatment is performed by someone who’s not licensed, experienced, or trained on the device, it can lead to complications like burns, scars, and pain. 

Some RealSelf members report very poor—sometimes disfiguring—results due to a seeming redistribution of fat. 

Make sure you’re visiting an experienced provider and that you’re a good candidate.

If you’re looking to tighten skin without losing fat, Venus Freeze may be a better treatment option than the Venus Legacy.

Both treatments use radiofrequency energy and electromagnetic pulses, but Venus Freeze targets fine lines and skin laxity without targeting cellulite, so there’s no suction during the procedure.