Face
What is AccuTite?
AccuTite is a minimally invasive radiofrequency procedure that uses a small probe beneath the skin to deliver energy to selected tissues. In this episode, Darren M. Smith, MD, a plastic surgeon in New York City, explains its use in the discussion of smaller areas of skin laxity and how it differs from FaceTite and skin-removal surgery.
In this episode.
Episode summary
AccuTite is a minimally invasive radiofrequency procedure that uses a small probe beneath the skin to deliver energy to selected tissues. In this episode, Darren M. Smith, MD, a plastic surgeon in New York City, explains its use in the discussion of smaller areas of skin laxity and how it differs from FaceTite and skin-removal surgery.
The key distinction is access beneath the skin. Although the handpiece is small, this is a medical procedure that penetrates the skin, with recovery and risk considerations.
Key takeaways
🔎 AccuTite uses bipolar radiofrequency.
The recording describes energy delivered between an internal and an external component, with heat intended to produce a tissue response over time.
🔎 Handpiece size affects the discussion.
Dr. Smith contrasts the smaller AccuTite handpiece with FaceTite and describes selected facial and body treatment areas.
🔎 Small access points still involve a procedure.
The episode describes a skin puncture and a probe under the skin. This should not be interpreted as completely noninvasive or guaranteed scar-free treatment.
💬 Feeling well and looking ready for an event are different milestones.
Swelling can affect social or professional plans even when someone feels able to resume activities.
🎯 Goals matter when comparing options.
AccuTite and excisional surgery do not promise the same degree of change. Dr. Smith discusses balancing the desired result, recovery and cost.
Questions this episode answers
What is the difference between AccuTite and FaceTite?
The recording describes related radiofrequency technology with different-sized handpieces. AccuTite is discussed for smaller areas, while FaceTite is used in the examples involving larger regions. The choice still depends on anatomy and the treatment plan.
What recovery does the episode describe?
Dr. Smith discusses swelling and the possibility of needing time away from visible social or work obligations. His five-to-seven-day example is from the 2020 recording, not an individual recovery promise. Changes in contour also develop over time.
How much does AccuTite cost?
The recording gives a historical 2020 estimate of $2,000-$4,000 per treated area, depending on the area and provider. This is not a current quote. A consultation should clarify the proposed treatment, included fees, risks and realistic limits of the expected change.
🔗 Related information
Explore FaceTite and AccuTite information, neck lift surgery, facial plastic surgery options, or request a consultation with Dr. Smith in New York City.
Originally released September 28, 2020. Show notes updated September 30, 2026. This is general education. Current recommendations, suitability, risks and expected results require an individual assessment.
Original show notes
Board certified NYC plastic surgeon Dr. Darren Smith explores one of the most advanced skin tightening technologies available today.
Read the conversation.
[00:08] I'm board certified New York City plastic surgeon Dr. Darren Smith and this is plastic surgery before and after. Your source for the real deal about plastic surgery procedures, news about trends in aesthetic medicine, and candid sessions with industry insiders. We hope you enjoy today's episode. What is Acutight? Acutight is a minimally invasive radio frequency based treatment that tightens skin. And what makes Accutite so special is that the device is so small that you don't need any true incisions to use it, and it can be used in very small sensitive areas. Specifically on the face, Acutite is very effective for tightening the upper and lower eyelids. It's great for tightening the mid-face and reducing the prominence of nasolabial folds. And it's also a great way to treat early jowls or sagging soft tissue along the jawline. How does Acutite work? Well, Acutite is a bipolar radiofrequency device that fires radiofrequency energy between two prongs across the skin to heat the skin and induce shrinkage. Essentially, it's causing a controlled injury. And as that injury heals over two to three months after the treatment, the skin contracts and shrinks. So how does Acutight work without any real incisions?
[01:45] So we actually use a needle, an 18 gauge needle, to make a puncture in the skin. And the smaller acutite probe actually fits through this needle puncture. And this smaller probe goes under the skin, while a slightly larger probe goes over the skin. And the device shoots radiofrequency energy between these two probes, or poles, and this heats the skin in a very precisely controlled way. What's the difference between Facetight and Acutight? It's essentially the same technology and it's made by the same manufacturer. But the Acutight device is much smaller than the Facetight device. So for example, where we might use the Facetight device to tighten skin of larger areas like an entire neck.
[02:32] We would use Acutight to focus on these smaller more delicate areas like I mentioned above in the face and some body areas as well. Acutight is great for tightening the skin under the armpits that sometimes falls over a bra or bathing suit. It can also be really good for loose skin around the knees. One of the key differentiating factors between Acutight and Facetight is that FaceTight generally does require a small incision to get the probe under the skin. But since the Acutight probe is so small, we can effectively get the probe under the skin by just using a needle. And these needle punctures really heal without any visible scar. How long does it take to recover from Acutight?
[03:15] The truth is that you'll probably feel like you can go back to work almost immediately after the Acutite procedure. However, you will be quite swollen, and this is in large part from the numbing medicine that's used with Acutite. And this is something that in some cases will be very similar to the tumescent fluid that's used with liposuction. And that's something that we've discussed in earlier episodes. So while you might feel up to going to work right away, since this is a procedure that's often performed under straight local anesthesia, you will have some social downtime. You won't feel like you look up to going out and about. So I generally recommend five to seven days away from any professional or social obligations after the Acutight procedure. What is the cost of Acutight?
[04:02] This is something that will vary significantly from practice to practice and from geographical area to geographical area. But in general, a reasonable expectation is that an acutite treatment of a given anatomical area will cost somewhere between two and $4,000 depending on the size of the area being treated and the expertise of the person performing the treatment. Is acutite worth it? Well, that's a personal decision. But for a frame of reference, We usually say that with these radio frequency skin tightening procedures you can expect to achieve about 30 to 40 percent of the result that you might achieve with a true excisional surgery like a facelift or a neck lift. And you know these radio frequency based procedures are significantly less expensive and have significantly less downtime.
[04:52] So it's really a matter of trying to decide where you are and what you feel comfortable with both in terms of your finances and how that downtime fits in with your life and balancing this with the magnitude of the change that you're hoping to see from a radio frequency based skin tightening procedure like Accutite versus what you might see with a true excisional surgery like a facelift or a neck lift. For a busy professional who wants to see a real change in their appearance, but not something quite of the magnitude of a facelift or an excisional blepharoplasty, and who doesn't want the downtime of those procedures, a skin tightening procedure with Accutite can be a great way to go. Thanks for listening, and don't forget to subscribe, share the show, and head over to darrensmithmd.com for more real-world plastic surgery talk.
Sources and context.
Original Captivate episode. Original release date: 2020-09-28. The recording is the source for the transcript and episode discussion. Later context in the written summary is identified separately.
Behind the conversation.
Darren M. Smith, MD, FACS