Renuvion, sometimes referred to as J-Plasma or J-Plasty, is a state-of-the-art cosmetic technology aimed at tightening loose, excess skin on any area of the body or face.
This procedure offers excellent results, extremely short recovery times, and minimal (if any) scarring. It’s perfect for those with loose skin who want to avoid invasive surgery and lengthy recovery periods.
How Does Renuvion Work?
The science behind Renuvion can get a bit complicated, but to explain it as simply as possible, there are two core technologies being used: radiofrequency and helium plasma energy. Together, these energies contract loose skin tissue by heating it to a precise temperature.
Sound scary? Don’t worry — this won’t burn or damage your skin. The heat increase happens so quickly that it’s hardly noticeable (in under one second). At the same time, patients will be protected from any discomfort or pain through the use of local or general anesthesia.
You may have heard of J-Plasma or J-Plasty before. Renuvion is essentially the same as these procedures. The only difference is that the J-Plasma technology was updated and perfected and is, therefore, now rebranded as Renuvion.
Prepping for the Procedure
Before your surgery, Dr. Sieber will discuss any medications or supplements you are taking and have you stop taking any that may cause an increased risk of bleeding approximately two weeks beforehand.
On the Day of Surgery
On the day of your procedure, Dr. Sieber will decide whether you require general or local anesthesia. Largely, it will depend on where you are being treated and the extent of the treatment.
To start, once anesthesia has been administered, several extremely small incisions will be made in concealed locations near the target treatment areas. To prevent bleeding and assist with pain control once the procedure is over, epinephrine and lidocaine will be infiltrated into the target areas via a saline solution. A thin cannula will then be used to create tiny tunnels underneath the skin, and the skin will be heated with the Renuvion technology.
What Are the Benefits?
There are numerous benefits to Renuvion. First, although incisions are made at the beginning of surgery, they are extremely small and are always well-concealed. Recovery from Renuvion is also quite quick and painless, especially when compared with other cosmetic surgeries. Because the procedure is minimally invasive, there is also a reduced risk of tissue injury.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Renuvion?
Those who have begun to notice loose, sagging skin on their face, neck, or body are all generally great candidates for Renuvion. It’s important that you be in good physical and mental health and be a non-smoker as well. You should also react well to anesthesia and not have a history of forming poor scar tissue during healing from other procedures (such as liposuction).
With that said, results from Renuvion can vary widely. For most patients, an improvement in skin laxity of around 30% is most common.
Should I Have This Procedure Together With Other Procedures?
When combined with procedures such as liposuction or a tummy tuck, Renuvion can be particularly effective.
With tummy tucks, specifically, Renuvion can be used to supplement a mini tummy tuck so that a full tummy tuck is not necessary. In this case, Renuvion would be used on the upper abdomen while the mini-tuck would be used on the lower abdomen.
Perhaps more often than tummy tucks, liposuction is performed in combination with Renuvion. Liposuction addresses stubborn excess fat, especially around the abdomen or on places like the thighs, buttocks, or upper arms. If you are interested in undergoing lipo along with Renuvion, Dr. Sieber will use traditional or Vaser liposuction to remove excess fat and then address any remaining loose or excess skin with Renuvion.
Recovery and Results
One of the main benefits of Renuvion is the quick recovery time. Compared to other procedures, most of any bruising or swelling that appears immediately after the procedure should disappear in approximately 3 to 5 days. Wearing the compression garments provided for you by our staff will help with these symptoms.
Overall, you’ll need to wear the compression garments for a total of approximately two weeks. For the first week, you should wear them at all times, but for the second week, you need only put them on at night while you sleep.
Naturally, as is the case with nearly all cosmetic procedures, you’ll need to refrain from rigorous activities directly after undergoing Renuvion. Dr. Sieber will alert you when you are able to return to physical activity, including light exercise. This usually occurs around the two-week mark. Still, it’s important to get the go-ahead from Dr. Sieber before moving around too soon.
Once you can return to normal activities, consuming a healthy diet and leading an active lifestyle will help immensely with your recovery and in enhancing your Renuvion results.
When Will I See Results?
Renuvion generally only needs to be performed once, with a single treatment, in order to be effective. You should see your full results from this procedure in approximately 6 to 9 months.
The reason you likely won’t see results right away is that the procedure is actually instigating the process of collagen reformation. In order to see changes in the tightness of your skin, therefore, the collagen first needs to be broken down after the heating procedure, and then it needs to reform.
Book Your Consultation Today
Wondering if Renuvion could be right for you? Book a consultation appointment with Dr. Sieber today to discuss your options. We look forward to hearing from you!
