The Renuvion revolution: Minimally invasive skin tightening procedure reshapes body contouring

One of the latest innovations in body contouring is Renuvion. This technology is part of a changing aesthetic world, offering a more tightened appearance for a multitude of skin laxity issues and a variety of different age groups. It has relatively little downtime and offers immediate results that only continue to get better over time.

So, what exactly is Renuvion? How does it work? What are the most popular current applications of this technology? Who are the ideal patients to undergo this treatment?

We reached out to ASPS Member Surgeons Sanjay Grover, MD, and Suzanne Trott, MD, to explore the exciting possibilities of Renuvion.

Basics of Renuvion

Simply put, this nonsurgical treatment offers a new way to tighten skin.

"Renuvion is a minimally invasive game-changing procedure that uses a combination of radiofrequency and helium to 'shrink wrap' the tissue," said Dr. Trott. "It can be done under local or general anesthetic. It involves insertion of a cannula (wand) that looks like a small liposuction cannula. The radiofrequency energy heats up the helium to a state where it contracts the skin and subdermal tissues nearly instantly. The heating is so superficial and the contraction so significant that the treated area cools to baseline in less than a second, and almost no heat is absorbed into the upper dermis of the skin. So even though the helium plasma heats the subdermal space more than other similar devices, there is less risk of burn or other unintended injury."

This device is showing amazing results in patients across a variety of age groups, offering a tightened and more youthful appearance. It can also be used safely throughout the body in a wide variety of areas.

"I have been doing plastic surgery for over 20 years, and this is really the first device that really tightens tissue," said Dr. Trott. "In addition, it has been shown that fat grafting takes better in areas where Renuvion has been performed."

Best applications for Renuvion

When it comes to Renuvion, there are certain places throughout the body that it is most commonly used.

"The place where I use it the most is either on the front of the abdomen, in the mid-back bra roll area and throughout the arms," said Dr. Grover. "This is a great option for patients who would benefit from an upper body lift but do not want to have a large scar across their upper back. Instead, we will use liposuction and Renuvion across this area to get better contraction and eliminate any upper back rolls."

One important consideration with Renuvion is that it is often performed in addition to another procedure rather than as a standalone treatment, as it shows the most promising results when used in conjunction with other procedures.

"In general, Renuvion is not a freestanding procedure," said Dr. Grover. "Instead, you have to perform it along with some sort of adjunct procedure, like liposuction, in order to get the best results possible."

Ideal patient profile for Renuvion

It's important to note that this procedure is not going to be effective for every patient.

"The best patients for Renuvion have mild to moderate skin laxity and are between their 20s and early 50s, both men and women who want to do a minimally invasive procedure with less cost and downtime," said Dr. Trott. "It is a great 'bridge' procedure for anyone who isn't yet ready to commit to surgery."

One of the most important keys to success with Renuvion is the continued presence of skin elasticity or lack of laxity.

"I think the ideal patient is someone who needs a small amount of body contouring and is already in very good shape, but does have certain pockets of extra fat that they want to address," said Dr. Grover. "These patients tend to have better elasticity, and any patient with better elasticity is going to have better results. But even some patients with less-than-ideal elasticity can still see benefits from Renuvion."

For patients looking to tighten loose skin, Renuvion is an excellent noninvasive option to consider adding to a body contouring procedure. It tightens the skin through radiofrequency and helium applications to create actual tissue contraction to tighten skin for immediate, amazing results. Patients can create the perfect treatment plan to help them achieve the toned, tightened body of their dreams by consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon.

To find a qualified plastic surgeon for any cosmetic or reconstructive procedure, consult a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. All ASPS members are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, have completed an accredited plastic surgery training program, practice in accredited facilities and follow strict standards of safety and ethics. Find an ASPS member in your area.