How do I know if I need Titan?

Titan is perfect for anyone who is looking to tighten and lift their jowls, neck, cheeks, and forehead. You should not have treatment if you are pregnant or have been on Accutane within the past 3 months. If you have a pacemaker, internal defibrillator, or metal implants you may not have radiofrequency treatments, but you may be treated with the Titan. If you are diabetic, have autoimmune disease, have recently been treated with chemotherapy, or are over 65, you may need more treatments to achieve less effect due to possible slow collagen production.  We can prescribe prophylactic medications prior to treatment.

​

How does Titan work?

Titan has been FDA indicated for the temporary relief of minor joint pain associated with arthritis, temperature increase in local circulation where applied, and relaxation of muscles. Tissue tightening is not meant to replace surgical procedures such as face, eyelid, and neck lifts, but it is a good option for people who have mild-moderate changes and who understand that the results are noticeable but modest. These procedures represent an important and recent advance allowing dermasurgeons to achieve 3-dimensional rejuvenation of the face and body without surgery.  The Titan utilizes a pulsed broadband infrared source of 850-3000nm. Thermage uses radiofrequency.

These procedures can be somewhat uncomfortable during treatment but are not unusually so after. It can feel like a "hot pinch" toward the end of each pulse. You need to feel some warmth and a little bit of discomfort but not outright pain in order for the proper energy to be delivered. Occasionally oral pain pre-medication may be taken for someone who is especially fearful or intolerant of discomfort.

​

What benefits can I expect?

Certain light energies and radiofrequency energy can be used to heat deeper layers of the skin while protecting the surface of the skin. This heating activates fibroblasts signaling new collagen to form and existing collagen to tighten over time. 

It is important that you understand that the results may take up to 6 months to be appreciated and that they are not expected to achieve the same degree of improvement as surgical procedures.

Improvement with Titan may be seen in three to five treatments. Although in some patients the results from a treatment are seen immediately, in most patients they will appear gradually over 2-6 months.

​

What are the risks and side effects?

The mild discomfort and lack of definite immediate improvement are the most commonly noted negatives for tissue tightening. The protocol methods for performing tissue tightening treatments have changed since the release of these devices. The discomfort has decreased with these changes and the chance for more immediate improvement has increased. To evaluate results, we have patients come in for follow-up evaluations visits six months following the treatments.

Short-term immediate risks include prolonged redness at the area being treated, although this usually dissipates before you leave the office or within a couple of hours. Swelling can occur and could last for a few days to a week. In some rare instances, swelling and redness have lasted several weeks. The treatment area may also become temporarily white (blanching) following a treatment. Blanching typically resolves within 24 hours.

Nobody is sure how long the effects last. We know that most people get at least 1-2 years of effect from their procedure but no definitive studies on long-term effect have been undertaken.

There is a very low chance (less than 1%) that other side effects may be experienced. The potential other side effects are bruising, skin wound, infection and scarring, hypo (too little) and hyper (too much) pigmentation, alter sensation, and surface irregularities.

​

How will I look and feel during and after the treatment?

Tissue tightening treatments have no downtime and you can return to your normal activities the same day.  Immediately after the treatment(s), there may be some redness or swelling at the area being treated, which usually dissipates within the hour or by the end of the day but rarely persists for a few days. You are able to apply makeup or sunscreen immediately after the procedure and go back to your daily activities.

​

Can this be combined with other treatments?

These treatments may be combined with other treatment methods or may be done individually. BOTOX Cosmetic and injectable fillers are commonly combined to achieve a more dramatic effect than by itself. Virtually any procedure (even post or pre-surgery) may be combined with tissue tightening. Also tissue tightening does not preclude you from having additional treatments in the future or undergoing surgery.