ThermiTight
ThermiTight, also called ThermiLift or ThermiRF, is a minimally invasive radiofrequency treatment that bridges the gap between noninvasive skin tightening and actual surgery. A small cannula placed beneath the skin heats the tissue directly, tightening it, building new collagen, and treating fat cells, all while you are awake under local anesthesia.
What isThermiTight?
ThermiTight delivers radiofrequency energy directly into the tissue beneath the skin. A small cannula is placed gently under the surface and threaded slowly back and forth in a fan-shaped pattern, transmitting heat that contracts the tissue and triggers new collagen formation. Where the fiber passes through areas of excess fat, the heat also causes fat cells to die off.
Safety comes from monitoring on both sides of the skin at once. A thermometer at the cannula tip reads the temperature of the deeper tissue, which tolerates the higher heat that drives tightening, while an infrared camera continuously watches the skin surface and holds it at a safe 42 degrees. Treatment ends once the heating is uniform.
The procedure is performed strictly under local anesthesia: you are fully awake, and only the skin being treated is numbed with a lidocaine solution. Most patients find it generally painless and need just a single session. If a larger amount of fat is present, we may recommend pairing ThermiTight with manual or Vaser liposuction.
Who is ThermiTight for?
ThermiTight is for people who want more than noninvasive tightening can give but are not ready for surgery.
A consultation settles it honestly. We examine the areas that concern you and tell you whether ThermiTight alone, ThermiTight with liposuction, or a different treatment altogether will get you the result you want.
Your skin has loosened
A sagging neck, jowls, a soft jawline, or lax skin on the arms, stomach, or thighs that noninvasive devices have not fixed.
You want to avoid plastic surgery
ThermiTight is the step between surface treatments and a surgical lift, with visible, consistent results and no general anesthesia.
You want a one-time treatment
The majority of patients need only a single session.
You are finishing a weight-loss journey
It is particularly effective for shedding a final layer of fat while tightening the skin left behind.
You are in good health
Good candidates are healthy, not pregnant or planning pregnancy, and willing to keep healthy habits to maintain the result.
Where ThermiTightworks
ThermiTight can tighten the face and virtually any part of the body. The neck and jowls are the most requested areas, and the arms, knees, stomach, and thighs respond equally well.
Select an area on the figure to see what ThermiTight does there.
ThermiTight, abdomen1 / 2
ThermiTight, beforeand after.
A lax abdomen and a man's neck and jawline, both tightened with radiofrequency delivered under the skin. Collagen keeps rebuilding for months after the procedure, so these pairs are a stage in the result rather than the end of it. Drag the handle to compare.
See all ThermiTight resultsIndividual results vary. These photographs are from the treatment gallery on the practice's previous website and are not a guarantee of your own outcome.
How ThermiTight works
ThermiTight delivers radiofrequency energy directly under the skin through a small cannula. Because the energy is applied beneath the surface rather than through it, much higher temperatures can be reached in the deeper tissue while the skin itself is held at a safe 42 degrees.
That matters, because the deeper tissues tolerate more heat, and more heat is what is required to achieve both apoptosis of the fat cells and the tightening that comes from new collagen forming. Where a larger amount of fat is present, we may recommend combining the procedure with manual liposuction or Vaser liposuction.
A thermometer at the tip. Reads the temperature the tissue is actually being heated to.
An infrared camera. Constantly reads the heat at the skin surface, so both numbers are watched at once.
Areas treated. Neck and jowls are the most commonly requested sites, but arms, knees, stomachs and thighs are picking up in popularity and respond equally well.
Sessions. The majority of patients need only a single session. Results appear gradually over the following weeks to months, though some patients need more than one to reach the result they want.
How the procedure is performed
The procedure takes anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on which areas are being treated, and it is performed strictly under local anesthesia.
The patient is fully awake, and only the skin to be treated is numbed, with a lidocaine solution.
Once the area is numb, a small probe is threaded very slowly back and forth in a fan shaped pattern to cover all the areas beneath the skin requiring treatment. It is ideal if we can get a criss cross pattern using a puncture on the opposite side of the treatment zone, for greater efficacy.
The first is the temperature set at the tip of the probe, and the actual temperature the tissue is being raised to. The second is the temperature the skin surface is reading. It is critical to observe both constantly to stay in the safe and therapeutic range. Once uniform heating is established, the procedure comes to an end.
ThermiTight has been cleared by the FDA for thermistor-regulated energy delivery, for both micro-surgical and non-invasive aesthetic applications in soft tissue and nerves.
Whatto expect.
Book a consultationPricing depends on the areas treated, so we give a personalized quote at your consultation. CareCredit low-interest financing is available.
Time depends on which areas are treated. You are awake under local lidocaine anesthesia throughout, and no transportation is needed afterward.
Most patients recover over about one to three days and are back to all normal activities, including exercise, within seven to ten days. We review aftercare, such as avoiding heat, sun, and massage of the area, before you leave.
Tightening appears gradually: some change at three to four weeks, most around twelve weeks, and the full benefit at ten to twelve months. Results last three to five years for most patients.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ThermiTight, ThermiLift, and ThermiRF?
Nothing. All three names refer to the same minimally invasive radiofrequency procedure, one designed to bridge the gap between noninvasive skin tightening and surgery.
How does ThermiTight work?
A small cannula under the skin delivers radiofrequency energy directly into the tissue. A thermometer at the tip and an infrared camera watching the skin surface monitor temperature continuously, so the deeper tissue reaches the heat needed for tightening and fat-cell treatment while the surface stays at a safe 42 degrees.
Does ThermiTight hurt?
The treatment is generally painless. Only the skin being treated is numbed, with a local lidocaine solution, and you are comfortable and awake throughout.
Am I awake during the procedure?
Yes. ThermiTight is performed strictly under local anesthesia. There is no general anesthesia and no need for someone to drive you home.
How long does a treatment take?
Anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on which areas are treated.
How many sessions will I need?
The majority of patients need only a single session. Some patients require additional treatment to reach their desired result, which your provider discusses honestly at your consultation.
What areas can ThermiTight treat?
The face and virtually any part of the body. The neck and jowls are the most requested areas; the arms, knees, stomach, and thighs are increasingly popular and respond equally well.
When will I see results?
Results appear gradually as collagen rebuilds: some change at three to four weeks, most noticeable around twelve weeks, and the full benefit at ten to twelve months.
How long do results last?
Three to five years for most patients, depending on age, weight maintenance, and body chemistry. Periodic maintenance treatments keep the result going.
What if I have a lot of fat in the area?
ThermiTight treats fat cells as it tightens, but when a larger amount of fat is present we may recommend combining it with manual or Vaser liposuction for the best contour.
Is ThermiTight FDA cleared?
Yes. ThermiTight is FDA cleared for thermistor-regulated energy delivery for aesthetic applications in soft tissue.
How much does ThermiTight cost?
Cost depends on the areas treated, so we provide a personalized quote at your consultation. The practice partners with CareCredit for low-interest financing, and our team can help you plan around your budget.
Where to next
Related treatment
Vaser Liposuction
Ultrasound-assisted, gentler lipo.
Explore the treatmentRelated concern
Double Chin
Fullness under the jaw that will not budge
Start from the concernWorth reading
How Much Does ThermiTight Cost?
To tighten up your shape, ThermiTight might be the right treatment for you, contact The Dermatology, Laser & Vein Center in Cincinnati, OH
Read the answerAsk about body contouring.
Tell us the area you have in mind and what you have tried. We will come back with which treatments make sense, what they cost, and when you could start.
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Ready when you are.
Book a consultation at our Montgomery Road office, or call and we will help you decide where to start.
Medically reviewed by Shalini Gupta, MD, Harvard-trained dermatologist and founder of The Dermatology, Laser & Vein Center. Last reviewed September 2026. This page is for education and is not a substitute for a personalized medical consultation.