It is radiofrequency-assisted lipolysis (RFAL): a very fine cannula enters beneath the skin through micro-incisions and applies heat that melts the fat and retracts the tissue at the same time.
It is not a salon treatment: it is done in theatre, under local anaesthetic or sedation, takes between 60 and 90 minutes and involves a compression dressing for the first 48–72 hours.
Its ground is the lower third: jawline, double chin, neck, cheeks and arms, in mild or moderate laxity.
The fat reduction is permanent — the treated cells do not regenerate; the tightening effect is held by the new collagen, although ageing carries on. Many patients do not repeat it; others have maintenance after 2–3 years.
It shows from the first day and keeps improving for 3 to 6 months. The return to normal activity is at 3–4 days, avoiding strenuous exercise for a week.
At the Instituto de Cirugía Plástica del Mediterráneo (ICPM) in Valencia we have one of the most advanced techniques for tackling laxity and redefining the facial contour without surgery: FaceTite. This minimally invasive procedure has become a less aggressive alternative to a mini facelift — albeit with more subtle results — which removes localised fat and tightens the skin without visible scars or long recovery periods.
FaceTite is designed for those looking for natural results, visible immediately and backed by the latest technology in aesthetic medicine. Through this article we explain in detail what the treatment involves, who can benefit from it, what the process is like, what results it offers and why ICPM is a point of reference for procedures of this kind.
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FaceTite is a procedure that uses radiofrequency-assisted lipolysis (RFAL) technology to remove subcutaneous fat and tighten the skin at the same time. This technique acts in the deep layers of the tissue without open surgery, which makes it an ideal option for people with mild or moderate signs of ageing, laxity or accumulated fat in areas such as:
The jawline
The double chin
The neck
The cheeks
The arms
The FaceTite device applies controlled thermal energy through a very fine cannula introduced beneath the skin. This energy destroys localised fat and stimulates the production of collagen, which encourages the skin to retract and improves the firmness of the face.
The two technologies work at different depths, and that is why they do different things. Morpheus8 passes through the epidermis with microneedles and releases the radiofrequency at an adjustable depth, from the dermis to the subdermal fat: it heats the existing collagen and stimulates new fibres without damaging the surface of the skin. FaceTite enters through a micro-incision and travels through the subcutaneous fat, where the heat melts localised fat and retracts the tissue from below. The difference is not only the depth: the microneedles deposit the heat at points, and the cannula spreads it along a path. Hence one is aimed mainly at the quality and firmness of the skin, and the other at fat volume and contour. Diagram by the Instituto de Cirugía Plástica del Mediterráneo, simplified for explanatory purposes.
What benefits does FaceTite offer?
FaceTite has established itself as one of the most innovative technologies for facial and body rejuvenation. Its main benefits include:
Reduction of localised fat, particularly in difficult areas such as the double chin or the neck.
Tightening of the skin, thanks to the thermal effect of the radiofrequency on the subdermal tissue.
Stimulation of collagen production, which extends the results over time and improves the quality of the skin.
Results visible from the first day, with a gradual improvement over the following weeks and months.
An outpatient procedure, with no need for a hospital stay or general anaesthesia.
Practically invisible scars, since it is a minimally invasive technique.
Quick recovery, without a long interruption to social or working life.
In patients with mild or moderate laxity it improves the contour without open surgery, with a more discreet result than a surgical facelift: it does not replace one and does not aim for the same reach.
Who can benefit from FaceTite?
This procedure is indicated for people who have:
Loss of definition in the facial oval.
Accumulated fat in the submental area (the double chin).
Skin laxity in the neck, face or arms.
A wish to improve the appearance of the face without invasive surgery.
Good general health, with no conditions that would rule out aesthetic procedures.
An individual medical assessment is essential, since the success of the treatment depends on factors such as the thickness of the skin, the amount of localised fat and how the tissue responds to thermal energy.
What is the procedure, step by step?
FaceTite is carried out in theatre under local anaesthetic or conscious sedation, depending on the area to be treated and on clinical judgement. Combined with other procedures, it can be done under general anaesthesia. The process follows these steps:
Initial assessment and clinical planning, marking the areas to be treated and setting out realistic expectations.
Applying local anaesthetic at the cannula entry points.
Inserting the cannula beneath the skin through micro-incisions, through which the radiofrequency energy is applied.
Real-time temperature control, which ensures the ideal temperature to destroy the fat without damaging the surrounding tissue.
Removing the excess liquefied fat, if necessary, to optimise the aesthetic result.
Fitting a compression dressing, worn for the first 48–72 hours to control swelling.
The procedure takes between 60 and 90 minutes and requires no hospital admission.
What is recovery like?
One of the great advantages of FaceTite is how quickly you recover. After the procedure it is normal to notice:
Mild swelling in the treated area.
Small bruises, which disappear within a few days.
A feeling of tightness or pressure for the first few hours.
In most cases patients can return to their usual activities after 3 or 4 days. We recommend avoiding strenuous physical exercise for at least a week and following the medical instructions regarding the compression dressing and topical care.
The visible results are immediate, but the improvement continues gradually over the following 3 to 6 months as the collagen regenerates.
Results and how long the effect lasts
The results of FaceTite are highly satisfactory and can last several years, provided the patient keeps healthy habits and looks after their skin. In particular:
The fat reduction is permanent, since the fat cells treated do not regenerate.
The tightening effect is maintained thanks to the formation of new collagen fibres, although it can be affected by natural ageing.
In many cases the procedure does not need repeating, although some patients choose to have maintenance after 2 or 3 years.
Our patients’ before-and-after photographs show clearly the improvement in the facial contour, the disappearance of the double chin and skin that is smoother and brighter.
What has been measured on the face and neck
The submental area — beneath the chin — is where this technology has the most concrete data, and it is also where it shows most, because it defines the angle of the profile.
A series of 80 consecutive patients, with checks at one month, three, six and twelve, recorded an average reduction of 23 mm in submental length at six months. All completed the treatment and satisfaction was consistent throughout the follow-up.
On the lower third of the face there is also a study with serial measurements in 20 patients, assessed at 12 and at 24 weeks. The improvement rated by clinicians and by the patients themselves was significant, and there were no relevant complications. It is worth noting a nuance the authors report and that is respected here: elasticity measured with an instrument showed a trend towards improvement but did not reach statistical significance. In other words, the change is seen before it is measured, and it is best not to promise more than the instrument confirms.
From those two studies comes the reasonable expectation: a more defined jawline and neck contour, with a result that keeps settling between the third and the sixth month. It is not a facelift, and it does not compete with one when what there is too much of is skin.
At the Instituto de Cirugía Plástica del Mediterráneo we combine medical experience, advanced technology and an individual approach. Our team is made up of plastic surgeons and aesthetic physicians specialising in facial rejuvenation, who assess each case precisely to offer a treatment plan matched to what you need.
In addition:
We have our own operating theatre and a safe clinical setting.
We use original InMode technology, the leading manufacturer in RFAL.
We offer detailed, close post-treatment follow-up.
We guarantee transparency, quality of care and proven results.
Not every centre offering radiofrequency treatments uses the right technology or has the necessary medical backing. At ICPM we put your safety, your expectations and the quality of each procedure first.
How to know whether this treatment is for you
The best way to know whether FaceTite is right for you is through an in-person consultation with our specialists. At that first visit we will assess your facial structure, the condition of your skin and your aesthetic goals, in order to offer you the best option.
We may recommend combining FaceTite with other complementary treatments, such as Morpheus8, hyaluronic acid or botulinum toxin, according to what your skin needs. Our aim is always harmonious, natural and lasting results.
FaceTite in Valencia is one of the biggest advances in aesthetic medicine of recent years. Its ability to remove localised fat, tighten the skin and rejuvenate the face without surgery makes it an effective, safe option when laxity is mild or moderate, without claiming the reach of a facelift.
At the Instituto de Cirugía Plástica del Mediterráneo we put all our experience and technology at your disposal to help you reach the results you want with the greatest possible safety. If you are looking to redefine your facial contour, remove a double chin or treat laxity non-invasively, FaceTite may be your answer.
We invite you to request a consultation with our team to assess your case with no obligation and find out how this treatment can transform your face.
Rejuvenate without surgery. Firm without scars. Get back to your best.
You can book your own appointment. Pick the day and time from the free slots in the diary, in a panel that opens right here, without leaving this page.
What does it do, and how is it different from a facelift?
A fine cannula is introduced beneath the skin and radiofrequency is applied to heat the tissue in a controlled way, with the intention of making it retract. In many cases it is combined with the aspiration of a small amount of fat, particularly under the chin.
A facelift does something else: it removes skin and repositions the deep tissues. They are two answers to two different problems, and that is why they do not compete:
If the skin retains its capacity to retract and there is little excess, subdermal radiofrequency may be enough.
If the skin has dropped and there is genuinely too much of it, no amount of energy will remove it, and forcing the indication leaves a poor result and the feeling of having wasted time and money.
Where you sit on that boundary is decided by examining you.
How much does it tighten?
Something, and variably. The literature on radiofrequency-assisted liposuction acknowledges that retraction exists but that its reproducibility and its efficiency remain variable: not everyone responds the same way.
Translated into the consulting room: it is a reasonable technique for a moderate problem, with moderate expectations. Anyone promising you a facelift result with this is promising something the technique does not deliver.
What are the risks on the face?
The general ones of a procedure with a cannula — bruising, seroma, infection, irregularities, asymmetry — plus two that weigh especially on the face:
Burns or thermal injury, because heat is applied beneath thin skin. It can affect the skin and the tissue underneath.
Involvement of a nerve branch, with temporary weakness of a facial movement. In the jaw and neck area there are branches of the facial nerve close by.
That is why, more than in any other technique of this kind, who does it and with what temperature-control system matter. It is a reasonable question at any consultation.
What is recovery like? Will it show?
Yes, for a few days. Swelling of the face and neck, bruising and the need to wear a facial compression garment for a while are all common — and that last one is the part people do not expect and the one that most affects their plans.
It is not a facelift recovery, but neither is it «in and out». It is worth planning with some margin and not having it done the week of an engagement.
The specific timescales are given to you in writing with the clinic’s instructions.
When is the final result seen?
Late: tissue retraction is a slow process and the result keeps improving for months. In the first few weeks what you see is the swelling, not the result.
That is why the follow-up photographs are taken at three and six months, and not at two weeks.
Who is not a good candidate?
Anyone with frank excess skin — there the answer is a facelift, not this — anyone with an infection or an active inflammatory process in the area, anyone who is pregnant and anyone with an implanted electronic device. It also has to be weighed carefully with a history of keloids, with implanted material already in the face and with clotting disorders.
And one that does not appear on the lists: anyone expecting a facelift result. Expectation is a selection criterion too.
Sources
Tettamanzi M, Muratore G, Arrica G, Cuomo R, Beatrici E, Ginatempo I, Trignano C, Rubino C, Trignano E.Advancements in Face and Neck Contouring: Integrating Radiofrequency-Assisted Liposuction with FaceTite and Buccal Fat Pad Excision for Facial Slimming. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2024;48(22):4667-4674. PMID 39078425 — 80 consecutive patients: an average reduction of 23 mm in submental length at six months.
Kim EJ, Kwon HI, Yeo UC, Ko JY.Lower face lifting and contouring with a novel internal real-time thermosensing monopolar radiofrequency. Lasers Med Sci. 2016;31(7):1379-1389. PMID 27389364 — 20 patients: significant improvement between weeks 12 and 24 for clinicians and patients, without significance in instrumental elasticity and with no major complications.
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