TIX' all the right boxes!

If stubborn scars and saggy facial skin are recurring issues, it’s time you consider Tixel – a new anti-ageing, rejuvenation skin treatment. This procedure uses heat technology to tighten the skin and give it an alabaster-like appearance and feel!  

Tixel is a novel thermo-mechanical device (a device that employs heat therapy) which targets major skin woes: fine lines, wrinkles, scars, spots, discolouration, open pores, stretch marks, skin laxity, and uneven skin tone and texture. Using a titanium tip, the procedure is carried out through small contact points which are about 20 microns in size. It then delivers the energy to the skin through a pre-fixed contact time and contact depth. This enables usage at different depths and different contact times to deliver different results.

A high contact time with the device with medium penetration allows Tixel to work like a laser, and offer acne scar improvement, stretch marks and fine lines. A short contact time and medium penetration allows for tightening of the skin and treating open pores and fine lines. Using very short contact and very superficial penetration helps to open channels in the skin through which medicines and actives (anti-ageing creams, anti-pigmentation creams) can be delivered.

With debates of laser vs Tixel doing the rounds, here’s my verdict. Lasers are carried out using a technology-based on light. The light from the lasers interacts with the skin and causes effects by heating the skin.

Tixel technology is based on heat. With its patented titanium tips, it transfers heat directly to the skin itself. The advantage is there are no side effects to the eye, so no additional eye protection is required. Other devices like micro-needles, derma-rollers need to be sterilised before reuse. However, Tixel auto sterilises itself because of the heat, and this means additional safety, so there are no cross infections between two treatments. Because of these, the cost of Tixel is significantly lower than laser or micro-needle treatments.

Treatment time: The treatment tip at the contact point is only 20 microns, so the down-time or redness post treatment lasts less than 48 hours. The post treatment marks are very faint and can be covered with a tinted sunscreen or even make-up. This means the treated persons can go back to work the very next day. It is typically a weekend treatment. Usually no anaesthetic is applied as the treatment is not painful. However, for people who are sensitive, anaesthetic cream is applied for 20 minutes and the treatment is done. Post treatment, skin is cooled with ice and sunscreen is applied.

The writer is a Bengaluru- based cosmetologist & dermatologist .