You can be active, maintain a stable weight and look after your skin, yet still notice certain areas becoming softer or less defined over time.
This is because changes in facial and body contours are not always caused by weight gain. Skin gradually loses some of its firmness as collagen and elastin change with age, while pregnancy and fluctuations in weight can make these changes more noticeable. In some areas, a small amount of localised fat may also affect the contour.
At The Medispa, assessing what is actually contributing to the change is an important part of treatment planning. BTL Exilis is one option used where reduced skin firmness, localised fat or a combination of the two is contributing to the concern.
The treatment combines radiofrequency and ultrasound energy to heat targeted tissue beneath the skin. This can stimulate collagen remodelling and, at appropriate depths, target localised fat cells, with changes developing gradually over the weeks following treatment.
But before looking at how BTL Exilis works in more detail, it helps to understand why an area can change even when your weight stays the same.
Why Does Skin Become Looser Even If Your Weight Hasn't Changed?
Collagen and elastin provide much of the skin's structure, strength and elasticity. Their production and quality change as we age, meaning the skin can gradually become less able to maintain the firmness it once had.
Pregnancy, hormonal changes and weight fluctuations can place additional strain on this supporting structure. This is why someone can remain the same dress size yet notice that their stomach, upper arms or thighs feel softer.
Similar changes happen in the face. What appears to be a slightly heavier lower face can sometimes be partly related to reduced skin firmness rather than an increase in facial fat.
The distinction matters because laxity and localised fat require different treatment strategies. If laxity is the main issue, reducing fat alone may not improve the overall contour. If a noticeable pocket of fat is responsible, focusing solely on tightening the skin may also fall short.
BTL Exilis can be particularly relevant when mild to moderate skin laxity exists alongside a small amount of localised fat.
How Does BTL Exilis Work?
BTL Exilis combines radiofrequency and ultrasound technology to deliver controlled heat into the tissue.
Radiofrequency is widely used in aesthetic medicine because carefully controlled thermal energy can stimulate a tissue response without surgically removing or cutting the skin. With BTL Exilis, energy is delivered beneath the surface while the device monitors temperature and uses cooling to protect the outer skin.
The heat encourages collagen remodelling, which can gradually improve firmness and elasticity. When treating appropriate body areas, the technology can also be used at depths intended to target localised fat.
This is why the same technology can be used with different objectives. Someone treating their jawline may be primarily interested in improving firmness and definition, while a patient treating their abdomen may have a combination of softer skin and a stubborn area of fat.
Is BTL Exilis Mainly a Skin-Tightening Treatment or a Fat-Reduction Treatment?
This is a more useful question than simply asking whether BTL Exilis "works".
It can be used for both skin tightening and body contouring, but it is not designed to replace substantial weight loss or remove significant amounts of excess skin.
It can be particularly relevant when mild to moderate skin laxity exists alongside a relatively small amount of localised fat.
For example, someone may have maintained a stable weight after pregnancy but notice that the abdominal skin feels softer, with a small area of stubborn fat remaining underneath. Treating only the fat may not create the improvement they expect because reduced skin firmness is also affecting the contour.
The same principle can apply to the thighs, upper arms, back and bra area.
Where laxity is the dominant concern, treatment can focus more heavily on improving firmness. If a more significant pocket of fat is responsible for the shape of an area, a dedicated body-contouring treatment may make more sense.
The underlying tissue therefore matters more than simply choosing a treatment according to the body part.
Which Areas Are Commonly Treated with BTL Exilis?
BTL Exilis can be used across the face and body, particularly where relatively subtle changes in firmness are beginning to affect definition.
Around the lower face, jawline and neck, small changes in skin elasticity can alter the way facial contours appear. A patient does not necessarily need significant sagging to notice that their jawline looks softer or that the skin beneath the chin has changed.
Across the body, the abdomen is a common concern, particularly following pregnancy or fluctuations in weight. The thighs, upper arms, back and bra area may also develop a combination of reduced firmness and small areas of unwanted fat.
Areas such as the knees can be slightly different. There may be very little excess fat, but changes in collagen and elasticity can make the thinner skin look crepey or less smooth.
The area being treated is therefore only part of the assessment. The condition of the skin and underlying tissue is what determines whether BTL Exilis is likely to be appropriate.
What Does BTL Exilis Feel Like and What Can You Expect?
Despite the technology involved, the treatment itself is relatively straightforward.
A handheld applicator is moved across the treatment area while the tissue gradually warms. Most patients describe a comfortable, deep heat, sometimes compared with a hot stone massage.
There are no incisions or injections and anaesthetic is not normally required. Appointment length varies according to the size and number of areas being treated, and most patients can continue with their normal day afterwards.
BTL Exilis is generally approached as a course rather than a one-off appointment. The number of sessions will depend on the area, the degree of laxity and what the treatment is being used to address. A typical course may involve around three to six treatments.
Results also need to be viewed in the context of how collagen works. The aim is not to create an immediate change on the day. Collagen remodelling continues after treatment, so improvements in firmness and contour can become more noticeable over the following weeks and months.
What Happens When Loose Skin Isn't the Only Concern?
Sometimes the assessment shows that skin firmness is only part of the picture.
If unwanted fat is more prominent, The Medispa may consider technologies such as Cristal Pro Fat Freezing or Emerald Laser as part of the wider discussion. BTL Exilis may be more relevant where improving the firmness of the overlying skin is also an objective.
This does not mean several technologies automatically need to be used together.
For milder concerns, one appropriately selected treatment may be enough. A combination or staged approach becomes more useful when different characteristics of the tissue need to be addressed separately.
For example, reducing a localised pocket of fat and improving skin firmness are two different objectives. Where both are present, addressing each component may produce a more balanced result than expecting one technology to do everything.
How Does BTL Exilis Compare with Other Skin-Tightening Treatments?
There is no single "best" skin-tightening treatment because laxity can occur at different depths and alongside different skin concerns.
At The Medispa, other technologies approach skin rejuvenation and collagen stimulation in different ways. Some treatments focus primarily on stimulating collagen within particular layers of the skin, while others can address additional concerns such as texture or body contour.
The right choice depends on factors including where the laxity is located, how established it is, the condition and thickness of the skin and whether localised fat is contributing to the appearance of the area.
This is also why two people concerned about a softer jawline or loose abdominal skin may receive different recommendations following assessment.
What Should You Consider Before Choosing BTL Exilis?
Rather than asking whether BTL Exilis is a good treatment in isolation, it is more useful to consider whether the technology matches the change occurring within your skin and underlying tissue.
A practitioner needs to establish whether the concern is being driven predominantly by skin laxity, localised fat or both. The severity of the change matters, as does the quality of the surrounding skin and any previous treatments.
BTL Exilis is generally more aligned with mild to moderate concerns where gradual improvement is realistic. More significant fat deposits or substantial excess skin may require a different approach.
Expectations are therefore an important part of treatment planning. The aim should be to select the treatment according to what can realistically be changed, rather than starting with a particular device and trying to make it fit every concern.
Frequently Asked Questions About BTL Exilis
Does BTL Exilis work after weight loss?
It can be useful where weight loss has left mild skin laxity or a loss of firmness. The amount of excess skin is important, so more significant laxity may require a different approach.
Can BTL Exilis be used after pregnancy?
It may be appropriate for some patients once pregnancy and breastfeeding considerations have passed and weight has stabilised. An assessment can establish whether the main concern is skin laxity, abdominal fat or another post-pregnancy change.
Is BTL Exilis suitable for men?
Yes. BTL Exilis can be considered for male and female patients where skin firmness, definition or localised fat is the concern. Suitability depends on the area and tissue being treated rather than gender.
Will BTL Exilis make me lose weight?
No. BTL Exilis is not a weight-loss treatment. When used for body contouring, it focuses on specific localised areas rather than reducing overall body weight.
How long can BTL Exilis results last?
The natural ageing process continues after any collagen-stimulating treatment, so results are not permanent. Age, changes in weight, lifestyle and the condition of the skin can all influence how results are maintained over time.
Could BTL Exilis Be Right for You?
The most useful way to think about BTL Exilis is not as a treatment for a particular body part, but as one option for a particular type of tissue change.
Where early skin laxity, reduced firmness, a small area of stubborn fat or a combination of these factors is responsible for a change in contour, BTL Exilis may be appropriate. If something else is driving the concern, another approach may make more sense.
BTL Exilis and The Medispa's wider range of face, skin and body treatments are available at our Telford and Shrewsbury clinics. The Medispa also has clinics in Wolverhampton, Walsall and Solihull, where injectable treatments are available.
If you are unsure what is causing the change you have noticed, book a consultation at The Medispa Telford or Shrewsbury. We can assess the area and discuss whether BTL Exilis alone, another treatment or a carefully planned combination is appropriate.
