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Aesthetic dermatology · London

Tixel skin resurfacing, heat without a laser.

A thermomechanical alternative to fractional laser and RF microneedling. Safer in Fitzpatrick IV to VI, gentle enough for the lash line and lipstick lines, with three to seven days of downtime.

A stethoscope on a clinical desk

Indicative pricing

What private Tixel costs in London.

Indicative ranges across Tixel-certified London providers.

In short

£450 to £850, home the same hour.

Treatment Indicative range
Consultation and patch test £75-£150
Small area (peri-orbital or peri-oral) £280-£450
Full face £450-£850
Face and neck £850-£1,600
Course of 3 sessions (face) £1,200-£2,400
Upper eyelid tightening (non-surgical) £350-£600

When it helps

What Tixel treats well.

The concerns Tixel handles particularly well, and the skin types it protects.

  • Peri-orbital fine lines and crow’s feet

    Fine crepey lines around the eyes where laser resurfacing feels too aggressive. Tixel treats right up to the lash line.

  • Upper and lower eyelid tightening

    A non-surgical option for mild lid laxity and hooding, in patients not ready for blepharoplasty.

  • Peri-oral vertical lines (lipstick lines)

    Vertical lines above the upper lip that bleed lipstick, softened over 2 to 3 sessions.

  • Mild to moderate photoageing

    Sun-damaged skin with dullness, texture and early laxity across the cheeks and forehead.

  • Mild acne scarring

    Shallow rolling and boxcar scars, particularly on the cheeks. Deep ice-pick scars need TCA cross or subcision.

  • Dyschromia and mild pigmentation

    Uneven tone and post-inflammatory pigmentation, treated at conservative settings in darker skin types.

  • Stretch marks (striae)

    Mature white stretch marks on abdomen, thighs or breasts, softened over a course.

  • Fitzpatrick IV to VI

    Safer than laser resurfacing in darker skin because heat is transferred mechanically, not selectively absorbed by melanin.

How it compares

Tixel next to laser, RF and peels.

The straight comparison. Choose by concern and skin type, not by what a clinic happens to own.

  • Tixel (thermomechanical)

    A heated titanium tip at 400 degrees Celsius, matrix of tiny pyramids, controlled micro-injuries by heat transfer only. Safer in Fitzpatrick IV to VI, treats right up to the lash line, 3 to 7 days downtime.

  • Fraxel non-ablative laser

    Laser-based fractional resurfacing, deeper dermal penetration than Tixel, stronger result on deeper scars, but higher post-inflammatory pigmentation risk in Fitzpatrick V and VI.

  • RF microneedling (Morpheus8, Sylfirm, Secret)

    Insulated needles deliver radio-frequency energy into the dermis. More invasive than Tixel, better for deeper laxity and scars, longer downtime.

  • Chemical peel (TCA, glycolic)

    Chemical rather than thermal injury. Cheaper per session, but less controlled depth and higher pigmentation risk in darker skin than Tixel.

  • IPL photofacial

    Broadband light for pigment and vessels rather than texture. Complementary to Tixel, not a substitute for it.

  • Upper eyelid blepharoplasty

    A surgical option for significant upper-lid hooding where Tixel tightening will not be enough. Weeks of recovery, longer-lasting result.

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards.

The things worth planning: your downtime, sun protection, and the retinoid pause either side of each session.

  • No numbing for mild settings

    Most patients tolerate mild Tixel settings with no anaesthetic. Topical LA is used for aggressive protocols on lids or peri-oral skin.

  • Downtime of 3 to 7 days

    Sandpaper texture for the first 48 hours, then fine peeling over 3 to 7 days. Cover with mineral SPF and gentle moisturiser.

  • 2 to 4 sessions, 4 to 6 weeks apart

    A course is planned by concern and skin type. Peri-orbital work usually needs 3 sessions.

  • Safer in Fitzpatrick IV to VI

    Heat is transferred mechanically rather than absorbed by melanin, so post-inflammatory pigmentation is less likely than with fractional laser.

  • Not for active skin infection or open acne

    Cold sores, active eczema, retinoid irritation or an open acne flare should settle first. A one-week retinoid pause is usual.

  • Avoid sun and self-tan for two weeks

    Both before and after each session, to keep the pigmentation risk low. A mineral SPF 50 is used daily during the course.

Reading your treatment notes

Your Tixel notes in four parts.

Whichever clinic you attend, the notes you receive keep to the same shape.

  1. 01 Assessment

    Skin type, concerns and settings

    Your Fitzpatrick type, the target areas, and the Tixel protocol chosen (protrusion, dwell time and number of passes).

  2. 02 Session

    What was treated and how

    The exact areas covered on the day, any topical anaesthetic used, and immediate skin response.

  3. 03 Aftercare

    Downtime and product plan

    Cooling, moisturiser, mineral SPF, retinoid pause, and when to resume active skincare.

  4. 04 Plan

    Next session and review interval

    Read this first: your next appointment, expected result timeline, and when to escalate a concern.

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Tixel is an aesthetic (self-pay) treatment. Health insurance does not usually cover it.

Frequently asked

Common questions about Tixel.

  • What is Tixel skin resurfacing?

    Tixel is a thermomechanical fractional resurfacing device made by Novoxel. A heated titanium tip at around 400 degrees Celsius, arranged as a matrix of tiny pyramids, briefly contacts the skin and transfers heat only. There is no laser light and no radio-frequency current, so the risk profile differs from Fraxel or Morpheus8.

  • Is Tixel safe for darker skin (Fitzpatrick IV to VI)?

    Yes, and this is one of its main advantages. Because heat is transferred mechanically rather than absorbed selectively by melanin, the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is lower than with laser-based resurfacing. A patch test at conservative settings is still standard in darker skin types.

  • How much does Tixel cost in London?

    Roughly £280 to £450 per session for a small area such as peri-orbital or peri-oral skin, £450 to £850 for a full face, and £850 to £1,600 for face and neck. A course of three sessions is usually £1,200 to £2,400. Consultation and patch test £75 to £150.

  • How much downtime should I expect?

    Three to seven days. The skin feels like sandpaper for the first 48 hours, then peels lightly. Most patients return to work within a day or two using a mineral SPF and light foundation. Aggressive protocols on lids can add a couple of extra days.

  • How many sessions will I need?

    Usually 2 to 4 sessions, spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart, then a maintenance session once or twice a year. Peri-orbital work and lipstick lines typically need three sessions to reach a good result.

  • Tixel or Fraxel: which should I choose?

    Tixel is safer near the eyes and in Fitzpatrick IV to VI skin, and has shorter downtime. Fraxel penetrates deeper and can outperform Tixel on established acne scars in lighter skin.

Related treatments

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