FaceTite At A Glance
- Best Results1+
- Treatment Recovery3- 6 days
- Procedure Time80 min
- Skin SpecialistDavin Lim
- Duration of Results2-6+ years
- AnaestheticSedation
- Back to Work5-8 days
- Cost$$$$-$$$$$
FaceTite: Non-surgical face lift
FaceTite is one of many ways I tighten loose skin on the face & neck. The ideal face lifting or skin tightening treatment depends on many factors including the degree of laxity, the amount of background sun damage, your age, dermal thickness, lower face volume, ethnicity, lifestyle, downtime, budget & expectations. I employ surgical as well as non-surgical procedures to lift the face, neck, & eyelids.
FactsFacts on Facelift, Non-surgical
- FaceTite is one of many methods I employ to tighten skin
- Facetite uses precisely delivered radiofrequency to heat skin
- This is a minimally invasive surgical procedure often performed in conjunction with lasers, liposuction & other forms of heating
- I primarily employ FaceTite to treat jowls & skin laxity of the lower face & neck
- This treatment is best suited for patients with a thicker dermal layer & mild to moderate laxity with minimal photo damage
- Thin skin & severe laxity are best treated with surgical techniques
- Those who have significant sun damage & wrinkles are best treated with lasers & deep chemical peels
What is FaceTite?
FaceTite is a minimally invasive procedure to tighten loose skin of the lower face & jawline. This procedure delivers precise heating through radiofrequency. This targets loose connective tissue, stimulating collagen & elastic fibers.
How does this differ from other skin tightening devices?
FaceTite is semi-invasive (the marketing term is minimally invasive). Other treatments including HIFU/Ulthera/Ultraformer III, Thermage, Pelleve , Genius, Morpheus 8, Intensif, Venus, Vivace microneedling etc…all deliver energy from the outside of the skin to the deeper dermal & subdermal layers.
FaceTite is the opposite, it delivers energy to the deeper layers using a cannula inserted directly into the treated areas. This results in better & more precise heating of the tissue to a temperature of 69 degrees. The clinical outcome is better & more predictable than with other treatments.
As this is classed as a semi-invasive procedure, FaceTite is performed by myself with the assistance of 2 nurses. The entire procedure is conducted under mild sedation.
Who is the ideal candidate for FaceTite?
The ideal profile for this procedure is mild to moderate lower face laxity, good skin quality, medium to thick dermis, aged between late 40s to 60s.
For those who have heaviness of the lower face/double chins/ submental fullness, I often perform liposuction at the same time of skin tightening. For patients who have poor skin quality / sun damage / wrinkles & textural changes, I often perform laser resurfacing at the same time.
How long is the procedure time?
60 to 100 minutes, depending on the complexity & adjunctive procedures. I normally perform this procedure with a combination of laser resurfacing, liposuction & or fat transfer.
The procedure is conducted in our operating theaters at Cutis Medical in Taringa, Brisbane.
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Does the procedure hurt?
No. FaceTite & associated treatments are conducted under sedation & anesthesia blocks.
What other procedures are commonly conducted at the same time?
FaceTite improves skin tone, namely how ‘tight’, ‘taught’ or ‘tensile’ skin is. Other aspects of skin that should be considered include volume & skin quality.
Volume can be too much, such as with jowls or submental fullness (double chins), or volume can be depleted, such as loss of fat & bone (jawline). Liposuction addresses the former, whilst fillers & fat transfer address the later.
Quality refers to superficial aspects of skin, namely textural changes including pigmentation, sun damage, wrinkles, enlarged pores, & scars. Skin quality is best addressed with lasers or medium to deep chemical peels.
Hence the ideal combination depends on your presentation. Most often I combine Facetite with RF microneedling, liposuction, fat transfer, dermal fillers, surgery or laser surgery.
A slightly acidic skin environment optimizes skin barrier function & reduces the chances of infections as a low (ish) pH is disadvantageous to pathogens
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👉What about very low pH ingredients? Some formulations such as #ascorbic acid, lactic, glycolic, salicylic, mandelic, citric, and beta hydroxy acids function best in a low pH formulation as this increases bioavailability & skin penetration. Not an issue for most skin types, but maybe an issue for those with compromised skin barrier function- namely acne, rosacea, dermatitis-eczema patients.
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👉What about higher pH products? Fortunately the days of alkaline washes/cleansers/soaps are limited. Mainstream brands such as La Roche Posay, Paula’s Choice & CeraVe have cleansers ranging between pH 5.1 to 5.4.
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😎Davin Lim
Dermatologist
Brisbane/Sydney🇦🇺
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#skincare #skincarescience #skinscience #dermaltherapy #dermatology
#healthyskin #skinhealth #drdavinlim #davinlim #dermatoloigstsydney #brisbanedermatology
Picosecond fractional resurfacing with Picosure Pro, 2 sessions spaced 4 weeks apart
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👉Indication: Pigment in all skin types. Our pilot study suggests that off label picosecond laser in the 755 wavelength, delivered in full beam to select spots & high powered fractional is superior to IPL & non-ablative fractional laser resurfacing💯
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👉Cons: It’s off label. Downtime of 48+ hours (still less than 1927 Fraxel & IPL). With the marked cytokine release, I now give a short sharp application of topical CS post treatment to reduce post treatment swelling. For patients with pigment > solar dysplasia, I prefer pico to thulium lasers (& TCA-Jesser peels). The Picosure Pro by #Cynosure is really that good👍🏻
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😎Davin Lim
Dermatologist
Brisbane/Sydney🇦🇺
.
#picosure #skinscience #dermatology #picosurepro #picolasers #skinrejuvenation
#drdavinlim #davinlim #dermatoloigstsydney #brisbanedermatology
How long does it take to see the results?
Depending on the degree of laxity, patients will notice a change within 4 weeks. Collagen production & contraction is maximal at 12 to 18 weeks.
It is important to note that jowling & laxity may initially look worse due to swelling of the treated area. In cases where I perform liposuction, you will see a difference in the definition of the jawline within the first week.
How long is the recovery time after the FaceTite procedure?
4-7 days. The procedure itself spares the surface of the skin, hence recovery is quick. Expect swelling for 48 to 72 hours, followed by variable bruising.
Liposuction recovery mirrors FaceTite recovery, laser resurfacing (if performed) takes 7 to 9 days to recovery from. I will give you an accurate indication of downtime during the planning process.
How long will the results last?
2 to 6 years, depending on your age, ethnicity & genetics. In truth, it is very difficult to predict with absolute certainty the duration of results. As a guide, if one has mild to moderate laxity, minimal sun damage, thicker dermis & better initial collagen contraction, we would expect better results than a more mature patient (age 52 over), with a thinner dermis.
My usual approach is to maintain results from FaceTite using low cost, zero downtime procedures such as RF Tempsure or Pelleve every 4-8 months.
What other treatments should I consider?
The very first step is to see if patients are suitable for non-surgical intervention. For moderate to severe laxity, especially if there is significant ‘jowling’, a surgical approach is best.
An important concept to consider is volume replacement. Skin tightening procedures improve laxity. The aging process also involves volume loss. Simple volumetric filling will give a marked improvement in most. Dermal fillers can address the perioral area, lips, temples, cheeks, & tear troughs/ medial cheeks.
Skin quality can be improved using lasers & chemical peels. The results can be maintained with good skin care.
What is the difference between FaceTite RF & laser resurfacing?
Laser resurfacing including ablative CO2 & erbium only treat the skin’s surface. They are very useful in improving skin texture & quality. Think of lasers as a medical grade sanding device, namely to resurface the upper layers of skin, in turn treating dull skin, pigmentation, textural irregularities, wrinkles & sun damage.
Skin tightening devices work under the skin’s surface. This improves skin tone. The flipsides is that the majority of Queensland patients will benefit from both tightening & resurfacing as most will have issues with skin laxity & skin quality. On this basis I frequently combine skin tightening & resurfacing in the one procedure.
What other skin tightening / face lifting procedures are there?
Skin tightening & non-surgical face lifting follows a complex algorithm, depending on the clinical findings. The best solution depends on your age, degree of laxity, expectations & aims, thickness of your skin, lower face volume, degree of background sun damage (elastosis), ethnicity, lifestyle, allocated downtime as well as your budget.
I use various other surgical & non-surgical methods including, short scar face lifts, liquid face lifts, HIFU Ultherapy, Ultraformer III, RF, RF Genius Microneedling, Thread Lifting, & deep laser resurfacing.
| Treatment | Laxity Grade | Skin Quality | Dermal Thickness | Number of sessions | Duration of effects |
| Liquid lifts | Mild to moderate | All types | All thickness | 2-3 | 2-4 years |
| Lasers | Mild to severe | Poor skin quality | All thickness | 1-2 | 3-10 years |
| Threads | Mild to moderate | All types | Moderate to thick | 1-2 | 3 -8 months |
| RF Bipolar RF FaceTite | Mild to moderate | Good | Moderate | 1-4 | 2- 3 years |
| HIFU- Ultherapy | Mild to moderate | Good | Thick | 1-2 | 2-4 years |
What is the recovery time?
2-4 days, bruising for up to 5 days+
Recovery is primarily due to swelling. As FaceTite treats the underlying skin, there is no prolonged recovery period, unlike laser resurfacing.
In the context of RF microneedling, skin usually heals within 3-4 days. In some cases there will be residual redness for a few more days. I will give you an accurate projection of downtime, depending on the planned procedure & settings.
Is the procedure safe?
FaceTite is one of the safest rejuvenation procedures available for your face and neck. Precise delivery of radiofrequency for contouring reduces potential surgical complications often associated with traditional facelifts, including infections and scarring while achieving optimal patient outcomes.
FaceTite is one of the safest rejuvenation procedures available for your face and neck. Precise delivery of radiofrequency for contouring reduces potential surgical complications often associated with traditional facelifts, including infections and scarring while achieving optimal patient outcomes.
What is RFM or radiofrequency microneedling & why do I combine it with FaceTite?
RFM is very different from normal microneedling as it uses radiofrequency delivered through deeper needles aimed at stimulating collagen. FaceTite treat from the inside out, whilst RF Microneedling treats from the outside in. This combination gives the best results.
This treatment can be useful for treating the lower face & neck area. I normally combine this with other RF treatments such as Facetite, or during laser resurfacing. I also use this device for neck tightening, especially when I perform neck & lower face liposuction.
The ideal patient profile for RF Microneedling/ Genius RFM has little sun damage, mild to moderate lower face laxity, moderate to thick dermis, moderate lower face volume. This device is best employed as part of a combination approach to skin tightening & rejuvenation.
When do I employ HIFU or Ultherapy?
The ideal device depends on your skin quality, age, laxity, dermal thickness, current volume & ethnicity. I primarily use High Intensity Focused Ultrasound for patients with excess lower face volume.
Ideal HIFU patient profile, mild to moderate laxity, thick dermis with good volume & minimal sun damage. The logic is that we can contract lax collagen & not worry about volume loss– especially in the lower face.
Is FaceTite a replacement for a face lift?
No. A deep plane facelift is the Gold Standard for lifting as we plicate (fix) the deeper underlying structures including the muscles & the SMAS layer. Non-surgical procedures including FaceTite, Ultherapy, HIFU, Ultraformer, lasers & peels contract the collagen (lesser degree the SMAS).
Skin tightening procedures are ideally for patients with mild to moderate skin laxity, whilst face lift procedures are for significant laxity. Non-surgical procedures essentially ‘buys time’ to delay the requirement for surgical procedures.
How much is the procedure?
Costs vary according to the areas treated and concomitant procedures such as RF microneedling, liposuction, surgical procedures & laser resurfacing. As a guide-
FaceTite alone: From $4,600 +
FaceTite & Liposuction: From $7,900 +
FaceTite, RF microneedling & Laser Resurfacing: From $9,200 +
All procedures conducted by Davin Lim
Davin’s Viewpoint on FaceTite RF
This is another useful minimally invasive treatment for lower face laxity. The procedure is more involved than say HIFU, Thermage or Ultraformer. The advantage of FaceTite is that I am delivering the energy source where it is required, from the inside out. This procedure is often combined with RF microneedling, & or laser resurfacing.
The most important thing when choosing a suitable non-surgical face lifting procedure is to correctly profile the patient. FaceTite is best applied to cases that exhibit mild to moderate laxity, minimal solar damage, good lower face volume & a thicker dermal layer. Having good collagen (with minimal elastosis) is important as it allows contraction. Additionally having a thicker dermal layer allows for more forceful collagen contraction, allowing better lifting. In the majority of cases I combine either RF microneedling & or laser resurfacing to address skin quality issues.
Patients should be mindful that devices including Thermage, Ultherapy, Ultraformer, RF, RFM, & FaceTite do not correct volume deficits. In fact tightening of collagen & the fibroseptal network can even give apparent volume loss.
Volume can only be replaced with dermal fillers & or autologous fat transfer. The biggest mistake I see in rejuvenation is that some patients only treat one element of the aging process. In the context of skin tightening, it is skin tone. Other issues such as skin quality needs to be addressed (lasers, peels). More importantly, volume replacement gives a balanced & more pleasing result.
