FaceTite has become one of the most sought-after options for people who notice the contour of the face starting to lose definition —the jawline blurs, a bit of a double chin appears, the neck loses firmness— but who don't yet want (or need) an open facelift. It is a genuine middle ground between what a non-invasive device can do and what classic surgery offers, which is exactly why it raises so many questions: how much it costs, what results it delivers, how long recovery takes, and whether it's truly worth it compared with alternatives like Morpheus8 or HIFU.
This guide answers those questions honestly. At Elyzea, in Miraflores, FaceTite is performed by Dr. Geldres, plastic surgeon, on our own certified operating floor, in the same building where the non-invasive aesthetic medicine practice runs. That means the procedure is planned and carried out with surgical judgment, not as a "treatment-room" service. Throughout the article you'll find real figures, timelines and limits —no promises, no guaranteed outcomes— because every face responds differently.
What exactly is FaceTite?
FaceTite is a minimally invasive radiofrequency-assisted procedure —known as RFAL, radiofrequency-assisted lipolysis— and part of the InMode platform. Unlike a traditional facelift, which lifts and repositions the skin, FaceTite works from the inside: a very fine cannula is introduced beneath the skin through a tiny entry point of a few millimeters, while an external electrode glides over the surface. Bipolar radiofrequency flows between the two electrodes and heats the tissue just below the skin in a controlled way.
That heat does two things at once. First, it contracts and coagulates the existing collagen fibers, producing a tightening that becomes noticeable fairly soon. Second, it acts as a stimulus that sets off the production of new collagen over the following months, so the skin gradually remodels itself. When there are small fat deposits in the area —typically under the chin— the same energy helps refine the contour. For the step-by-step clinical detail, we cover it on our FaceTite in Lima page.
The key word is minimally invasive: there is a small incision and local anesthesia, but it is neither the open surgery of a facelift nor a device simply passed over the skin without entering it. It sits in between, and that's where its appeal lies.
Who is FaceTite for (and who isn't it for)?
The best candidate is usually someone with mild to moderate laxity in the lower third of the face and the neck: a jawline starting to lose its edge, early jowls or sagging beside the chin, a soft double chin, a neck with somewhat loose skin. Often these are patients between roughly 35 and 55 who feel that creams and non-invasive devices no longer give them the tightening they want, but for whom a full facelift still feels like too much.
FaceTite responds particularly well when:
- The skin quality is reasonable and the issue is mainly firmness, not obvious excess hanging skin.
- You want to redefine the facial oval and the jawline without the scars or downtime of surgery.
- You want to address the double chin and submental area, combining tightening with a subtle refinement of the contour.
- You'd rather have local anesthesia and an outpatient procedure, without going under general anesthesia.
On the other hand, FaceTite isn't the right answer for everyone. When there is a lot of excess skin, marked neck bands or advanced sagging, a radiofrequency device —however good— will not match what a well-indicated facelift achieves. In those cases, being honest is part of the job: Dr. Geldres may propose a surgical option directly within our facial plastic surgery unit, rather than promising something FaceTite won't deliver. The free consultation exists precisely for that conversation.
The procedure, step by step
FaceTite is an outpatient procedure and is usually completed in a single session. Broadly, here's how it goes:
- Marking and anesthesia. With you awake, Dr. Geldres marks the areas to treat and applies tumescent local anesthesia, which numbs and prepares the area. No general anesthesia is needed.
- Entry point. A very small incision of a few millimeters is made, usually hidden under the chin or near the jawline. It typically requires one or two tiny sutures, or none at all.
- Radiofrequency delivery. The internal cannula enters through that point while the external electrode travels over the skin. Bipolar energy flows between the two, heating the tissue evenly and in a measured way.
- Real-time temperature control. The device monitors temperature both at depth and at the surface, and stops automatically if it approaches a safety threshold. This protects the skin and keeps the heat in the therapeutic range.
- Contraction and closure. Collagen contracts immediately, the entry point is closed, and a compression garment is placed to help shape the area during the first days.
The duration depends on the extent treated, but it usually falls within roughly one to a couple of hours, including preparation. You can go home the same day; it's a good idea to have someone accompany you.
FaceTite recovery, day by day
This is probably the part people care about most, and where it pays to be realistic. FaceTite recovery is considerably shorter than that of an open facelift, but it isn't "zero downtime". There is swelling and, frequently, some bruising. Everyone heals differently, so treat this as a guide, not an exact calendar.
Days 1 to 3
This is the peak of the swelling. The area will feel puffy, possibly tight or "padded", and bruising may appear under the chin or on the neck. The compression garment is worn as directed, often almost continuously during these first days. Cold compresses and keeping the head somewhat elevated help. Pain is usually mild and manageable with the prescribed analgesia; more than pain, most people describe pressure and tenderness.
Days 4 to 7
Swelling starts to subside and any bruising changes color and fades. Many people feel comfortable enough to resume discreet social activity toward the end of this week, especially if makeup and a garment collar help conceal things. It's common to feel numb or "asleep" areas and small firm spots under the skin: these are part of the normal internal healing process.
Week 2
For most people, by around 10 to 14 days the visible swelling has gone down enough to return to normal routine comfortably. Sensations of tightness or numbness may persist and resolve gradually over the following weeks. Intense exercise, extreme heat (saunas, prolonged direct sun) and vigorous massage are reintroduced on Dr. Geldres's advice, not before.
The following weeks and months
Here is FaceTite's "slow time": the skin keeps remodeling as new collagen forms. It is completely normal for the result of the first few weeks not to be the final result. We'll cover that in the next section.
Results: what to expect and when
FaceTite delivers results in two phases. There is an initial tightening, noticeable once the swelling goes down —that is, not on day one, when everything is puffy, but once the face "settles"— and a progressive improvement that unfolds over the following months as the new collagen matures. That's why we usually say the true result is best judged after several months, not after a week.
What can you honestly expect? An improvement in firmness and definition of the facial oval, the jawline and the neck; a cleaner contour under the chin. What FaceTite does not do is remove large amounts of excess skin or reproduce the deep repositioning of a facelift. If that's the need, FaceTite will "fall short", and the right thing is to say so from the start. There is also no magic percentage of improvement: results vary with age, skin quality, the starting degree of laxity and the individual collagen response.
As for how long it lasts, because it's a collagen stimulus the effects tend to hold for a prolonged time, but aging continues: the skin follows its natural course as time passes. Many patients choose to pair FaceTite with non-invasive maintenance to sustain the result. We don't promise permanence; we promise realistic planning.
FaceTite vs Morpheus8 vs HIFU: which to choose?
This is the most common comparison, because all three technologies tackle facial laxity from different angles. The key difference is how deeply they reach and how much firmness they can achieve.
- HIFU (micro-focused ultrasound) is completely non-invasive: no incisions, no anesthesia, and it directs energy to deep planes to stimulate collagen. It's an excellent maintenance option or one for very early laxity, with virtually no downtime. We detail it in HIFU: non-surgical facelift.
- Morpheus8 combines microneedling with radiofrequency: fine needles carry energy into the dermis to tighten and improve skin quality (texture, pores, scars). It's non-invasive, with short downtime, and usually achieves more than HIFU on skin quality. You can see it on our Morpheus8 page.
- FaceTite is the only one of the three that is minimally invasive: it carries radiofrequency beneath the skin with a cannula, so it usually achieves more pronounced tightening and can address submental fat. In exchange, it involves local anesthesia, a small incision and a recovery of days to a couple of weeks.
In practice, the decision depends on your starting point: if yours is prevention or minimal laxity, HIFU or Morpheus8 may be perfect; if there's already moderate laxity and you want a step up in firmness without open surgery, FaceTite is usually the right rung. Sometimes they're combined —for example, FaceTite to tighten at depth and Morpheus8 to refine the surface. If you want a dedicated comparison, we wrote FaceTite vs Morpheus8 vs HIFU. The most reliable way to choose, though, is an in-person assessment: what looks like "mild laxity" in a photo may not feel that way when the tissue is examined.
How much does FaceTite cost in Lima, and what affects the price?
At Elyzea, FaceTite is priced from S/5,000 (~US$1,429). It's important to read that "from" carefully: it is a referential starting price, and the final cost is confirmed at the free consultation with Dr. Geldres, once your case is assessed in person.
Why isn't there a single fixed figure? Because the cost of FaceTite depends on real variables:
- The extent of the area treated. Treating only the double chin doesn't cost the same as addressing the jawline, lower cheeks and neck.
- The complexity of your case. The degree of laxity, skin quality and your goals all shape the plan.
- Combined procedures. If FaceTite is integrated with another procedure (for example, refining the skin surface), the plan changes.
An important note on the booking model: surgery is not booked online. The entry point is always the free consultation —in person or online— where the indication, plan and final cost are confirmed. This keeps you from making a surgical decision blindly, based only on a figure from the internet. And yes: the cheapest price shouldn't be the deciding factor when we're talking about a procedure performed under anesthesia and with radiofrequency beneath the skin; the training of whoever performs it and the facility where it's done matter far more.
Why have FaceTite at Elyzea
What sets Elyzea apart isn't just having the InMode device; it's who uses it and where. FaceTite is performed by Dr. Geldres, plastic surgeon, on our own certified operating floor, located in the same Miraflores building where the non-invasive aesthetic medicine practice led by Dra. Geldres operates. It isn't a device rented for a treatment room or a procedure delegated to non-surgical staff: it's advanced radiofrequency planned with plastic-surgery judgment.
That has practical consequences. It means the indication is honest —if your case calls for surgery, you'll be told, and if FaceTite is enough, that too. It means the contour is planned with the eye of someone who operates on faces. And it means continuity: the same practice that assesses, performs and supports your recovery. See the full surgical offering in our plastic surgery unit in Miraflores.
If you're considering FaceTite, the logical next step is simple and commitment-free: a free consultation, in person or online, so Dr. Geldres can assess your face, explain what is reasonable to expect in your specific case, and confirm the plan and the cost. You'll leave with clear information, not a promise.
Frequently asked questions
Is FaceTite surgery?
FaceTite is a minimally invasive procedure, not open surgery. It's performed under local anesthesia through a very small incision of a few millimeters, through which a fine cannula delivers radiofrequency beneath the skin. It doesn't require general anesthesia or the timelines of classic surgery, but it is performed by a plastic surgeon in a certified operating room.
Does FaceTite hurt?
During the procedure, tumescent local anesthesia numbs the area, so discomfort is limited. In recovery, most people describe pressure, tightness and tenderness rather than intense pain, and it's usually well managed with the prescribed analgesia. The experience varies from person to person.
How long is the recovery?
It's shorter than an open facelift. Swelling and any bruising are most noticeable in the first 3 days, ease by around day 7, and for most people normal routine resumes by about 10 to 14 days. A compression garment is worn as directed. Sensations of numbness or tightness may remain and resolve gradually.
When do FaceTite results show?
There's an initial tightening that becomes visible once swelling subsides, and a progressive improvement over the following months as new collagen forms. The result of the first weeks isn't the final one: it's usually best judged after several months. Results vary by person.
FaceTite or Morpheus8?
Morpheus8 is non-invasive (microneedling with radiofrequency) and excels at skin quality with short downtime; FaceTite is minimally invasive, carries radiofrequency beneath the skin, usually achieves more tightening and can address the double chin. The best option depends on your degree of laxity, and sometimes they're combined. Dr. Geldres advises at the consultation.
How much does FaceTite cost in Lima?
At Elyzea, FaceTite costs from S/5,000 (~US$1,429). It's a referential starting price: the final cost depends on the area treated and the complexity of your case, and is confirmed at the free consultation with Dr. Geldres. Surgery is not booked online; the free consultation is the entry point.
How long do the results last?
Because it's a collagen stimulus, the effects tend to hold for a prolonged time, but natural aging continues and the skin follows its course over time. Many patients pair FaceTite with non-invasive maintenance to sustain the result. We don't promise permanence; we set realistic expectations.